Gloucester Daily Times
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
Published: January 29, 2007
New seARTS director excited about leading organization
By Gail McCarthy
Staff writer
The Society for the Encouragement of the Arts will begin its seventh year with a new executive director.
Sara Young, manager of economic development and membership at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, will assume a dual role in early March as she serves as executive director and marketing director of seARTS, a coalition dedicated to boosting the arts on Cape Ann.
Young, who has been on the seARTS board for three years, succeeds Susan Erony, who served for the past two years.
"She's very collaborative in her style and her way of working, and seARTS is all about collaboration so the person in that position has to understand the importance of that going forward," said Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, president of the board of directors. "Collaboration is one of her key personal qualities, and it's a key trait that defines who we are as an organization."
The board posted two part-time positions, those of marketing director and executive director. In her application, Young asked to combine both into one job.
"The search committee had agreed that if the right person came along, we would combine the two, and Sara is the right person," Ganim-DeFalco said.
The nonprofit organization doubled its membership in the past year and has about 200 members. seARTS' annual budget is about $120,000.
"But it's still 90 percent volunteer," Ganim-DeFalco said. "Our board is a working board."
Jo-Ann Castano, a founding member of the organization, said Young has the respect and best wishes from its members.
"Sara has the wonderful skills of listening to the needs of the community and responding," she said. "She connects and makes things happen with respect and appreciation to all. She has an understanding of artists, how they work, and also how business, commerce and government work. She has a vision of where the life of the community is, and she's seeking a vibrant community that enriches the life of that community."
Ganim-DeFalco said Young's personal commitment stands out on many levels.
"We see her commitment to the community, and she understands the importance of the seARTS mission, which is to strike a balance between the artistic history and the maritime heritage of the city," she said. "She's a great person to take us to the next level. She has the energy needed for an entrepreneurial organization."
The group dates back to an informal beginning with the city's Plan 2000, when Gloucester created a committee for the arts. In 2004, seARTS was incorporated into a nonprofit organization.
Young, two weeks shy of 28, will begin her new job March 4.
Her involvement on the seARTS board prompted her to apply.
"I saw the amount of progress the organization made in the past three years, and I see mounds of potential for what seARTS can do to promote the arts and really make the connection among all the cultural organizations already here," Young said. "We don't seek to duplicate efforts. We want to bring all those groups together and promote Cape Ann as a place where cutting-edge work is still going on."
Young said she will work to establish a stronger administrative edge.
"That's where my skills and background with the chamber in tourism, marketing and project management will be useful in this new venture," Young said. "One of the things seARTS has tried to do is make the connection between the arts and business community. People don't always realize it, but we thrive off each other. If one is successful, the other is successful. There is a lot the arts can do for a community."
Young came to the North Shore as a student at Gordon College in Wenham, where she studied business administration.
"I'm not an artist, but I have an appreciation for it. In college, many of my friends were artists, and I spent a lot of time in the art department," she said.
Michael Costello, executive director of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, said while he is sorry to see Young go, he knows she is a good fit for the job. He will likely continue working with her as they continue to serve together on various committees.
"She is very competent, serious and committed to getting things done, and she's easy to work with," he said. "It's terrific she will be involved in that group."
Costello noted that goal of seARTS is compatible with the chamber.
"It's trying to mobilize the arts community and make people aware of not only what Cape Ann has to offer in terms of art, but also about what is its value," he said. "How can you not like that kind of organization?"