Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Clifford.
Joan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
We started as an after school art enrichment program in the Milton public schools when art was continually cut from the budget. We were disappointed that advocating for more art in our kid’s school day had no impact so another mother, Betsy Cronin Pappano and I decided that instead of driving our daughters in to Boston for an art class, we would start our own after school art program called FAVA, Friends and Advocates of the Visual Arts.
FAVA morphed into the Milton Art Center when the old East Milton Library building became available. We applied for the building and won the bid. We renovated the library into a gallery exhibit space and music performance room upstairs and an art room downstairs for classes.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has never been a smooth road, but it has been an enjoyable journey. Getting the word out that we existed has always been one of our challenges. Creating programming that people are interested in is another challenge. When classes or events don’t draw enough people we wonder, is it the offering or are we not doing a good enough job getting the word out- this is a constant challenge.
The other challenge is that we are an organization that runs on volunteers. We have a gallery committee that produces art shows, a music committee that produces a music series and Open Mic, and a programming committee that puts together our programming. All our volunteers have jobs and families and in their spare time help the art center.
I’m paid now for a portion of the hours I put into the art center as an Executive Director. For the first couple of years I was not paid because we needed to keep the building running and pay our bills.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We offer art classes, workshops, birthday parties, music performance, gallery shows, an artisan fair and cultural events for all ages.
We are most proud of our community art programming which is free or almost free to the public. We have 4 programs, Open Mic, a monthly get together for local musicians, Art in the Windows, an annual public art program for children, a BackYard arts and music festival once a year and our latest program, soon to start, Teen Clay Studio Night, a monthly program for Teens to get together on a Friday night, socialize and create.
We are proud to offer local artists, authors, artisans, musicians and teachers a place to showcase their talent. Until the Milton Art Center opened I knew only 2 artists, they were parents in the grammar school my children attended. The best aspect of the Milton Art Center is that I have met so many talented local artists, musicians,
artisans and authors in our community. Getting to know these people and their work is the best part of the Milton Art Center.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Milton is a wonderful town because of the people – my husband Kevin and I feel like we chose well when deciding to move here 22 years ago. The Milton Art Center is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) community art organization. We lease our building from the Town of Milton. We see our organization as improving the quality of life in our town.
Our town could improve by working with us to improve community art programming and engagement for all ages.
Art and music are lifelong skills that enhance our lives and mental health and deserve the same consideration as our parks and recreation areas that are used for the development of young athletes, health and enjoyment.
Contact Info:
- Address: 334 Edge Hill Road
Milton, MA 02186 - Website: www.miltonartcenter.org
- Email: info@miltonartcenter.org
- Instagram: miltonartcenter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MiltonArtCenter/
- Twitter: Milton Art Center@Miltonartcenter
Image Credit:
Photo of Joan Clifford, taken by Makayla Rose Sullivan.
All Milton Art Center photos taken by Joan Clifford
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