Perpich News

Allegra Smisek

  • A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – February 20, 2026

    February 20, 2026

    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…

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  • MSBA Leadership Conference Provides Great Opportunities for Perpich to Connect

    January 26, 2026

    Perpich Center for Arts Education had a strong presence at the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) Leadership Conference January 15-16 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, engaging with school board members and education leaders from across Minnesota.

    Dr. Wendy Barden…

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  • A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – January 23, 2026

    January 23, 2026

    Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!
    The past weeks have been heavy for Minnesota and for many of the communities we serve. The fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving federal agents have shaken our region and raised deep concerns about the safety and…

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  • Perpich Center Selected to Represent Minnesota in Kennedy Center’s National Scrollathon

    November 5, 2025

    On Wednesday, November 5, Perpich students, staff, and Board members experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: they represented the state of Minnesota in the Kennedy Center’s collaborative visual art project, the National Scrollathon®, part of the Kennedy Center’s yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary…

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  • Bridging Cultures Through Education and the Arts

    July 28, 2025

    Last month, I had the extraordinary honor of representing Perpich Center for Arts Education and the State of Minnesota as part of an education delegation to China. Sponsored by the Chinese government and the Confucius Institute of Minnetonka, the trip brought together…

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  • Perpich Arts High School Graduation 2025

    May 23, 2025

    The Perpich Arts High School Class of 2025 graduated on May 23 in a ceremony at the Ames Center in Burnsville, Minnesota. The ceremony was also livestreamed on Facebook. Perpich is proud to announce that 100% of the Class of 2025 graduated. Danny…

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  • Nine School Districts Selected for Minnesota’s 2025-2027 Comprehensive Arts Planning Program

     The 2025-2027 award recipients for CAPP: Academias La Paz, Alexandria Public Schools, Big Lake Schools, Brainerd Public Schools, International Spanish Language Academy, Inver Grove Heights Schools, Kasson-Mantorville Schools, Little Falls Community Schools, and Waconia Public Schools.

    May 5, 2025

    Perpich Center for…

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  • Allegra Smisek Named Executive Director of Perpich Center for Arts Education

    March 26, 2025

    We are happy to announce that Allegra Smisek (smee-sheck) was offered and accepted the role of executive director for Perpich Center for Arts Education after a public interview on March 25, 2025. Allegra has most recently served as Perpich’s interim executive director…

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  • Board Members Leslie LeCuyer and Janet Mohr Say Farewell

    January 24, 2025

    Perpich Board Members Leslie LeCuyer and Janet Mohr attended their final official Board meeting on January 23, 2025. LeCuyer was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton in 2017 and reappointed to the Board in 2021 by Governor Tim Walz. Mohr was appointed by…

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