After seven years with the Springfield Regional Arts Council, Executive Director Leah Hamilton will move in mid-July to Drury University as its director of arts administration. Hamilton, who has been serving as an adjunct professor within the school since spring 2012, will succeed the retiring Kay Osborne. A Springfield native and accomplished performer, Hamilton said the Drury position blends her interests in teaching and the business side of the arts. During her four years at the SRAC, she helped form the Springfield Arts Collaborative, which has raised more than $2 million for its members, and allows the public to direct single donations to several organizations.
In-roads to Drury “My first introduction to the arts administration degree program at Drury came about through our internship program at the arts council. We attempt to have different interns in our office from the various universities, and some of our most fabulous interns have been from Drury’s arts administration program. I think the reason they’ve been so great is that they are being trained in the business side of the arts. Sometimes, we’ll have theater majors or fine arts majors work here as interns, but the arts administration students really have a good balance [of knowledge] on the business side as well as the creative side.”
Springfield Arts Collaborative “I was voted to be an at-large member of the leadership committee for the collaborative after I leave my post. This campaign will end in October, so I will be an at-large member the last few months. This project has been an innovative one. ... I still see it as a way for midsize communities to build capacity in the arts. It means a one-stop ask for larger gifts, be it a planned gift or an estate gift. The system of giving will be there in perpetuity now. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks manages all the endowment funds that are part of the campaign. Additional gifts can always be made to the collaborative. However, we will not have active asks going on [after October].”
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland “I actually received what’s called a Rotary ambassadorial scholarship to study abroad for my master’s degree or post-graduate work. At the time, I was still wanting to be a full-time performer. ... Once I got (to the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, Scotland), I had to do a lot of public speaking and talking about the arts and the Missouri arts community. I realized I enjoyed talking about the arts and the importance of the arts. That’s when I decided that I wanted to focus on not only being a performer, but also how I could bridge the gap between the business of the arts and my love of being a performer. I moved back to Springfield and got a job with the arts council.”
Star of the Stage “On the performance end, I have had the honor to sing with the Springfield Symphony for a few of their concerts. I have been a volunteer performer at the Springfield Little Theatre since I moved back to Springfield in 2006. I also have had the opportunity to perform with the Springfield Regional Opera, which is now the SRO Lyric Theatre. Last spring, I played the lead role in “Carmen.” I also have taught for the Children’s Choir of Southwest Missouri for the past five years, and I hope to continue to do that. I have performed for the Springfield Contemporary Theatre, and I recently did a cameo performance for the Men’s Choir of the Ozarks. I have tried to be a part of a lot of different groups.”
Drury Duty “I will teach various courses (and) will also be advising all of the students within that program. Drury was excited to have me be still part of the community, too. So, I can work with students and faculty there within the arts program and connect with the community and community projects that relate to the arts. I’m excited about that. I have built a lot of relationships in the community. … The position at Drury is focused on the arts, but it also focuses on teaching. It puts all of those passions into one package, so it was too great of an opportunity to pass up.”[[In-content Ad]]
Utah-based gourmet cookie chain Crumbl Cookies opened its first Springfield shop; interior design business Branson Upstaging LLC relocated; and Lauren Ashley Dance Center LLC added a second location.
