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Articles
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| CHAW undergoes leadership change |
VOICE writes, "CHAW undergoes leadership change
BY CAROL ABERNATHY
New faces at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop are bringing years of experience in arts education, arts management and non-profit management to this neighborhood institution.
Jill Strachan, formerly the interim executive director, now holds that position on a permanent basis. A longtime freelancer at arts organizations, Strachan worked to combine activism through the arts with her passion for the arts and is thrilled that, for many, “the workshop is an agent for change.”
Such transformation happens here for all ages, she said, adding that the central mission of the arts workshop is “to try to create a safe environment to explore the arts … Many adults feel that the arts eliminated them in some way, that they weren’t a good enough painter, for example. Many get a childlike experience — just joy — from the workshop.”"
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For children, this exploration is particularly crucial she said. “More studies indicate that children educated in the arts are better citizens with a better sense of themselves,” Strachan said.
Strachan is grateful that the workshop is a healthy organization: “I feel like we’re doing well, and that’s due to inheriting great work,” she noted, referring to outgoing executive director Jonathan Darr as well as departing staff members Megan Cheek and Moira Connolly.
The new employees will be officially introduced to the community at the opening of a photography exhibit on Sept. 8.
In her new position as director of education and programs, Jenny Chowning plans to continue the success she’s inherited and hopes to deepen the workshop’s reach into the community. Outreach education will see particular growth under Chowning with a staff member, Blair Swanson, dedicated to “making arts accessible … providing programming that’s relevant and accessible to the community,” Chowning said, adding that she looks forward to maintaining the current offerings and investigating “ways to be innovative and fresh” in future class offerings. Chowning, who holds a Master’s in Art Education from the University of Texas at Austin and comes from Americans for the Arts, plans to be a student at the arts workshop as well as an employee. A former potter’s apprentice, she noted happily that ceramics are offered at the workshop.
Chowning said she’s surprised at the depth of the workshop’s entrenchment in the community.
“I’ve only been here a few weeks, and already I recognize so many faces here, so many faces on the way to CHAW. I don’t have that where I live, so it’s very nice to have it at work.”
Jody Barasch, the new director of operations, agrees that the community at the arts workshop is a huge draw.
Formerly the house management coordinator for Arena Stage, Barasch finds that CHAW offers “much more interaction with those receiving service.”
Charged with oversight of daily operations as well as the workshop facility, Barasch has already seen changes in the few weeks of her tenure. “We have a new desk system on the first floor and a seating area in the gallery,” Barasch said.
The demands of an older, high-use facility never end, so Barasch plans a “continuing renovation of space” to meet the community’s needs.
New classroom doors, for example, will have windows that offer glimpses of the dance, drawing, or Pilates class inside. For Barasch, these small changes are satisfying in a way that they often are not at a larger facility.
“At a smaller organization like CHAW, it’s possible to make more of an impact,” she said.
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The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is located at 545 Seventh St., SE. For information, call (202) 547-6839 or visit www.chaw.org.
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Posted on Sep 07, 2007 12:17pm.
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