The mission of Arts Express is to change lives and build a better community by creating opportunities for children and adults to learn and experience the….
power of the arts.
Arts Express: A Rich Heritage
The goal of enriching the greater Tucson community through the arts started in 1985 when Dr. Joan Ashcraft created two events, Let Freedom Sing and Follow the Star. Through the years these events became cherished family traditions. Other community events such as A Hero’s Salute, American Tapestry, A Musical Feast are now included in the Arts Express repertoire. Music is performed by accomplished soloists, a 110+ voice community choir and orchestra. Community volunteers, who sing in the choir, play in the orchestra, usher, sell tickets and help in innumerable other ways, join with a few paid musicians and dancers to present these events. Over time, the Arts Express community events became the instrument to implement the Fine Arts Youth Academy (FAYA), a summer fine arts immersion program for youth in Southern Arizona. Funds raised from Arts Express community events and through innovative collaborative partnerships with local schools, businesses, foundations and individual donors are used to support FAYA.
Arts Express was incorporated as an Arizona non-profit corporation in April 1998 and recognized by the IRS as exempt from federal income tax under sections 501 (a) and 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code in August of 1999.
Joan Ashcraft, DMA, Co-Artistic Director
Dr. Joan Ashcraft serves as Director of Fine and Performing Arts/OMA for the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Ashcraft created the Fine Arts Summer Institute for Teachers and Artists, the Fine Arts Youth Academy (FAYA), and the Project Shine after school arts and literacy instruction for students. Her tenure in TUSD spans 35 years.
Dr. Ashcraft is the co-founder of Opening Minds through the Arts (OMA), a nationally recognized research-based arts integration program for students in grades K-8. She has received numerous awards and was most recently named the 2010 Alumnus of the Year Award for the UA College of Fine Arts.
Dr. Ashcraft is committed to developing collaborative partnerships to assure the presence of arts programs in Arizona schools.
David Ashcraft, DMA , Co-Artistic Director 
For 33 years, David Ashcraft held the position of Choral Director at Sahuaro High School in the Tucson Unified School District. A native and life-long resident of Tucson, he attended the Tucson Public Schools and graduated with three degrees in music from The University of Arizona, most recently the Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
In addition to conducting honor choirs and community choruses, Dr. Ashcraft has prepared ensembles for performance with renowned symphony conductors and Grammy Award winning artists. As a freelance writer and editor, his articles have appeared in several newspapers, newsletters and journals. Dr. Ashcraft is also a music arranger and composer. He has presided over the Arizona Music Educators Association and the Arizona Alliance for Arts Education, and assisted in the formulation and shaping of the local, state and national music standards.
Dr. Ashcraft has always been dedicated to preparing others for life-long involvement in the arts.
Karen F. Wiese, Executive Director
Karen Wiese is a seasoned professional with 26 years experience in organizational management and consulting. She has valuable lessons to share, by having “been there – done that” in all stages of company development from start-up to expansion, merger, acquisition and sale. Throughout her career, Karen has excelled at seeing the big picture, identifying how components fit together and outlining the detail needed to achieve company goals. Karen is an accomplished public speaker and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Arizona in the medical school & business departments. Karen holds an MBA with High Honors with a concentration in Management and Statistics from the University of Tennessee.
Karen is active in promoting the arts in Southern Arizona, volunteering her time with local theatre and choral groups.
