Arts Place director to bid farewell on Friday
After almost three years as the leader of the Arts Place Auglaize- Mercer Center, Heather (Dowell) Wilson will be moving out of the area and will be leaving her post as center director on Dec. 4.
“This has been the hardest decision ever,” Wilson said. “I love this job with all of my heart, but ultimately, I am moving and the drive will not be feasible from my new home in Shelby County.”
When she started at the center on Jan. 3, 2018, she was entering a new world, having originally planning to enter the medical field but she followed her heart to art. She has been making an impact on the St. Marys art community ever since and said that community feel is something she will miss dearly when she heads off to her new home.
“Honestly, I have gotten to know so many wonderful people in our community that I would have never met without Arts Place,” she said. “I have developed some wonderful and lasting friendships with artists, donors and volunteers from all over the area and getting to know them all has been a blessing like no other. Through the connections I have made here, I have really developed my own artistic ability even more and I know that I’ll continue to create even after I am gone.”
And the community has also been grateful of Wilson’s dedication to the arts as evidenced by the growth the center has seen since 2018. In 2017, the center welcomed 1,107 people throughout the whole year but after just one year in her post, Wilson said that number had more than doubled to 2,806.
“It is so amazing to know how many people who have found us that had never been here before and that’s evidenced in our foot traffic numbers,” she said. “People are starting to notice what we do and they’re starting to come back or tell their friends.”
But that growth is far from over, despite being stunted by COVID-19.
Originally, the center had planned
to look at adding music classes to its offerings in 2020 but like many other things this year, those plans were postponed. The hope is to bring music classes to the center in the near future as well as continue to expand the 18 visual art classes offered at the Auglaize- Mercer Center.
“The hardest part about leaving is that I know the best is yet to come for the center,” said Wilson. “We’ve been able to accomplish so many goals and really worked hard to expand the center’s offerings and I am sad knowing that the best is yet to come and I have to let someone else captain the ship for those journeys. This is more than a job to me, Arts Place is a cause that is very dear to my heart.”
“It has been absolutely phenomenal to help this place grow and I hope it continues to grow and serve the community for many years to come.”
Once Wilson walks out the door of 207 E. Spring St. for the last time, the center will be in the care of the Auglaize-Mercer Center Community Board and the volunteers who will be in the building, ready to help those interested in art. In the meantime, Arts Place will be accepting applications as it searches for a new director for the center.
Interested persons can apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Executive Director Eric Rogers at erogers@ artsland.org. The ideal candidate will be drug free with a college degree and experience in a non-profit preferred. The ability to multitask and attention to detail are also important. Candidates need to have a genuine love for the arts and be willing to solicit donations.
An official job listing will be published soon with the exact details.
“I want to thank our community for their kindness and generosity over the last several years,” Wilson said. “The arts are so very important in this world and the fact that so many people make it a point to visit the center, purchase local art, donate to our center and support us by attending our events will always hold a special place in my heart.
“I’ve accomplished so much in my time as center director, but everything that I was able to do is because we have such an amazing community and the most incredible team on my community board of directors.”
Wilson’s last official function as the Auglaize-Mercer Center director will be the annual quarter auction — virtual for 2020 — at 1 p.m. on Dec. 13 on Facebook.
Tickets are still available by visiting ArtsLand. org/Auglaize- Mercer- Center.