We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hannah Kelley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve always been passionate about helping people define and achieve their goals, so I began my career as an educator, teaching both internationally and in my hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. A common complaint among teachers is that students lack motivation to learn and are more apathetic than they’ve ever been. However, in my classrooms and lecture halls, I saw students of all ages who were desperate for a reason to care.

When I made the decision to leave teaching and pursue a graduate media arts degree, I was also looking for my reason. Education felt daunting and I mostly wanted to escape. I had no idea what I would do with art! I am a very practical person, so leaving behind a career was a terrifying risk.

Art school taught me not just a craft but also significant business lessons. At the end of the day, what good are technical skills without the ability to craft a pitch, work with clients and curators, or speak to the value of your art? I was fortunate to be in a program that took an expansive approach to what art is or could be and I learned to find art everywhere: in systems, language and law, in the design of all things. When I finished grad school, I felt compelled to return to my hometown to champion those who devote their life to creation. My peers went on to freelance or to agencies, and I found Fergusons Downtown.

Entrepreneurship is a lot like the art life. It’s a 24/7 commitment to bringing a vision to life. It’s so much more than just clocking in and out of a job! At Fergusons Downtown, we have a community of makers who operate storefronts inside of historic motel rooms. Whether they are selling t-shirts or cutting hair, our tenants all have a passion for innovation, taking risks, and supporting the communities that shape them. Each shop brings a different vision and mission to life.

In my role, I do what I can to support their success. I try to cultivate a welcoming community environment, and to balance the operational efficiency of an entire city-block with the strategic goals of a community space. It’s a pretty massive departure from the career I thought I’d have, but it was a risk worth taking. Fergusons Downtown challenges me to see the magic and humanity in the every day, the art in the endeavor to build a career or a business or a life. Most importantly, it reminds me that everyone has access to a reason to care, they just have to uncover it within themselves.

Hannah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Fergusons Downtown is a city block rooted in community, celebrating local music, art, and creators. Through the revitalization of the historic Fergusons Motel, we are cultivating a diverse and inviting community that fosters creativity and passion.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Create space for creativity: physical space, financial space, emotional space.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Harry Allen, the “media assassin” for Public Enemy and an incredible activist and journalist, once told me that the best art is the art that makes you ask yourself “how am I getting away with this?” The things in this world that really make a lasting impact usually feel too obvious to work. A lot of entrepreneurialism is about noticing what others have dismissed and zooming in on those ideas.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.fergusonsdowntown.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fergusonsdowntown/

Image Credits

Carissa Beasley; Fergusons Downtown