Curtains Up Featured on ArtsEd October Newsletter
Thank you ArtsEd Washington for your continued support.
In this episode of "Curtains Up!", Rohan Sengupta speaks with Miranda Leigh Hein of ArtsEd Washington about the importance of arts education, current challenges and opportunities for arts access across Washington State, the impact of the Future Ready Initiative, and how students can advocate for arts programs in their schools.
Tune in and take away ideas to help you advocate in your district!
Listen on Spotify or on the Curtains Up website.
Connecting with ArtsEd Washington
As part of his continued commitment to arts education and advocacy, Rohan attended the ArtsEd Washington Community Mixer in Seattle, where he connected with local arts educators, advocates, and community leaders working to strengthen arts education across Washington State.
During the event, Rohan had the opportunity to meet Chris Berry and Courtney Clark and participate in conversations about the challenges facing arts programs in schools. One particularly interesting discussion focused on how to encourage greater student participation in the arts and how arts education can be promoted not just as a standalone subject, but as a valuable tool for developing creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
The gathering also highlighted the importance of including student voices in arts advocacy. Rohan was encouraged to explore further involvement with ArtsEd Washington's Ambassador program and future community conversations.
Building on his earlier Curtains Up! podcast interview with ArtsEd Washington Executive Director Miranda Leigh Hein, this experience reinforced Rohan's commitment to connecting with arts leaders, advocating for accessible arts education, and encouraging more young people to participate in shaping the future of the arts in their schools and communities.
Taking Curtains Up! beyond the podcast
I had the opportunity to attend the King County District 8 Cultural Candidate Forum at Seattle's Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, hosted by Inspire Washington in partnership with ArtsFund.
The forum brought together candidates Nick Duda and Teresa Mosqueda for a conversation about arts, culture, heritage, science, access, and equity in our communities.
As a student and youth arts advocate, I asked the candidates about an issue I have been thinking about: the intersection of AI and arts education. As AI becomes a larger part of how students learn and create, while many school arts programs continue to operate with limited resources, how can we keep students engaged in the arts, and what can leaders do to expand access to creative opportunities?
The experience gave me another perspective on what happens beyond the stage: how decisions are made, whose voices are included, and how young people can take part in shaping the future of the arts.
Engaging in a Arts Policy conversation at the 2026 Cultural Candidate Forum: King County District 8 by Inspire WA with candidates incumbent Teresa Mosqueda and challenger Nick Duda.
Miranda Leigh Hein
Executive Director, ArtsEd Washington
Our conversation looks at how decisions about education policy can affect arts opportunities in schools and why student experiences should be part of those discussions.
Jennifer Kulik, PhD
Founder & CEO, SilverKite Community Arts
This conversation expanded the way I thought about arts access. Arts advocacy isn't only about what happens in schools or theaters. It is also about making creative experiences available throughout people's lives.
Manuel R. Cawaling
Executive Director, Inspire Washington
We talked about how an artist can become an advocate, what it means to work with policymakers, and how young people can begin participating in conversations about the future of the arts.
Josh LaBelle
CEO & Executive Director, Seattle Theatre Group (STG)
Our conversation explored what it takes to lead a major nonprofit arts organization while making performances and arts education accessible to a wider community.
Michael Greer
President & CEO, ArtsFund, Seattle
We talked about why arts organizations need different sources of financial support and why investing in arts and culture can matter to the communities around them.
Student Voices. Arts Access. Stronger Communities.
When I first got involved in theater, I didn't really think about arts advocacy. I just wanted to perform.
But the longer I've been involved, the more I've noticed everything that has to happen behind the scenes just to give students the opportunity to be onstage. Productions need teachers, rehearsal spaces, costumes, sets, props, performance rights, lighting, sound, and funding.
At my own school, I've seen students fundraise, reuse materials, borrow what we can, and find creative ways to make productions happen with limited resources.
That made me start asking bigger questions.
Why do arts programs so often have to fight for resources? Who makes decisions about arts funding and education? And how can students be part of those conversations?
Through Curtains Up!, I've had the opportunity to ask those questions directly to arts leaders across Washington. Those conversations have helped me see theater differently. It isn't only something that happens on a stage. The arts are also connected to education, public policy, community, access, and the choices we make about what opportunities should be available to everyone.