Art at the Center: Besant Hill School's Lis Austin

What if art wasn’t an elective — but the foundation?On this special episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with Lis Austin of Besant Hill School to explore a model of education where creativity isn’t an add-on, but the organizing principle. From studio art and ceramics to film, theater, and music, Besant Hill’s program is rooted in a holistic philosophy that traces back to the school’s founding — and feels more relevant than ever.We also preview the upcoming Spring Arts Festival (April 17–18), a vibrant, community-wide celebration featuring student films, live performances (including Dear Evan Hansen), exhibitions, and an art auction supporting arts education. We also talked about Ojai's special connection to the theater arts, through luminaries such as Michael Chekhov, Iris Tree, Ford Rainey, Charlie Chaplin and Woody Chambliss. We did not talk about Scottish salmon ghillies, the Samurai Civil War of the 1180s or the final episode of The Pitt's season two.If you’ve ever wondered what school could look like when imagination leads, this is a conversation worth hearing. For more information about the Spring Arts Festival, check out https://www.besanthill.org/2021-spring-arts-celebration/