On Sunday, April 6, Baton Rouge Gallery will host a discussion about the realities of access, perception, and impact of arts education across Louisiana. As with all Sundays@4 presentations, this will be free and open to the public.
Presenters: Executive Director of the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Leea Reese Russell, and the Division’s Director of Arts Education and Accessibility, Quaja Bell
Who has access to arts education in Louisiana, and how does the public perceive its value? This session will be the first in a series of conversations delving into the realities of arts education across the state, exploring accessibility, community experiences, and the proven benefits of arts engagement for students and communities. Throughout this and subsequent conversations, we will examine how the arts contribute to academic success, workforce readiness, and overall well-being, making the case for why arts education should be a priority for Louisiana’s future.
About the Presenters:
Leea Reese Russell is an accomplished arts educator and administrator with a career spanning teaching, leadership, and advocacy. Now serving as Executive Director of the Louisiana Division of the Arts, she leads statewide efforts to enhance arts engagement. Her previous roles include Director of Arts Education and Accessibility for the division and Chief Programs Officer at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
A former dancer and dance educator, Leea spent a decade teaching in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. She brings expertise in community development, grant management, and cross-sector collaboration to expand arts access. Leea earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre and Dance from Northwestern State University and a certificate in Arts Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Leea has served as a grant panelist for the Alabama State Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, presented workshops for organizations such as the National Guild for Community Arts Education, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, and the Kennedy Center Partners in Education. She serves on the boards of the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts, South Arts, the LSU Museum of Art, and the Louisiana Folklife Commission. Her work remains focused on uplifting and enhancing the rich cultural legacy that defines Louisiana.
Quaja Bell is a celebrated arts educator, instructional designer, and advocate for the arts, now serving as the Director of Arts Education and Accessibility for the Louisiana Division of the Arts. In this role, she leads statewide initiatives to expand arts engagement, support educators, and ensure equitable access to creative opportunities.
As a potter, sculptor, and arts educator, she previously spent several decades teaching in and around East Baton Rouge Parish, including roles as both a traditional and talented art educator in East Baton Rouge Parish Schools. She brings expertise in curriculum development, instructional technology, program development, and cross-sector collaboration—drawing from her experience with district-wide arts initiatives, piloting technology-focused training for educators, and curating large-scale student exhibitions—to strengthen arts education across the state.
Quaja holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University and earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction from Louisiana State University Shreveport. She has presented workshops for organizations such as the Louisiana Art Education Association and the Louisiana Art Education Association, and many art educator workshops focusing on accessibility in the arts and technology integration in arts education. Her work is driven by a commitment to advancing arts education for all to strengthen Louisiana’s creative landscape for future generations.
Sundays@4 is presented in partnership with the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area whose mission is to enhance the identity of our unique American landscape by preserving and promoting our heritage and by fostering progress for local champions that create authentic, powerful connections between people, culture, and the environment.