Perpich News

Professional Development

  • A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – September 28, 2026

    September 28, 2026

    Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!
    September is a month of beginnings at Perpich. Students are finding their people, trying new things, and discovering what becomes possible when their ideas are taken seriously. Last week, at the opening of Rumination, our Studio…

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  • Hopeful Books about Mental Health from Perpich Library

    September 22, 2026

    September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to sharing resources, raising awareness, and encouraging open conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.

    According to the JED Foundation, 65% of LGBTQ+ and 31% of cisgender and heterosexual high school students reported…

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  • Board Member Shannon Finnegan Says Farewell

    September 17, 2026

    Perpich Board Member Shannon Finnegan is concluding her service on the Perpich Board of Directors after serving since February 2025. Appointed by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Finnegan brought more than 15 years of experience in education, student-centered learning,…

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  • A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – August 31, 2026

    August 31, 2026

    Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!
    Perpich is both a place people come to and a resource we bring to communities across Minnesota.

    Allegra Smisek, Executive Director

    This August offered a wonderful reminder of both sides of that mission. Perpich…

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  • 2026 Minnesota Dance Summer Workshop: Creating A Space of Belonging

    August 20, 2026

    Dance educators from across Minnesota gathered on August 19th for their annual Summer Workshop. This year’s workshop celebrated the legacy of TU Dance Founding Artistic Director, Toni Pierce-Sands, and her profound impact on the field of dance education. Toni inspired and helped…

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  • Could Popular Music Education Enhance Your Music Program?

    August 19, 2026

    Presenter Mary Claxton introduces participants in Modern Band 101 to a guitar chord

    Approximately 35 music educators participated in a popular music professional development workshop on August 18, 2026, organized through a collaboration of the MN Department of Education,…

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  • New Visual Arts Books from Perpich Library

    August 17, 2026

    The Perpich Library has an extensive collection of visual arts books to be utilized for teaching, creating, and learning. Here are a few of the amazing books we added to the collection this summer.

    All items on this list are available at the…

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  • From Reflection to Action: CAPP Cohort Begins Year Two

    August 14, 2026

    Erika Nesvig, Sarah Christian-Garceau, Laura Grimm, Morgan Losure, and Mariah Dant of Waconia analyze the Brainerd strategic arts plan and give feedback.

    Earlier this week, the Comprehensive Arts Planning Program (CAPP) started its second year of programming for the…

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  • Jeff Baenen Creates Housing Scholarship for Perpich Student

    August 12, 2026

    For Jeff Baenen, a lifelong love of the arts has taken many forms: journalism, theater, music, comedy, and even playing the voice of God.

    Now, that passion is helping make a Perpich education more accessible to a student living on campus.

    Baenen, a retired…

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