| Since the start of the year, four of northern Arizona’s major arts organizations have undergone a change in leadership. With the arts being one of the our region’s major economic drivers, we wanted to check in with these new executives about their organizations and plans for the future. We start with a Q&A with Jonathan Stone, who became the Executive Director of the Flagstaff Arts Council in January. Below is an except of our conversation; you can read the full interview here. – John Stigmon, President and CEO, ECoNA
Where are you from and how did you get to Flagstaff? I’ve lived coast to coast and several places in between. My father’s career led us to multiple states. I’ve spent the most time in New England (Rhode Island and Boston) but most recently was based out of Oregon City, Oregon. My sister lives in Flagstaff and strongly suggested I move here when I was at a transition point in my last job. The day I decided to join my family in Flagstaff is the day I discovered Flagstaff Arts Council.
How does Flagstaff compare to Oregon City? There are a lot of similarities between Flagstaff and Oregon City. Both communities have strong local pride and an ever-growing cultural scene. Both have long and important histories that predate white settlement located adjacent to sacred sites. Oregon City is home to Willamette Falls, which is North America’s second largest waterfall, and Flagstaff is at the base of San Francisco peaks. Oregon City’s modern existence is rooted in forest products, much like Flagstaff.
There are a few key differences, Oregon City’s proximity to Portland drives much of its economy. On the other hand, Flagstaff has to be much more self-sufficient for its workforce and arts ecosystem. Also, tourism and the university are major players in how Flagstaff evolves.
You’ve been in the job a little more than seven months – what’s your impression of Flagstaff and its artistic community? Flagstaff is an incredibly vibrant community and there is a lot of energy to strengthen its creative economy. A lot of artists visit or call Flagstaff home. I haven’t been able to experience all that Flagstaff has to offer, but I am impressed with the people I have met and the experiences they create. People that choose to live in Flagstaff love this community and it shows in their art. I hope, as the population continues to evolve, that we will be able to engage more and more of the citizens of Flagstaff to be patrons of the arts.
What new initiatives or programs are on the horizon?Our Board began discussing the future of Flagstaff Arts Council at its retreat in April. With the departure of the last director, the organization is at a natural inflection point. Through the process thus far, we’ve identified three imperatives: catalyze the arts ecosystem; foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and promote the integration of arts and science throughout the community.
Arts ecosystem is two parts, the strength of the creative sector as a driver of the Flagstaff economy and whether Flagstaff is an attractive and viable place to make art and pursue creative endeavors. DEI is a buzz concept in the nonprofit world. We aren’t taking it on because it is popular. Art enriches all of our lives and art is enriched by a broad range of perspectives. Finally, Flagstaff has great pride being America’s first STEM City. FAC believes that exposure to the arts and creative expression bring even more value to STEM education and professions. Finding opportunities to integrate arts and science is mutually beneficial. |
