Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!

Last week, we welcomed staff from the Governor’s Office to campus. They observed a cohort of Media Arts educators from across the state learning with our Professional Development and Resource Programs team, toured our facilities, and spent time hearing directly from our students.

Allegra Smisek, Executive Director

Our Arts High School students shared what it’s like to learn and create at Perpich. They spoke about finding their people, being challenged, and feeling a strong sense of belonging. There was no script, just honesty. It was powerful.

Moments like that reflect what makes Perpich different.

At Perpich Arts High School, students don’t just take classes. They build a learning experience that reflects who they are as artists and human beings. We deliver a rigorous, arts-centered program where students are known and supported.

We are also focused on expanding access to these opportunities.

This summer, we are partnering with AVID programs to reach students in grades 6–10 who may not otherwise have access to rigorous and engaging arts programming over the summer months. We are also piloting a significantly reduced cost for our summer dance camp, bringing the fee down from $185 to $15 per student.

We know cost can be a barrier, and we are working to remove as many of those barriers as we can. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to ensure that students from across Minnesota can see themselves at Perpich and have a real pathway to get here.

When students have access to meaningful creative work, strong academic support, and a community that values who they are, they show up differently. They engage. They take risks. They grow.

That is what makes Perpich special, and what we are working to sustain and expand every day.

With gratitude,

Allegra Smisek
Executive Director | Perpich Center for Arts Education