Arts For All welcomed the new year with a new member of our team! Meet our Program Manager, Serra Kook!
Get to know a bit about Serra’s international artistic journey, her love of printmaking and her excitement to work with Arts For All in the Q&A below:
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Serra: Hi there! My name is Serra. I am a visual artist, and my favorite medium is printmaking. I also enjoy traveling, reading, and spending time outdoors. When it comes to the topic of home, things become a little complicated! Home is Chicago as well as California – with a little bit of NYC in the mix, too.
Q: There are several similarities between NYC and Chi-town, but with very specific, and passionate, differences. Both are known for their pizza, but it’s slice vs deep dish. Is there anything you miss about Chicago that you can’t get in NYC? Is there anything you like in NYC that you couldn’t get in Chicago?
Serra: Chicago is home to the majority of my childhood food-related favorites. There are a number of restaurants that I have come to love and crave– especially Thai, Mexican, and of course, places serving deep-dish! That said, NYC offers plenty of incredible restaurants with unique renditions of all my favorite dishes! While the nostalgia of Chicago’s food scene is hard to replicate, New York certainly keeps things exciting.
Q: At The New School, you earned your BA in Global Studies as well as a double minor in Hispanic Studies and print making. How has that geared you to where you are now?
Serra: My studies at The New School revealed just how interconnected my passions truly are. Both Global and Hispanic studies center on culture–narratives, history, and contemporary realities–and art is simply another powerful expression of that dialogue. Today, I understand my path not just as a collection of separate interests, but as a dynamic intersection between art and culture. It is within that intersection I feel most inspired and challenged, reflecting on how they shape one another and influence the ways we interpret and engage with the world.
Q: As an Intern, you studied abroad in Costa Rica, teaching visual arts and English classes to youth and adults in a community setting. How did that experience differ from being in the classroom in the States and how has that influenced you as an educator?
Serra: From my experience teaching a community-centered setting in Costa Rica to later working in a more formalized educational space in the States, the most striking differences I observed were pace and connection. My time abroad was deeply grounded in community-centered values- prioritizing relationships, presence, and shared growth and accomplishments in the classroom. I carried that perspective back home with me, striving to move with greater care and intention in my teaching. That experience continues to inform how I show up for my students, colleagues, and broader community, always aiming to foster a strong sense of belonging.
Q: You worked at the Latin School in Chicago with children aged 6-10. Can you talk about the school and the work you did there?
Serra: I worked at The Latin School of Chicago for two years. During that time, I formed meaningful connections with students, families, and colleagues. It was a privilege to work alongside educators who care about student academic growth, as well as social and emotional development. My role allowed me to support students academically, but perhaps most importantly, creatively and holistically. I feel that students thrive when they feel seen, supported, and encouraged.
Q: Speaking of children, let’s go back to your childhood. How were you exposed to the arts?
Serra: I was fortunate to attend a grassroots public school that deeply valued the arts. With a strong arts-focused mission, the school prioritized fundraising and community support to ensure students had access to creative classes and opportunities. Additionally, I was a student at a Chicago-based nonprofit that strived to provide greater community access to arts materials, mediums, and education. That early exposure to arts education normalized art as an essential part of my day to day, rather than an extracurricular luxury.
Q: What discipline of art were you drawn to and why?
Serra: Printmaking is believed to be somewhat niche, and I was lucky to explore it in early adolescence. When people think of printmaking, they often imagine elaborate processes requiring specialized equipment like presses and copper etching baths. And while that can be true, printmaking can also be incredibly accessible. At its core, printmaking is about creating impressions, and oftentimes, multiples. You can produce intricate prints using a press, but you can also make a print as simple as rubbing the texture of a tree or sidewalk. From an early age, I was drawn to the balance of technical precision and playful experimentation.
Q: What does art mean to you?
Serra: Art means something different for everyone, but for me, it is an outlet–a space for exploration and reflection. At the same time, art is playtime. It allows for curiosity and emotional release all at once.
Q: Do you have a favorite art memory?
Serra: Yes–many. But what comes to mind most prominently is taking a trip to The Art Institute of Chicago, one of the most impressive museums to date. As an adolescent, entering a space that was entirely designated to the arts was mesmerizing and enchanting. On that thread, continuing to explore museum spaces and in my adulthood is one of my favorite things to do.
Q: The calling to continue the work of bringing arts to all children through school as well as extracurricular activities has led you to working with Arts For All. What inspires you most about AFA?
Serra: Arts For All’s mission to provide artistic opportunities to communities that might not otherwise have access is what truly anchors me to this work. I deeply value the arts as a way to explore one’s sense of self, build community, and engage in trauma-affirming practices that honor each individual’s lived experiences. I also believe that everyone has the capacity to be in their own right–across a multitude of mediums, and witnessing students discover a passion for the arts–through the guidance and dedication of the organization’s phenomenal roster of Teaching Artists–is both inspiring and rewarding.
Q: What are you most excited about regarding working with AFA?
Serra: One of my favorite aspects of this role is the opportunity to move across and familiarize with different school communities–each one in its own neighborhood context, borough, and atmosphere. I am able to step inside these distinct “bubbles,” getting to know the unique character, joy, and challenges of each school. I also have the privilege of observing our Teaching Artists engage with students in meaningful ways, witnessing how they become woven into each school’s network of relationships, and an integral part of each students’ educational experience.
