A Note from our Executive Director, Allegra Smisek – October 26, 2026

Greetings from Perpich Center for Arts Education!

Last month, I wrote about belonging at Perpich. This month, as Arts High School applications open for next school year, I’m thinking about the students who haven’t found us yet. Somewhere in Minnesota, a young person is filling the margins of a notebook with drawings or staying up late to finish a story. They may be looking for more time to focus on their art and learn alongside others who share that passion. They may not yet know that a school like Perpich exists.

Allegra Smisek, Executive Director

Helping those students find us is one of our most important responsibilities. Perpich Arts High School is a free, public high school for Minnesota students in grades 11 and 12. Our campus dormitory makes attending possible for students from across the state. Still, I regularly meet people who don’t know about Perpich or don’t realize it could be an option for someone in their family.

This fall, we are working to reach more families through digital campaigns and ads in theater playbills in Greater MN. Our ongoing work with Act One is bringing arts experiences to students around Minnesota. Each of these efforts gives us a chance to introduce more people to Perpich and what we offer.

When students visit Perpich, they get a sense of what it could mean to go to school here. Principal Rebecca Bullen’s commitment to student voice gives young people a meaningful role in shaping their school community and experience. In studios and rehearsals, students learn to give thoughtful feedback and use what they hear from others to strengthen their work. They have time to explore who they are as artists, surrounded by people who support their growth.

Increasing enrollment is a priority for Perpich, and you can help. Think about a young person in your community who might thrive here. Share our application information with their family or encourage them to learn more, even if they are still developing the confidence to call themselves an artist.

A personal invitation can make an unfamiliar possibility feel real. You may know someone who would love it here. Please help us make that connection.

With gratitude,

Allegra Smisek
Executive Director | Perpich Center for Arts Education