The Community Arts in Education Partnership of Watauga County (CAEP), consisting of the Watauga County Arts Council, Watauga County Schools, and Appalachian State University's Office of Arts and Cultural Programs, enables young people to have direct involvement with the arts and artists. It provides opportunities for increased learning in and through the arts for the children and youth of Watauga County, for the adults in their lives, and for the adult learners in the community. The CAEP advocates for arts in education among the stakeholders who have influence over education policies and funding, including the school board, school administrators, teachers, and parents.

This unique partnership was formalized in 1998 when the Watauga Arts Council, Watauga County Schools, and Appalachian State University's Office of Cultural Affairs joined forces to fund and manage a Community Arts Education Coordinator for the county. The coordinator is responsible for coordinating the needs of the community with the programs offered by the three partners. The partnership has led to a sharing of resources, new and expanded programming, and the development of a strategic plan for improved arts in education activities in the area, both for children and adults.

Programming the CAEP offers children, youth, and adults in the community includes the following: The Touring Arts Program; the Mountain Arts Program (MAP); A Common Heritage: the Music & Stories of North Carolina; the Fourth Grade Storytelling Festival; the Summer Arts Camp featuring Missoula Children’s Theatre; and a variety of residencies which vary from year to year.