We were lucky to catch up with Ken Arpino recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ken, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
When did I first know I wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally? That’s hard to say. When did I HOPE to pursue a creative path professionally? From the start. The answer is… from the very start.
From a young age, I knew I would be involved in entertainment, I just didn’t know in what capacity. Movies, books, theatre, music, TV, I love the art of storytelling and how it can change a person’s mood and how they feel.
Ken, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Despite my passion for storytelling, both my parents are very hard workers with a background in business. While they both support my creative pursuits, when it came time for college I believed I needed to follow in their footsteps and study something that would lead to a “stable” career.
However, something in my gut wanted to give one performing arts school audition a try—just to see if I would get in. I picked a very reputable college, with a very competitive program, and a low acceptance rate. You better believe I got in!
After two years there, I still wasn’t sure if performing was for me. I was having a great time acting and making amazing friends at school, but I still didn’t know where I fit within the industry. So, to add to my anxiety, I changed my major to arts management and marketing. I figured I would be blending my creative side with my annoying, nagging brain telling me to get “a real job.”
Once I was no longer a performing arts major, I wasn’t able to do any of the big school shows with all my friends. I was super depressed about it. But then one of my professors, who was the Artistic Director of one of the big Union Houses in Boston, asked me to audition for a show. Bam! I’m an actor again– and on my way to joining the union.
That contract meant so much to me that I asked if I could intern for the theatre. I got to sit in on auditions, which for a young actor is single handedly the BEST teaching opportunity you can hope to get. I thought that maybe being a casting director was my calling.
My confidence was beginning to grow and I decided to join my theatre friends on their senior trip to New York to audition for the National Tour of Hairspray. Just like with college, I just wanted to try it and see what it was like. And I booked it.
Now, over a decade later, I am still in entertainment, blending all my passions, as the Executive Director of Wolfbane Productions in Virginia with my Artistic Director husband, Dustin. The work ethic and mind for business that my parents gave me has sure come in handy!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the ability and freedom to produce work that I am really proud of. The arts community in our area is very underrepresented, so it has been amazing to fill that void and provide the safe and inclusive environment I wish I had when I was young.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I know this isn’t everyone’s favorite answer, but what society can do to best support artists and creatives is donate. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but money keeps the programming coming. Be a true patron and find a local organization whose mission and values match your own. The arts are more than just what you can see or hear. Supporting the arts is also an investment in building confidence, growing a community, promoting teamwork, strengthening public speaking skills, combating social isolation, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wolfbane.org
- Instagram: @wolfbaneproductions and @kenarpino
- Facebook: @WBappomattox and @thekenarpino