Act One and Perpich Center for Arts Education Bring VR Arts Immersion™ To Minnesota Students

August 3, 2026

Act One, an Arizona nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that students have access to meaningful arts experiences, is expanding the reach of its innovative VR Arts Immersion™ program through a new collaboration with Perpich Center for Arts Education in Minnesota.

Students engage with Act One’s innovative VR Arts Immersion™ program

Through the initiative, Perpich Professional Development and Resource Programs (PDR), which offers statewide professional learning in the arts, will bring Act One’s original virtual reality arts content to students in sixth- through eighth-grade arts classrooms in northwest and northeast Minnesota. The collaboration marks an exciting expansion of a program that has already reached more than 50,000 students since launching in Arizona in 2021.

Act One recently hosted Perpich representatives in Phoenix for an intensive training led by Act One staff and VR Specialists. The training prepared the Perpich team to facilitate the immersive experiences, guide classroom conversations, support educators, and manage the specialized VR equipment. Following the training, the equipment began its journey to Minnesota for the upcoming school year.

“This collaboration represents exactly what we hoped was possible when we created VR Arts Immersion™,” said Dr. Beth Maloney, Executive Director of Act One. “It allows us to reach students far beyond Arizona while preserving the thoughtful, educator-led approach that makes the experience so meaningful. We are thrilled to work with Perpich to bring these artists, stories, and experiences to middle school students in Greater Minnesota.”

The Perpich model will place teachers at the center of implementation. Participating educators will first experience and explore Act One’s VR content themselves. They will then develop lesson plans that connect the immersive experience to their curriculum and prepare students to engage more deeply with the featured artists, art forms, cultures, and ideas.

Act One and Perpich are also jointly developing surveys to measure student and teacher engagement, learning, and response to the program. Findings from the collaboration will help both organizations strengthen implementation and explore future opportunities to bring immersive arts education to additional communities.

Allegra Smisek, Executive Director of Perpich Center said, “Arts education has the power to expand students’ understanding of themselves and the world around them. This collaboration reflects what Perpich exists to do. We expand access to meaningful arts learning while supporting the educators who make that learning possible. We’re excited to partner with Act One to help Minnesota teachers create immersive, memorable learning experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and deeper engagement with the arts.”

Toni Beckler, Training and Development Specialist at Perpich Center for Arts Education, photographs a mural by Chicago-based artist Sentrock during the Perpich team’s training visit to Phoenix. Sentrock and his work are featured in Act One’s “Freedom in Expression” VR Arts Immersion™ experience.

Act One’s VR Arts Immersion™ program uses custom virtual reality content to take students beyond the walls of their classrooms and into the creative worlds of working artists. Current experiences include “Freedom in Expression”, which explores public art, muralism, music, and creative careers, and “Weaving Our Story”, which centers the lives, art, and cultures of six Arizona Indigenous artists.

The collaboration reflects the shared commitment of Act One and Perpich Center for Arts Education to expanding access to high-quality arts learning, supporting teachers, and using innovation to reach students regardless of geography.

ABOUT ACT ONE: Since 2011, Act One has worked to ensure that every child, regardless of zip code or family income, has access to meaningful arts experiences. Through in-person field trips, the Culture Pass program, and its nationally recognized VR Arts Immersion™ field trips, Act One connects Arizona students and families with theater, dance, music, museums, visual art, and immersive arts education. Learn more at act1az.org.

ABOUT PERPICH CENTER FOR ARTS EDUCATION: Perpich Center for Arts Education is a Minnesota state agency created to promote access to and opportunities in arts education for Minnesota students, educators, schools, and districts. Perpich supports teaching in and through the arts through its Arts High School, statewide professional development and outreach programs, and extensive arts education library. Learn more at perpich.mn.gov.

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