About ArtsEd West
Envisioning a collaborative community where youth, educators, and artists are empowered to shape the future.
ArtsEd West is a regional hub that connects educators, artists, and communities across the western United States through innovative programming, professional learning, and advocacy. By building networks of collaboration and advancing equitable and community-centered practices, ArtsEd West strengthens the systems that ensure every student has access to the transformative power of the arts—in school, in career, and in life.
Our Mission
ArtsEd West exists to secure a well-rounded and artful education for all students.
Our Vision
We envision a collaborative community where youth, educators, and artists are empowered to shape public policy and cultivate artistic literacy, where the unique perspectives of the western region are advanced and valued.
Meet Our Founders
Dustin Loehr
Executive Director
Former Director of Arts Education and Title IV-A for the Arizona Department of Education (2017–2022). Dustin currently serves as Chief Organizational Officer for a statewide arts nonprofit and as a Project Director and Technical Assistance Lead for a U.S. federal agency. His career spans K-12, higher education, and national arts policy work. A recognized leader, Loehr was the 2021 Arizona Capital Times Arizona Arts & Culture Leader. He is currently the Advocacy Chair for the Arizona Art Education Association and the Vice President for The Center for Research Advancing Future-Ready Teaching (The CRAFT). Loehr holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance and an MA in Humanities, with an emphasis on Expressive Arts and Education.
Caila Rochelle
Director of Community Engagement
A teaching artist and arts administrator specializing in community-led design and arts engagement. Holding dual degrees in Social Sustainability and Community Development, Caila currently serves as Director of Arts & Special Events for a low-income, arts-based charter school in downtown Mesa, where she revitalized post-pandemic arts programming through culturally responsive, community-driven strategies and arts integration solutions. Her creative background spans the disciplines of visual art and theatre production, including community arts programs and events in partnership with several theatre organizations and municipalities across the state of Arizona. She serves as an advisory board member for a BIPOC woman-owned organization ( (X) Collective) supporting networking and resourcing opportunities that empower creatives in Chicago and the surrounding area.
Dan Franks
Business Manager
A global product and technology executive working at the intersection of data, AI, and education. As Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) at Radix, a multifamily data and analytics company based in Scottsdale, he leads product strategy and technology for large-scale data platforms, drawing on three decades of experience in software engineering, data architecture, operations, and finance across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. Dan also serves as Board President of Desert Marigold School, a public Waldorf charter school in South Phoenix, where he oversees governance, finance, and long-range strategic planning in support of arts-integrated, K-12 public education. A parent of four and long-time arts education advocate, he co-founded ArtsEd West to expand access to high-quality arts-integrated learning and advises schools and nonprofits on sustainable business models, data-informed decision making, and organizational growth.
ArtsEd West is grounded in:
Collaboration:
We work across sectors and communities to build mutually beneficial, shared solutions.
Creativity:
We believe creative learning is central to human development and wellness.
Equity:
We prioritize access for rural communities, high-need schools, and historically underserved groups.
Community Voice:
We design programs with communities, not for them, leveraging community assets to drive solution-making.
Lifelong Learning:
We support growth opportunities for youth, teaching artists, families, and educators.
Strategic Goals
Expand AZ Arts Education Access
Increase access to quality arts education programs in underserved communities throughout Arizona
Strengthen Arts Ed Workforce
Build capacity through comprehensive professional development and teaching artist certification
Drive Systems Change Regionally
Advocate for policy and funding changes that support sustainable arts education initiatives
Our Journey
ArtsEd West was founded to address persistent regional gaps in arts access, the inequitable distribution of resources, and a fragmented field that lacks a cohesive, cross-disciplinary hub. We fill these gaps by serving as a regional connector, aligning data, training, programming, and community relationships into a single, accessible, member-centered structure.
Seeds of Inquiry
Dustin and Caila began discussing the need to create an organization that centered the arts within systems change.
Exploration
Dustin served as the Director of Arts Education and Title IV-A leading several state-wide arts education initiatives. Caila pursued multiple community engagement through arts education opportunities in various settings.
Expansion
Dustin expanded work to support national federal agencies in arts education and arts-based research. Caila became embedded in arts learning and curriculum development.
Organization Founded
Dan, Caila, and Dustin solidified the idea of ArtsEd West and incorporated as a 501c3.
Founding Board of Directors and Advisors
The Founding Board and Advisory Board began operations.
Program Development and Pilots
Developed core programs, including Teaching Artist Certification and Community Engagement frameworks.
Western Expansion
Expanding programs and policy engagement throughout the Western United States.
Ready to Join Our Mission?
Whether you're an educator, artist, or advocate, there are many ways to get involved in arts education.