A conversation with Heather Matthews about 'arts'
Originally published on July 23rd, 2025
Heather Matthews wears so many hats in the Thurston County arts community — elementary music and band teacher, arts advocate lobbying with school districts and the Washington Legislature, song leader for the Center of Spiritual Living, audition coach for young actors, actor, singer, parent of two emerging young artists, and more! Chatting with Matthews was exhilarating, thought provoking, and deeply encouraging.
As an arts advocate, Matthews lobbies for funding for arts equity in public schools, trying to make sure that each kid has an equal opportunity to experience a high quality music and theatre education.
“I’m really trying to push theatre education because that's what adolescents really need. Students need the emotional intelligence and social skills theatre creates, so that they can have the mental health or state of mind to learn the other subjects," Matthews said.
"Arts increases student engagement and attendance, motivating youth to go to school. (When I was their age), I wouldn’t have quit school if it wasn’t for band and theater.”
Setting the stage during these formative years will create positive stepping stones for this next generation to make the world a better and kinder place no matter where life takes them.
Reflecting on their formative years living in Arkansas, Matthews explained how individuals in the gay community were consistently getting beat up.
“There was a kid who was lynched and hung out for (the people of Rogers, Arkansas to see, and I just thought that was always going to be the things are.”
Then, a cultural shift occurred as shows like “Will and Grace”’ began to show up on television that started to normalize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. In that, something deeper happens that dismantles the “us vs. them” mentality and helps everybody find common ground.
“When people can see themselves in somebody that’s not like them, their attitudes (transform) and things begin to change. There has to be infiltration through culture and arts to change attitudes. Art is how we make our mark on the world. … It’s how we influence empathy," Matthews said.
Whether we are discussing arts advocacy in classrooms and society, transforming societal norms to be more empathetic, Matthews reminds us that art is extremely valuable in influencing politics. I invite you to set down your political preferences for one moment, and open your mind to how this positive influence in politics could be beneficial for every single person including yourself.
Matthews taught me a new word: “Ikigai.” This Japanese term describes the intersection between what you love, what you are good at, and what the world needs.
In other words, it describes a process we can use to discover what we are passionate about and find our purpose and place in this world. Much of this is found in the things we choose to invest our love, time and finances into.
In our conversation, Matthews reminded me that our society used to have more community events and social dances, and how that cultural practice has decreased overtime especially as our world becomes more polarized.
We need things like the arts or municipal sports, or other places where people can come together and find common ground. None of that happens without community support and personal engagement.
As a society, we have not entirely overcome the impacts of the COVID pandemic as some of us still struggle to leave the house or prefer the comfort of home to the hassle of going out. I would be lying if I did not confess to struggling with that at times myself. There is good news though: you do not have to go as far as Seattle to experience good art.
“We have our own talented community here in Thurston County. The more people that come to see shows and support the arts, the more they can be nurtured and grow. I have seen performances in our community that are of Broadway quality," Matthews said.
Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” was on to something when she said, “there is no place like home.” We do have talent in this area that is of Broadway quality and when you see it, an abundance of awe and gratitude will flow from your heart.
The grass does not have to be greener on the other side — if we choose to invest in our community, we will protect the arts and exceed what it is capable of. Want to make the world a better place? Start by investing in our home town and just watch as the world transforms.