Today, we are thrilled to introduce you to our new Director of Operations, Victoria F. Hall!
Victoria brings nearly 15 years of experience in non-profit administration and finance with a focus in the arts to the Now + There team. She comes to N+T after contributing her talents and expertise to arts organizations across greater Boston including the South Shore Conservatory, Jose Mateo Ballet Company, the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, and the City of Worcester’s Cultural and Economic Development team. Victoria is also the founder of the start-up WorkinGurl Co and creator of the new podcast, Black Women Who Mean Business, both of which empower and support ambitious, professional women. Read on to learn more about Victoria and hear about some of her ideas for what makes a #publicartcity.
You come to N+T with nearly fifteen years of experience working in myriad arts organizations — what drew you to the public art realm and what excites you about learning more about this side of the Boston arts community?
At a very young age, I had the privilege of being exposed to the arts. My mom is a visual artist, and my dad is a singer. I was involved in the performing arts as a child, and had taken dance lessons from the age of 6 until I was 15. My parents made it a point to send me and my sister to schools that had great arts programs, and while we certainly didn’t have a lot of money growing up, my family took us to galleries, concerts, musical theatre, and arts and craft shows. Every year during the holidays, we would go see the Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker. As I grew older, I realized that these are cultural experiences not everyone has access to.
During my undergraduate years at Fitchburg State, my goal was to work in publishing and eventually become a writer. After obtaining my degree, I was working at various arts organizations in and around Boston. One of the women I worked with introduced me to the Arts Administration program at Boston University. It was during this time of working, and going to school for my master’s degree, that I realized how the arts and community development intersect, how this intersection helps provide access to the arts in underserved communities, and how it contributes to the overall vibrancy of a city or town. Since then, I have worked for organizations that achieve these goals in different ways. In my new role at Now +There, I’m excited to learn more about how the Boston arts community is furthering this work, especially during this critical time of change.
In addition to your work in the arts you’ve also done consulting work for social issues, founded your own company, and just launched a new podcast — how do you think your entrepreneurial outlook will support Now + There’s mission?
One of the important life lessons that I’ve learned so far, not only my family and personal life but from my professional career, is that in order to begin and grow anything special, you have to take risks. The work of an entrepreneur and a successful nonprofit administrator, is taking that risk and executing it with drive, efficiency, creativity, and passion.
I’ve always known how to stretch a dollar (thanks to my mom), and lack of funds or access to capital, has never stopped me from taking the risk of launching something that I’m really passionate about. As I’ve grown personally and professionally, I’ve honed these skills even more. I’ve also learned how crucial it is to have good people, processes, and products when building and growing a company or organization. I think ultimately these are the skills that can contribute to furthering the mission of Now + There at this stage, and will help build the organization’s capacity to impact the Boston community.
Where are two places in Boston you want to see new, contemporary public art?
I would really love to see new public art in Quincy Market. There was a failed attempt in 2019 to install a new piece that was going to memorialize the history of enslaved black people [Steve Locke’s Auction Block Memorial]. I think in light of the history of the area’s namesake, it could have been a really powerful piece to have in that location. I’d also really like to see more new, interactive contemporary art inside communities like Roxbury and Dorchester. Too often communities of color, and more specifically black communities, are left out of public art projects and community development initiatives that involve public art. Disinvestment and displacement have plagued these communities, and an increase in public art can breathe new life, bring light and positivity, as well as much needed love, attention, and awareness to the area.
What’s your favorite Now + There project to date and why?
This is a tough one. I have to say, the project that I was instantly drawn to when I first discovered Now + There is Breathe Life 3 by Rob “Problack” Gibbs. For the reasons I mention in some of my other responses, this project resonates with me. The fact that it was commissioned in partnership with a well-known developer and a community institution shows the collaborative nature of the project. I also think the work itself is really special. To show joy, optimism, and resilience in such a public space holds so much value for the community. Too often we are bogged down with the responsibilities, hardships, injustices, and obstacles that come with being black, or a non-black minority that we forget how strong, perseverant, and blessed we are. Gibbs’ ability to remind of this, through the expression of sheer joy from our youth is extraordinary. I also really like his own personal relationship with the piece and the community that it’s in.
Beyond our projects, what kind of impact do you see Now + There having on the arts in Boston?
As I mentioned, having access to art is really important to me. I was fortunate enough to have a family that prioritized our exposure to the arts, and other cultures. This exposure opened my eyes up to worlds and possibilities that I wouldn’t have otherwise known. Especially as a young black girl, and coming from a working-class family these experiences were invaluable. Moreover, I was also made aware of artists and art that represent the culture and history of not only black people but other communities of color...something that isn’t always readily available or is quite limited in certain public art institutions in Boston. The work of Now + There to commission artists of diverse backgrounds who create art that’s representative of diverse cultures and communities, and then place that art in public view where everyone has access to it, has such a great impact on not only the arts in Boston but the city as a whole.