Memphis is known around the world for its artistic legacy — for shaping the sounds, rhythms and movements that have influenced generations.

But while we celebrate the legends who put our city on the map, we too often fail to invest in the young creatives who will carry that legacy forward.

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And as we recognize Arts in Education Week, we must ask ourselves: Are we truly supporting the next generation of artists, or are we leaving them behind?

For years, arts education has been framed as an “enrichment” or an “extra” in schools — something nice to have but not essential.

But for the young people we serve at Memphis Music Initiative, the arts are not a side note — they are a foundation. They are a tool for expression, a pathway to career success and, most importantly, a way to imagine and create a better future for themselves and their communities.

The problem is Memphis’s investment in arts education is inconsistent at best. We live in a city built on Black and brown artistic traditions, yet access to arts education is often dictated by ZIP code.

While some students have the opportunity to explore music, visual art, theater or dance, too many young people are left without meaningful creative opportunities. And when that happens, we all lose.

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I’ve taught theater for nearly 20 years from kindergarten classrooms to graduate schools. One thing I know for certain is arts education isn’t just about learning an instrument or memorizing lines. It teaches young people how to listen, think critically and engage with the world around them.

I recently ran into a former student who started as a restaurant host and is now a manager. She told me the skills she learned in my acting class — how to communicate, how to read a room, how to respond thoughtfully to others — were what helped her rise through the ranks.

That’s what arts education does. It prepares young people for the future no matter what path they take.

Programs like MMI Works prove arts education isn’t just about talent — it’s about economic opportunity.

Young people in our programs aren’t just learning artistic skills. They’re learning how to navigate professional spaces, collaborate across disciplines and build the confidence to pursue careers in creative industries.

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Many go on to work in music production, visual arts, arts administration and even fields beyond the arts, using the problem-solving and critical thinking skills they developed through creative education.

They’re proving every day the arts aren’t just a pastime. They’re a pathway to sustainable futures.

Through paid internships, young people are working at arts organizations across the city, learning firsthand creativity isn’t just a hobby. It’s a career.

They’re building professional networks, gaining financial independence and seeing there is a place for them in Memphis’ creative economy.

If Memphis is serious about its future, we need to stop treating arts education like an afterthought. We need more investment in arts programs, more funding for creative spaces and more recognition that the next generation of Memphis music makers, visual artists and storytellers won’t emerge by accident. They need opportunity. They need support. They need us to take action.

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Arts in Education Week highlights the importance of creative learning, but real change requires action beyond a single week.

Memphis can’t afford to treat this as a temporary conversation. We need commitment, investment and action all year long.

If we want to prepare young people to lead, innovate and build thriving communities, then we need to equip them with more than just math and reading.

We need to cultivate imagination, creativity and the ability to dream up new possibilities. That’s what arts education does.

Policymakers, school leaders, funders and businesses all have a role to play.

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We need to invest in arts programming that is accessible to all students, not just those in well-resourced schools.

We need to pay artists to teach, mentor and guide the next generation.

And we need to recognize the arts are not separate from workforce development, community building or economic growth. They are essential to all of it.

So let’s stop acting like the next great Memphis creative will emerge from nowhere. Let’s give young people the tools they need now.

Their future, and Memphis’ future, depends on it.