Performing arts - hard to refuse (5)
I believe the answer is:
trash
'refuse' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'performing arts hard' is the wordplay.
'performing' indicates an anagram.
'hard' becomes 'h'.
'arts' anagrammed gives 'tras'.
'tras'+'h'='TRASH'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for trash that I've seen before include "American refuse" , "Vandalise" , "Wreck; rubbish" , "Dismiss as valueless" , "bunk" .)