The Creative Advantage Institute 2026
The Creative Advantage Institute welcomes teachers, community arts partners, administrators, and education leaders to reconvene and get inspired at the Seattle Asian Art Museum on Sept. 26, 10 AM-3 PM. The day includes updates for the new school year, art workshops, lunch, and admission to the museum. It’s free to attend, but registration is required.
This year’s event features a keynote from Director of Inclusive Leadership and Programs at the National Art Education Association and Seattle Arts Commissioner, Ray Yang. As an educator who’s worked at all levels of education, Ray Yang will share some of their perspectives and experiences as we look towards the future of arts education.
Ray Yang (they/them) is a non-binary Asian American artist, educator, and advocate for the arts and social justice. Ray has spent time in a range of roles; as a classroom art teacher, as a teaching artist for museums and community centers, teaching graduate courses, and working as an arts administrator in public schools. They have facilitated workshops, led affinity groups, and trained with the National SEED project.
Clay in the Galleries and the Studio with Tahlía Segura
This session will provide educators with an opportunity to try out facilitating conversations and making art inspired by the ceramic pieces at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Participants will start by exploring the galleries with SAM staff, learning about ways to foster open-ended discussion, and peer-to-peer learning among students. Then they will create an artwork inspired by a contemporary artist’s ceramic practice, drawing from historic Korean forms.
Tahlía Segura (she/her) is a visual arts educator and teaching artist in Seattle, WA. She studied Elementary Education at the University of Arizona and pursued a master’s in museum studies at the University of Washington to further connect her passions in art and education. She teaches drawing and painting fundamentals, hand building pottery, and exploring creativity as lifelong practices. She works at BF Day Elementary as the Visual Arts Specialist (K-5) and the Seattle Asian Art Museum.
Mapping Latino Musical Migrations with Tony Gomez
From mariachi to mambo, rumba to reggaetón, and tango to tamborito, we will explore the incredible variety of Latino heritage music in the U.S. and across the globe. In this interactive musical experience, we will delve into the unique intersection of Indigenous, African, and European cultural frameworks that shaped a diversity of Latin American identities and their various musical traditions. Using hands-on music-making activities and primary audio and visual sources, we’ll learn stories about the people and places that shaped music and dance across the Americas and discover how Latin American ideas contributed to other styles. We’ll experience how musical study can provide insight into broader topics of history, culture, geography, economics, political structure, language, and more.
Tony Gomez (he/him) works toward creating economically, geographically, and culturally accessible learning through various platforms. A former K12 classroom teacher, he has designed curricula and produced content for public television, as well as serving as a speaker on arts and culture, arts administrator, producer, and working musician. He is the Director of Partnerships & Education at Early Music Seattle, where he focuses on ancestral art forms as a catalyst for intercultural and intergenerational dialogue. Previously, he advanced culture-bearers in school settings and recently led Tacoma Arts Live’s incubator for BIPOC and women creative entrepreneurs. He co-founded Trío Guadalevín and is past president of the Western Arts Alliance.
Exercising Agency as Artists: Devising Toward Original Work Through Pop Culture and Dramaturgy presented by South End Stories Teaching Artists Neely Seams and Stefan Richmond
In this workshop, we explore the power of connecting literary and theatrical texts to modern pop culture and events to spark understanding, interest, and connection between our youth and traditional theater. We honor the connections we make in the classroom on the stage and with our audiences to help grow community, trust, and engagement with theater programs.
Neely Seams (she/her) is an actor, director, designer, and mover. As a Lead Teaching Artist with South End Stories, she hosts a Professional Artist Residency at Garfield High School and co-founded the South End Stories Teen Theatre Intensive. Neely supports students through costume design and costume build process. She has also been giving workshops to strengthen the students’ knowledge of theater fundamentals.
Stefan Richmond (he/they) is an actor, movement artist, and educator. As a Lead Teaching Artist with South End Stories, they believe in the power of storytelling and its ability to heal. They host a Professional Artist Residency at Franklin High School and co-founded the South End Stories Teen Theatre Intensive. They support the opening and closing numbers for the high school’s musical productions and collaborate with student choreographers throughout rehearsals, helping generate movement, teaching choreography to peers, and offering thoughtful notes to strengthen their work.
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