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How do we prepare students for a world we cannot fully predict? For careers that do not yet exist, for challenges we have not imagined, for a work environment that is changing faster than any curriculum can keep up with? The answer requires a shift in the conversation from career building to skill building. Fine arts has always been doing exactly that work. The creativity, collaboration, communication, and resilience built on a stage or in an art room are not electives. They

A celebration for every fine arts parent this graduation season, and an invitation to help change the national conversation Every spring, as I see posts about graduations across the country, I think about the parents who held the line. The ones who sat through the "have you thought about something more practical" conversations with counselors. Who smiled politely when other parents questioned whether all those hours in the studio or the band hall or the theater were really wo

This Spring, I went to Colorado to rest. No emails. No deadlines. No constant pressure to keep pushing forward. Just the sound of water moving through the mountains, uninterrupted. And for the first time in a long time, I had space to think. But what I realized there wasn’t peaceful. It was urgent. The Truth I Couldn’t Ignore As I stood there, removed from the day-to-day noise, one thought kept coming back: This movement is growing... but it’s not growing fast enough. Paren

Last week, actor Timothée Chalamet made comments about the state of opera and ballet that sparked conversation across the internet. Many rushed to defend these art forms, pointing out their beauty, history, and cultural importance. They’re right. But the conversation shouldn’t stop there. Because the real issue isn’t simply whether opera and ballet survive as professional art forms. The deeper question is how we ensure that the skills required for live performance continue to

5 years ago today , I officially registered Parents for Arts Education with the State of Texas. I started this work after realizing how often arts programs were quietly at risk, not because they lacked impact, but because advocacy was fragmented, underfunded, and usually reactive . Parents cared deeply, but they didn’t have shared language, tools, or support. And they were separated, usually pitted against each other. Art versus band versus dance, etc. (fyi...you don't see b

As we step into 2026, I wanted to take a moment to share what’s been happening behind the scenes at Parents for Arts Education… and where we’re headed next. Over the past year, much of my time has been focused on building the foundation this movement needs to grow . That work has included: Designing a new Parents for Arts Education website to better serve parents, students, and communities Filming a TEDx talk that clearly connects fine arts education to the human skills eve

The TEDx talk is officially LIVE on YouTube! This message about the power of arts education is timely, important — and now it needs momentum. That’s where you come in. YouTube decides what gets promoted based on early engagement . The more people who watch, comment, like, and share, the more the algorithm pushes this message beyond our arts bubble. Please take 10 minutes right now to help: 👉 Watch the full video 👉 Leave a comment on YouTube (a full sentence works best) �

Tomorrow is a big day — I’ll be stepping onto the red dot to deliver my talk at the TEDxRound Rock Women conference, “Own It.” I applied because I’ve been challenging myself to “stop preaching to the choir after they joined the choir” and take the message of arts education, creativity, and confidence to new audiences. I’m deeply honored to have been selected from almost 200 applicants to be one of 20 speakers. Preparing this talk has been an inspiring, humbling, and growth-

Trina Martin shares what it's like to prepare for a TEDx talk 🎤 AI Can’t Replace This: Why Arts Education Matters TEDx Round Rock Women — November 15, 2025 On November 15th, I’ll be taking the red dot stage at TEDx Round Rock Women , joining an incredible lineup of speakers exploring the TEDx theme of “Ideas Worth Spreading” through the lens of this event's theme "Own It!". My talk, “AI Can’t Replace This: Why Arts Education Matters,” challenges the belief that academic an

As an elementary fine arts teacher, you’re more than an educator — you’re a spark. You ignite creativity, confidence, and critical...

Join the Movement for Fine Arts Education! Are you passionate about keeping music, art, theater, and dance in our schools? So are we! But...

Proud mom with dancers #BecauseOfFineArts As a fine arts advocate, I know the data: arts education boosts test scores, strengthens the...