As the executive director of the Wayne Art Center, Nancy Campbell has quite an appreciation for her staff. She remembers all too well what it was like singlehandedly attending to all the responsibilities that come with running a fledgling operation, from organizing programming and setting up the exhibits to fundraising and marketing.
During Campbell’s 25 years at the center, there have certainly been changes. She’s managed two successful capital campaigns and overseen two expansions. The center now offers up to 600 classes each year, with annual enrollment reaching 6,000. “Our tagline is ‘Enriching Our Community Through the Arts’—and I really feel like we’re doing that,” says Campbell, who lives in Berwyn.
So far, Campbell has organized more than 300 exhibitions at the center, making it her mission to ensure that those shows represent both emerging and established artists at local, national and international levels. She’s also developed two well-known annual events: the Plein Air Festival and Craft Forms, the latter an international exhibition of museum-quality contemporary crafts. WAC is known for its outreach programs for folks in need, including children with autism, those with brain injuries and (soon) people with Alzheimer’s.
“I know how important the role of the center is in making the arts accessible to all members of our community, regardless of age, ability or economic means,” says Campbell. “I’ve had a passion for the arts my entire life. I’m thrilled to be able to do what I do.”
