It aims to promote visual arts through gallery education, and describes itself as "the lead advocacy and training network for visual arts engagement and participation".
[1] It was founded by Colin Grigg in 1989 as the National Association for Gallery Education when he was working at the Arts Council.
[2][3] The organisation runs the Marsh Award for Excellence in Visual Arts Engagement.
[7] In 2019 its activities included a conference on health and wellbeing, a creative writing and literacy programme, work on dementia-friendly galleries, professional development activities for people working in the arts, and support for research into arts education.
[1] It has representation on the All-party parliamentary group on Art, Craft and Design Education.