‘Access to the arts should never be conditional; this is especially true for young people and children who – regardless of background, area or ability- deserve to participate and submerge themselves in the beneficial and transformative powers of the arts.’

KH Del Rio Smith has worked across the UK in diverse community arts settings, developing a dynamic facilitation practice rooted in mentorship, flexibility, collaboration, empowerment, and accessibility. Their journey into community arts began during their BA in Theatre (Applied & Community Practice, PASS Leadership), where their passion for socially engaged practice took root, later deepened through studies in community and applied praxis.

KH has collaborated with numerous organisations, including the University of Bolton Theatrical Society, The Octagon Theatre Bolton, Legacy Youth Zone, City of Sanctuary, Crystal Palace Creative Kids (formerly CPPA), Family of Dramatics, National Youth Theatre, Pegasus Opera Company, and Talawa Theatre Company. Their wide-ranging experience in Theatre and Performing Arts encompasses physical theatre, devising, creative writing and playwriting, vocal technique, songwriting and composition, puppetry, costume and scenic design, and poetry. They have worked extensively with children (ages 6–18) and adults (18+), including individuals from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds and those with additional needs.

At Legacy Youth Zone in Croydon, KH played a pivotal role in both the Music and Performing Arts departments. There, they launched a vocal tuition program introducing foundational Jazz and Opera techniques, drawing on their own training in Classical Singing to make high-quality vocal instruction accessible to young people. They also mentored over 19 young people during the inaugural year of the Sony Project, guiding them through creative development and performances at Boxpark Croydon and Sony HQ in London. Additionally, KH founded and led the Legacy Youth Zone Choir, arranging, conducting, and facilitating performances at venues including Legacy, Boxpark Croydon, Stanley Arts, and Wembley Stadium. Central to KH’s facilitation is a commitment to co-creation—ensuring young people's voices and ideas are not only heard, but are fundamental to the artistic process.

From 2023 to 2025, KH served as Young Creative Lead for This Is Croydon, London Borough of Culture and its primary legacy year. In this role, they championed youth engagement across the programme, working with organisations such as Croydon Music and Arts, Stanley Arts, London Mozart Players, Talawa, CYTO, Croydon Museum & Archives, Finesse Forever and Boundless Theatre. KH chaired the Youth Arts Advisory Group (YAAG), connecting Croydon-based youth arts organisations, promoting skill-sharing and cross-sector collaboration, and creating a platform for young creatives to express their views on the arts sector and youth involvement post-Borough of Culture. They helped launch initiatives such as Power Your Freelance Journey (in partnership with Croydon Council and WhiteLabel) and Networking 101 (with Stanley Arts and Ronke Lawal, supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation). They also co-designed and facilitated the creation of the YAAG website with youth advocate Nathan Mason—an online resource that documents first-hand research. This was launched at the end of Year Forum created in coproduction with the Youth Advocates and supported by Stanley Arts and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. This experience of reviving a Youth Board, has led to consultation opportunities on running effective and self-empowered Youth Boards with Croydon’s Youth Theatre Organisation in 2025.

KH is also one of four Co-Chairs of Croydon Makers & Creators (formerly Culture Croydon), a network focused on sector support, solidarity, and community building. In this role, they help foster meaningful connections between artists, hold space for essential conversations, and advocate for a stronger, more inclusive creative ecosystem.