Jess Burgess said it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with Greenville when she arrived to start her new role as executive officer at the Greenville Creative Arts Center.
She joins GCCA with more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit art management, most recently as Executive Director of Dogtown Dance Theater in Richmond, Virginia.
Burgess takes over from Kim Fabian, who retired earlier this year after two successful years as executive director. Despite disrupting the disaster, GCCA has completed a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion of its studio, classroom and gallery facilities at the Brandon Mill Clothing Building. The new sites were opened to the public in February.
Now GCCA enters what Fabian calls “the third phase of its development – grant growth and financial sustainability.”
Burgess says this is her area of expertise: developing strategic fundraising plans, managing financial responsibility, and planning and leading growth.
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Born in North Carolina and raised mostly in Danville, Virginia, Burgess is a dancer and communications graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and currently works on the executive committee of the university’s Faculty of Arts and Arts.
During her time at Dogtown Dance, Burgess led her development from the beginning of the struggle to financial sustainability and innovation. In a group review, the Virginia Arts Council jury said: “Jess Burgess is a strong and active advocate for the arts at every level.”
Burgess said that when arts organizations have strong economic stability and strong social ties, their programs can focus on diversity, equality, inclusion, and access. “Art should be a fundamental right, not a privilege,” she said.
She said she is excited to call Greenville home and hopes to help GCCA excel in the coming years, making a lasting impact on the lives of artists and art lovers. She spoke to us in May.
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Talk to Greenville: You’ve only been in Greenville for a few weeks. How has the experience been so far?
Jess Burgess: I went to Artisphere, one of the first things I did. Music on Main Friday night. I went to the Farmers’ Market the first Saturday. My whole family is a Scottish heritage, so I signed up to volunteer for the Gallabrae festival. I feel like I’m just drowning. But it is a city that allows you to do that and it is a great thing. & amp; mlr; It’s just a welcoming, welcoming city. Even the woman who checked out my Swamp Rabbit diet (Coffee and Grocery) had a lot of advice on what to check. It was amazing. The city stole my heart for about 48 hours.
TG: How did you close the GCCA?
JB: I was interviewing and looking all over the country, I mean I was interviewing in California, Florida, New York, Kentucky, you name it. I had no problem moving anywhere. I am not married, I have no children. My life is always about my career. It’s a joke, but it’s not really, I’m a crazy cat girl. I remember being late for the Richmond theater house, sitting down with a glass of wine and kitty cats, and I was, like, “Oh, this looks so fun!”
TG: Talk a bit about the process afterwards.
A: I want to work on growth and sustainability and move forward with a realistic strategic plan. And it was a management position – you could say that the GCCA was taking it to a level not others. So that was interesting. I applied and within two or three days, I had my first conversation. This was February. Kim (Fabian) contacted me and within a week I had my first Zoom interview with Kim and several board members. A week or so later, there was another interview about Zoom with Kim and another couple on the board. Then they flew in here and offered me the job during my last personal interview here. I accepted the site beautifully. So, she then returned to Richmond to begin the process of leaving that life and starting a new one.
TG: What is the biggest move for GCCA right now?
JB: I think the renovation of the space has completely changed that. That’s very important, because it allows us to show and give voice and space to artists calling home Greenville. Many of these artists are considered emerging artists. Their work is amazing! You look at it and you think, is that coming out? We want to be available, to be open. Art goes beyond challenges and language, and I think that’s really what GCCA was going for. There is a lot of momentum now because this site is beautifully designed and redesigned and it supports artists the way we become.
TG: So, does physical space really help creativity?
JB: The body area always happens. & amp; mlr; We have been able to increase the number of artists living in the studio, so that these artists can really find a home. That is important. It is a definite need for us to meet in this community.
TG: Is there a creative artist that you would like to see more of at GCCA?
JB: We want to support the art of not just painting with canvas or canvas or photography. I mean beautiful, accurate and purposeful art. I think the artist knows no boundaries, and that’s what’s interesting. That’s why I love artists and being an artist and working with artists.
TG: How do you like the village in the West End?
JB: She has this vibe. As you walk to the small coffee shop, (The Village Grind) there is activity. I think what drives the cooling, the uniqueness of this part of the city is the voices of the artists – there is this community that is making this part of the city. That should be because it is based on love and the creation and production and support of art.
TG: Your history is a dance. GCCA is a small and rapid change, isn’t it?
JB: Of course. This was a visual art center as opposed to what I always did. But that really attracted me. One of the biggest things in life is that I never stop studying, and I think I was at a time in my career that I kind of stopped studying, because I only know dance so closely. So this became a challenge for me. It was fun. It was a new movement and personalities of artists that I worked with.
TG: You would have been in Virginia for most of your life, right?
JB: I was born outside of Asheville, but I only lived there until I was seven or eight and then my whole family moved to Virginia. So, I grew up in Danville, Va. I went to JMU – Go Dukes! I am on the JMU school board for visual arts and acting, so I was very involved. I spent a little time in London, and then when I got back to the ‘State, I heard Richmond had a cool art scene and I thought I’d go to see it. I thought I would live there for a year or two and know what I wanted to do. Then you blink your eyes and 18 years have passed. All of this is a big change for me. Professionally, but personally as well. It’s a whole new world, but it’s really fun!
TG: How did the cats like to move?
JB: You know, the car that went down was horrible, both for me and them. That will never happen again.
JB: Let’s say & amp; mldr; several. It is a kind of tattoos. When you get one you can’t stop. She is my baby.
TG: Is there any part of the visual arts that you are particularly in touch with? Are you a photographer or an artist?
