Who holds the key to an artform?

I have been wondering lately, what is an expert? If I, for example, have a background in literary analysis and theory, but don't have a creative writing degree, does that make me less legitimate as a writer? This is a semi-playful question, because I already know the answer (and I believe others know other answers too, and we can disagree). I do think that reading literature and writing literature for many years is what gives one the tools to write. The fashions and the tricks of the trade the feedback from peers and from a professor who writes can be useful when taking classes, but does that "make" a writer?

I have found immense value in my online writing workshops, especially as part of the now retired LitReactor (a writing group associated with Chuck Palahniuk and whose classes were graced by Lidia Yuknavitch, Christopher Bram, and others). But that didn't give me a degree. On the other hand, I have grown from being there. My style gradually evolved from being either plain nihilistic or being full of pretty flourishes, and now I embrace noir with a psychological and philosophical bent, but just as one element among others (love to combine a darker style with magical realism, or with satire, for example).

Since the pandemic, I've taken other workshops in lieu of actual classes and degrees (for lack of time and sponsorship, mostly), such as painting, script writing. I feel like a dilettante in some such areas, but an enthusiastic dilettante who believes life is too short to only experience one particular type of interest.

Any thoughts on what makes one "legitimate," particularly in expressing one's creativity?