Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michelle Bonton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michelle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The Anderson Center for the Arts mission is to expand arts access in underserved communities and preserve, share, and celebrate Black History and culture. We carry out the mission by supporting Black creatives whose works become the programming that we share with our community – a community that would not otherwise have access to the arts.

The projects that we support at the Anderson Center for the Arts are primarily focused on preserving Black history and culture, and the work is presented through a Black lens. This work is critically important at a time when our country is experiencing a concerted effort to re-write history and silence Black voices. Preserving the Black narratives becomes not just a creative experience, but a social justice mandate. Also, in supporting creatives, we shift the balance of power in storytelling so that rather than having stories told about them or on their behalf, Black people can tell their own stories.

The other facet of mission, expanding arts access is equally important because we know that the engagement with the arts, with our creative selves, is necessary to the full human experience. The arts help people to feel more connected to each other and communities that have a vibrant arts culture are more resilient and more complete. There is greater civic pride, increased acceptance of people from different backgrounds due to opportunities for shared experience, and a stronger local economy. As a sole source provider of arts and culture in Unincorporated East Harris county, The Anderson Center helps is the driving force behind the establishment of such a culture in our area.

Michelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a retired educator of more than 30 years. I was a clasroom teacher, school counselor, and school administrator. I left traditional public education to found and lead Rhodes School for the Performing Arts, an open enrollment fine art magnet school. I served as leader of Rhodes for 15 years, so starting the Anderson Center for the Arts was sort a natural “next,” for me. I worked with children to help them tap their creative gifts and ability for decades and have simply transferred that work to supporting emerging and mid-career Black Creatives. I am so thrilled to be working in this space and moving forward the culture bearers n the Black Community.

I have to admit that initially, we wanted to use our 20,000 square foot facility to lease studio space to artists, but I soon came to understand what the artists already knew – that Black creatives, unlike many of their non-Black peers, face systemic barriers to working as full-time artists. These barriers present themselves as lack of access to institutional support needed to showcase their work, a lack of skill in monetizing their work, a lack of access to studio space within which to create. Anderson mitigates the systemic barriers by providing a year of free studio space, exhibition opportunities, supplies and materials, and mentoring to qualifying Black creatives.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Among the many things society can do to support artists is to treat them as small business owners as it relates to helping them to bounce back after disaster or any other forced extended work stoppage.

Society can also support the arts organizations and institutions that support the artists by providing operating support. Many funders only want to fund programming, but you cannot have programming without operations – somemone to implement the program, market the program, support the artist through the creative process.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

the most rewarding aspect of ths work is seeing an artists’s concept come alive from just an idea to a full fledged show that draws hundreds and hundreds of people!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theandersoncenter.org
• Instagram: @theandersoncenterforthearts
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/theandersoncenter