JB: Really. I mean, like, Sip and Paint classes. As a kid growing up, I actually threw in a canvas paint, thinking I was Jackson Pollock. I have written a lot, I have been a great writer, creative, especially in poetry. But, as an actor and dancer, one of the biggest things for me was to always try to work with visual artists. I choreographed the entire Dark Side of the Moon album, Pink Floyd, worked with visual artists in Richmond (on set and scenes) & amp; I told him all my crazy ideas. I said look, I want a 15-foot slide of art piece and I want a human hamster and I want 16 boxes on wheels, but the audience doesn’t know if the tires are on the stage when the (song) Money falls – – and we did, we made it work.
TG: What is the first thing you see when you look at a visual art piece?
JB: There are very few art parts that I don’t get some kind of visceral reaction to. I would assume that is what the artist is going for. We have now embarked on a “Step Beyond Criticism,” where each of these sections is designed to put mental health at the forefront and understand why this is important. There are two parts that, the more I look at and the more I take, really chokes and makes you feel something deep inside you.
TG: How do you think your staff will describe you so far?
JB: I think they would say “she is active, she has good activity but she will also support us.” I think they know I came here to do it. I came here to do a good job and I want to help the growth center. But I think they also know I put it off. We will support artists, we want to support work, art school, community, and we will have a great time while we do it.
TG: Where is your favorite place in the city so far?
JB: Rabbit Swamp Coffee and Food. I went there three times in the first three weeks. I also really liked SIP Whiskey and Wine.
TG: What are you not doing that you want to do?
JB: One of my favorite parts of my job is networking, meeting people. That closed two years of my life in Covid. For the past two years in Richmond I have not been able to do even my favorite part of my job.
TG: Which of the GCCA classes do you especially want to try?
JB: I already had. I am really interested in taking the gold class. Some classes of gold making. And then I really want to try my hand at printing.
TG: What would you like people to think about when they think of GCCA?
JB: I want them to think this is a free, accessible, high-quality arts center and affordable art school classes. No matter your age, no matter what your income level, no matter what you want to do, there is a way you can deal with this organization. There is a lot of art in this city. But this organization is doing it differently from the rest of the community. Which I think is really good.
Why is creative arts important?
Advantages of creative art, in its various forms: Art stimulates your brain and improves cognitive ability. Sharing making art, whether it is sewing, painting, drawing, music, or beautiful flowers growing, breaks the barriers. Read also : Clark Art Features ‘Rodin in America’. Creating art is fun!
Why is creativity important for students? 1. Creativity encourages children to learn. Decades of research link creativity and internal motivation to learning. When students focus on creative goals, they become more integrated into their learning and work harder to acquire the skills they need to perform.
Why are the Creative Arts so important?
Learning Creative Arts develops emotional intelligence, confidence and resilience, discipline and commitment, communication skills, recognition and ownership, creativity and problem-solving and coordination skills.
What are the advantages of Creative Arts teaching?
Increased confidence and understanding, enhanced communication skills, and improved cognition are among the many reasons to teach art. This may interest you : Art Summary. The arts are similar to important scholars, and should be treated in the school curriculum.
What are the 4 Creative Arts?
The curriculum encourages the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) in teaching and learning. This may interest you : Behind the Scenes: Georgia Southern Arts Marketing Manager, Pro Dancer and Choreographer Lauren Holmen | Newsroom. The new curriculum is at the heart of gaining 4Rs skills in reading, writing, math and rehearsal for all students.
What are the four Creative Fans? recognize the importance of valuing the beauty of the environment and the work of artists. Students experience creative activities in kindergarten, and at home where they perform most of these activities in music, drawing, painting and dance informally.
How many types of creative art are there?
The seven major categories of art are painting, art, design, literature, music, cinema, and theater.
What are Creative Arts?
Creative arts are activities that actively engage children’s imagination through music, visual arts, movement and dance, and drama and storytelling. Creative arts operate in all areas of cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical.
What are the branches of creative art?
The three oldest branches of visual arts are painting, artwork, and architecture. Theater, dance, and other forms of acting, as well as literature, music, film and other media such as interactive media, have been added to a broader definition of art.
What is Creative Arts and design?
The Creative Arts and Designs Consortium covers several courses including photography, photography, acting, film, visual arts, fashion design, interior design, multi-media design, and more.
How many years does it take to learn creative art? Creative arts undergraduate degrees and design degrees typically take three years of full-time education to complete and provide you with a solid academic base of your chosen subject. Certificates also help you improve your effective skills within that discipline.
What is the meaning of design in creative arts?
an overview, sketch, or plan, such as the design and structure of an art work, building, or machine being implemented or constructed. the organization or structure of formal objects in the work of art; composition.
What is art and design in art?
Design always requires efficiency, while art only exists. Designs should solve problems, while art stimulates thinking and feeling. Designers work systematically in a data-driven or mathematical way, while artists work logically using their instincts. The art is understandable, while the design is logical.
What are the types of creativity?
There are 4 types of creativity: intentional, cognitive; intentional, emotional; sudden, cognitive; and abruptly, emotionally (Dietrich 2004).
What are the different types of creativity? Arne Dietrich, a professor of neuroscience, has identified four different types of creative research published in 2004. These areas combine to create four categories: intentional and cognitive; intentional and emotional; self and cognition; and suddenly and emotionally.
What are the three types of creativity?
Types of Creativity
- Different opinions. Diverse thinking moves away from the traditional, interconnected thinking, which is straightforward and analytical. …
- Problem Solving. It is possible to improve the problem-solving process by implementing innovation. …
- Inspiration and imagination. …
- Conclusion
What are the main types of creativity?
His research divides creativity into four types: deliberate and cognitive, spontaneous and emotional, spontaneous and cognitive, and emotional and emotional.
