Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!

February is always an important month for advocacy at Perpich, and this year is no exception. As the Minnesota Legislature begins its capital investment discussions, we are actively engaging with lawmakers to ensure our campus remains safe, functional, and welcoming for the students, educators, and communities we serve.

Allegra Smisek, Executive Director

I’m pleased to share that Governor Tim Walz included $1.3 million for Perpich Center in his 2026 capital budget recommendations for asset preservation. Asset preservation funding allows state agencies to maintain and repair existing buildings so they remain safe and operational for the long term.

This year, we are specifically seeking funds to strengthen security at our main entrance and to update bathrooms in both the high school and dormitory to ensure ADA compliance. Like schools across Minnesota, we continue to evaluate and improve our safety infrastructure to meet modern best practices. Enhancing controlled access at our front entrance will help ensure that students, staff, and visitors enter a secure and welcoming environment each day. Updating restrooms to meet ADA standards is equally important, ensuring accessibility, dignity, and full participation for all members of our community.

In the coming weeks, we will present to both the House and Senate Capital Investment Committees to outline our request and share how these investments directly support student learning, safety, and responsible stewardship of state assets. These hearings give us an opportunity to demonstrate how strategic preservation funding helps prevent larger and more costly repairs in the future.

Perpich’s campus is home not only to our Arts High School students, but also to statewide professional development programs, our Resource Library, and arts education partnerships that reach educators and students in every corner of Minnesota. Maintaining our facilities is about more than buildings. It is about ensuring that creative spaces remain vibrant, safe, accessible, and inspiring for current and future generations.

I am grateful for the support we receive from legislators who understand the value of arts education and thoughtful stewardship of public infrastructure. We look forward to continuing to share our story at the Capitol and advocating for the resources needed to sustain our mission.
Thank you for your continued support of Perpich Center for Arts Education. Together, we are ensuring that Minnesota’s students have access to high-quality arts education in facilities that reflect the excellence of their work.

With gratitude,

Allegra Smisek
Executive Director | Perpich Center for Arts Education