We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ahava Silkey-Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ahava below.

Alright, Ahava thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on? Tell us the backstory so we understand circumstances/context and why it’s meaningful to you.

One of the most meaningful projects I led was at the very beginning of my career. I was tasked with building an arts program from the ground up at a new charter school on Chicago’s South Side. I embraced the challenge as an opportunity to create something extraordinary.

Yo-Yo Ma was serving as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Artist in Residence at the time and they were searching for a school with a strings program to collaborate with.  My school wasn’t the ideal fit as we had only a dance and theater program at the time but I didn’t want my students to miss out on this great opportunity. I pitched the idea of Yo-Yo Ma collaborating with my dance and theater students and the rest was history. The results were magical!  Our students choreographed and wrote original spoken word pieces that they performed in collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma, first at our school and then on stage at Symphony Center. One of the pieces was so extraordinary that my student was invited to perform at a convening of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Together, we toured schools and  inspired audiences throughout the community and beyond.

This project sparked a fire in me. I realized the profound impact of connecting students with world-class experiences at pivotal moments in their lives. They were able to be seen for their talents and expand their vision of what’s possible. This partnership experience inspired my future career as an arts administrator as well as laid the foundation for a thriving arts program at the school, it became the soul of the school community.

Years later, as I began my master’s program in Arts in Education at Harvard, Yo-Yo Ma was the featured artist at our welcome ceremony. It was a perfect full-circle moment, reminding me of the transformative power of arts education and the limitless potential of following your dreams.

About You, Your Art/Creative Works, Inspirations/Focus/Mission/etc

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc, what type of products/services/creative works you provide, what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others. What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.

I am an arts administrator, deeply engaged in the education, non-profit, and public service sectors.  My journey has been rooted in community, arts, and access to education. Originally from Minnesota, I’ve had the privilege of working across vibrant artistic communities in Chicago, Boston, Newark, Minneapolis, and now Dallas where I serve as the Vice Provost for the School of Creative Arts, Entertainment and Design at Dallas College. I oversee strategic initiatives for the arts, supporting a diverse community of students spanning seven campuses and over 300 faculty and staff.  We operate 12 galleries and 10 performance spaces that are woven into the fabric of the arts and culture scene in Dallas. It’s an exciting time to be in the arts as the Dallas Arts District was recently named the #1 arts district in the country. We also opened a new downtown gallery space featuring students and local artists thanks to an extraordinary partnership with local businesses Hoque Global, Downtown Dallas Inc. and FGIII Productions. I have been  continually inspired by the community’s commitment to celebrating and supporting scholar artists.

I am also actively engaged in nonprofit leadership and arts advocacy. I serve as the Board President for the Professional Theatre and Dance Youth Academy, an organization I co-founded in 2011, which provides professional training in the arts for students and educators throughout Chicago.  I have served on the National Arts Education Advisory Council with Americans for the Arts, as a board member for the ROHO Collective, and as a board member for Dallas Black Dance Theatre. My advocacy work includes two terms on the Minneapolis Arts Commission, where we helped establish a poet laureate program and the new Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs.  I was also deeply engaged in leading a campaign at the legislature to successfully restore funding for the Perpich Center for Arts education, Minnesota’s state agency for the arts, to ensure it continued providing access to the arts for students across Minnesota. I am excited to continue my arts advocacy and community engagement work in Dallas. 

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on building opportunities for student artists and fostering collaborations with arts and business leaders.  My hope is to continue to connect with more businesses and organizations locally that want to highlight student artists, provide internships and work opportunities for students, and collaborate on innovative projects.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and an thriving creative ecosystem?

A thriving creative ecosystem requires everyone to advocate for the arts. This means supporting political leaders, educational institutions, businesses, and organizations that prioritize funding the arts, hiring artists, and promoting arts initiatives. Individuals can elevate the arts by attending events, voting for leaders who champion arts funding and equitable access, and visibly supporting local arts programs. Businesses can contribute by hosting exhibitions, featuring artists at events, offering internships, and purchasing art. Programs like the Business Council for the Arts’ On My Own Time program offers organizations the opportunity to celebrate creativity by sharing their employees artistic talents and fostering community through the arts. I am really excited about the sector development work we are launching at Dallas College bringing leaders together across the Arts and Entertainment sector to collaborate in driving growth for industry locally.

As we do this work, it is equally important to cultivate the next generation of arts patrons and donors by engaging families in arts programming and events. Personally, I’ve seen the joy and connection my children experience through creating art, attending performances, and interacting with artists. My son had the opportunity to host a booth at the Downtown Dallas Art Fair last spring and he just lit up at the opportunity to see his work proudly displayed and make art with the community. So much joy. These moments foster appreciation for the arts and allow us all to see the role the arts play in building vibrant communities.

The economic impact of the arts is undeniable. According to Americans for the Arts, the sector generated $151.7 billion in economic activity and supported 2.2 million jobs nationally in 2022. The arts strengthen communities, boost economies, and create shared cultural experiences. By working together and sharing these stories, we can ensure access to the arts flourishes for everyone.

Can you tell us the story of how you built your audience on social media? Any advice for those just starting to build their social media presence?

I’ve grown my social media audience by sharing content that reflects my passions, including articles, events, and updates about the work I’m engaged in, student events, new arts initiatives, and community collaborations. It’s been rewarding to see how much people enjoy these posts, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, where arts-related content often stands out. Engaging with these audiences has allowed me to connect with leaders nationally and internationally who share similar interests. Social media has become a powerful tool for amplifying my projects and building a network of like-minded professionals. For anyone starting their career, I highly recommend leveraging social media to showcase your the projects you’re working on, the professional and volunteer organizations you’re a part of as well as your motivation and goals. Sharing original content can attract new connections, while engaging with others’ posts can expand your network and deepen your expertise. It’s an invaluable way to grow both your audience and your professional practice.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahavasilkeyjones/
• Twitter: @silkeyjones

Image Credits
N/A I submitted way more photos then you need, feel free to use whichever photos make the most sense for the article. Thanks!