We asked some of the city’s leading artists and creatives to tell us about how they decided to pursue an artistic or creative career. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Rebecca Spoor

From a young age, I knew I was destined to pursue a career in the arts. Initially, my passion was rooted in music. I played the euphonium and envisioned a future performing in a military band or teaching music at the collegiate level. Music gave me discipline, emotional expression, and a strong sense of identity. However, like many, the COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant turning point in my life. Read More>> 

Lauryn J

I pursued a creative career because it was the only path that ever felt honest to who I am. Growing up, I was always the one making something out of nothing — creating unique makeup looks, drafting dream businesses in my notebooks, filming videos, curating outfits and moods like I was styling a movie. Creativity was how I survived, how I expressed myself, and eventually, how I began to heal. Read More>>

Aaliyah Nicole

I pursued a creative career because, quite frankly, I didn’t have much of a choice. Music and art have always been my way of processing life—the highs, the lows, the chaos, and the beauty. Growing up in a house where different cultures blended together, music was the universal language. It was in the church choir where I first realized I could use my voice to not just sing but to tell stories that matter. Read More>> 

Kyah Branch

Movies and TV have always meant more to me than just entertainment. They were a language of connection in my home. Growing up, our family didn’t always have the words to express what we were feeling, but we had stories. Every evening, we would gather around the dinner table with a show playing in the background. On weekends, we would go to the theater, the lights dimming as we all fell silent together. These became our rituals. They were moments that pulled us closer, that made us feel like a unit even when the world around us felt uncertain. Read More>> 

Trey Triplicate

It’s funny… I think about this a lot. Creativity, for me, has never been a hobby or a side interest—it’s something I’ve had to let out, or it bottlenecks. Music became the outlet early on. Taking a musical idea that only existed in my head and building it into something other people could feel… that’s what pulled me in. That’s still what pulls me in. Read More>>