By LEE WARD / THE INDEPENDENT
Ashland — The idea of coming full circle repeats in conversations with Teri Clark, director of development at the Paramount Arts Center.
She notes the Paramount itself has come full circle, showing films through its Second Sunday program.
She recalls the wonderful times she spent growing up and coming to the theater, too.
“I can remember, when I was very little, my aunt and uncle brought me to see Tom T. Hall at the Paramount. It must’ve had an effect,” she said, adding she still loves country music and looks forward to seeing country acts at the Paramount.
Also when she was a child, she studied at the June Conn School of Dance and performed on the Paramount stage in recital. Even later, she remembers taking the school bus from school to the old theater for Youth Education events.
A graduate of Marshall University in journalism, Clark’s first job was an internship with the Greater Ashland Foundation, which was formed in 1972 to provide financial support for the Paramount.
Now, Clark is nearly two months into her job, which is focused on fundraising for the Paramount.
She said it has been somewhat difficult to begin her job in fundraising during the planning of the Paramount’s biggest fundraiser — Spring Gala, set for April 17 — but it also has been exciting.
She said she hopes to add fundraising events to the Paramount’s lineup, which also includes Grape Expectations, a wine-tasting party.
Another part of her job is to cultivate sponsors for shows and events.
“We have a very loyal support base for the Paramount,” she said.
Working with other agencies and with the city is important in development, too, she said, and grant writing will be part of her duties as well.
Clark pointed out that, like most jobs at the Paramount, there is a lot of crossover. She said she expects to work with the Youth Education series. She said she has a special interest in education as she works toward her master of arts in education at Morehead State University. She also learned she enjoys education when she spend a few years working as a substitute teacher.
“With funding for the arts constantly being cut and no longer part of KATS testing, there is a void left in the arts and humanities in schools,” she said. “The Paramount’s youth and enrichment is making headway toward filling that void.”
She said she’s enjoying working at the Paramount for many reasons, including her co-workers.
“I love the staff,” she said. “They’re very motivated and caring. Everyone here has a passion about the Paramount in one way or another.”
Clark is most aware of her own passion for the theater that comes from a lifetime of connections to it.
“When you’re a kid and you come into this theater, it’s magical,” she said. “As an adult, I walk in here and it’s still magical.”
LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.
