Art education is a systemic and extensive network within which children, youth, and adults make and learn about material culture. This lecture considers three sites of theory and practice that I see as ascendant in circulating through this network. These sites are sustainability, participatory culture, and performing democracy. I argue that sustainability, participatory culture, performing democracy, and the socio-political discourse associated with them, will inform our research, shape K-12 curriculum, influence professional standards, encourage debate, stimulate advocacy, and provoke innovation.