Introducing…Laura Thompson and Ed Harvey, The Arts Center in Orange
By Jeff Curtis, Director Orange Downtown Alliance | Posted: Thursday, April 01, 2010
The Arts Center In Orange is a non-profit (501c3) organization incorporated in 1997 by a group of dedicated artists and community members gathered around a kitchen table, planning, pledging their time, and filling the table's fish bowl center piece with funds sufficient to apply for a nonprofit license. From this humble beginning, The Arts Center began by offering classes and having small gallery shows in a series of buildings leased at reduced rates. In 2000, responding to an appeal from then Mayor Ray Lonick, the Arts Center launched a project to create a mural masking the horrendous scrap yard greeting visitors to Orange as they approached from Rt. 20 South. The project included artists and school children with construction provided by the Town of Orange engineer and carpenters. Local businessman and past Mayor Bob Morin offered a 10,000sq-ft building on Main Street as a work space to complete the project. And, after witnessing the cooperative effort -- Morin leased his building to the Arts Center for $1 a year and promised it as a posthumous gift -- a promise his family kept, gifting the building in 2009. We renovated approximately 3500sq-ft with the help of an interest free loan from board member Louisa Bradford, and began operations here in February of 2001. Since that time we have seen our programs, attendance and revenue expand dramatically.
The mission of The Arts Center In Orange is to increase the quality of life in our community by promoting an appreciation for fine contemporary arts in diverse styles and ideologies. This is done by providing: a forum to promote artistic excellence; scholarship and education; a venue for artists and artisans to work, teach, exhibit and sell work; and a place for the community to learn skills, and to participate in and enjoy the arts.*
Ed Harvey is the ever-supportive president of the Board of Directors who is openly conversational when discussing the Center, "We want people to know we are a very strong part of the community. We try to encourage people to participate and appreciate the arts," said Ed, "our programs start with kids, some only 18 months old to seniors. One student we have is 102 years old!" With a correction from Laura that that person may now be 103.
Ed has been on the Board since 2001 and said that he has always been interested in art. After retiring from the television industry in 2000 he and Ada, his wife of 29 years, moved to Orange and quickly became engrained in the art community. "I've taken watercolor classes, drawing and am now working on wheel pottery."
During his tenure on the board, Ed has made himself available for countless board and committee meetings. He has also been relied upon for mail stuffing, heavy lifting, floor mopping, trash hauling, and manning the reception desk. Up until the roof repair, Ed would leave his cozy home during any rain or snow storm to check and dump the upstairs drip buckets, making sure that the gallery and gift shop were not threatened. No gallery opening has been without a dish provided by Ed and Ada and the bar has always been stocked. The couple has hosted many fundraising and donor cultivation events in their home. When Butch Davies called on Ed to join the Board of Trustees for the Virginians for the Arts, Ed did not balk (well maybe he balked, but he did it), attending regular meetings in Richmond. In addition, Ed and Ada have personally provided thousands of dollars in support on an annual basis.
When asked what he's most proud of Ed reflected but briefly before saying, "Continuity. We've gone through some challenging times and now we think we're finally in a 'manageable' stage. The Board has evolved and developed, and Laura Thompson our executive director has brought the stability and focus to the organization. We want to be a useful facility to the community, helping by hosting groups here: garden clubs, the ODA, Rotarians and Grymes School all use the building."
Laura Thompson
Always thoughtful and focused, Laura Thompson has been a champion of bringing the arts to everybody in the county. "I want to do something with programs that benefits the community in a positive manner," she explained, "My dream is that the community will come to realize the importance of the Center - everybody, not just the traditional art enthusiast, but the kids and people who have not had the experience of art before, like making pots or the beauty of quilts."
"Our art center in known throughout the state for the impact we are having," Thompson said. "A few weeks ago I called the Virginia Commission for the Arts in Richmond. As I was explaining who I was the lady on the phone said, 'Oh yes Laura, we know who you are!' I loved that. This art center, right here in downtown Orange is known across the state of Virginia with enough credibility to be placed on a prioritized list for funding. We always try to bring more money in to Orange then we take out."
Interesting story of how Thompson came to the position of Executive Director: "In 2003 my mom had passed and the family was looking for a location to show her art." "Her mom was a wonderful artist in her own right," interjected Ed Harvey. "I called the Art Center and asked the then director, Aimee Hunt, if we could have a memorial exhibition of mom's artwork of which was granted for a three day period. The three day period turned into a month long show," Laura fondly recalls. "In the process of preparing for the show I learned that Aimee and the board were looking for a new executive director. Carolyn Quinn, then a Board member, encouraged me to seek the position - the rest is history. Honestly, I wouldn't have done it without Carolyn's encouragement.
"Thank God she did," said Ed.
The Arts Center in Orange depends on the volunteer support of many to provide the free services it does. To donate a few hours of your time contact them at 540.672.7311 or theartsorange@aol.com.
