As The ArtsCenter continues to adjust to its change in location, the nonprofit is also adjusting to new — albeit, familiar — leadership.
Wendy Smith has moved into the executive director position for the Carrboro-based arts organization in recent weeks, sharing in January that she had made the jump from The ArtsCenter’s development director. The prior executive director, Jenny Shultz-Thomas, left in December after less than two years so she could take a role with the Christian branch of a tri-faith initiative in Nebraska. Smith earned the role after having both board and staff support once the nonprofit learned of Shultz-Thomas’ plans to move.
“I always talk about the organization as cogs in a machine, because everything in The ArtsCenter is connected,” Smith told Chapelboro about the change. “Now, I get to be the oil that helps all the cogs work.”
Smith has previously served on the Carrboro nonprofit’s Board of Directors and her children have attended various art camps there. Before joining The ArtsCenter, Smith earned other nonprofit experience through working with The Scrap Exchange in Durham as its development and finance director. For several years prior, she owned and operated the gift store Cameron’s in Chapel Hill and Carrboro until it closed in 2019.
Wendy Smith, Executive Director of The ArtsCenter. (Photo via The ArtsCenter.)
One of the overarching tasks for Smith is continuing to adjust and expand in The ArtsCenter’s new home on 400 Roberson Street. The nonprofit moved there in August 2023 after 36 years at 300 East Main Street and had the opportunity to turn the space into something that best fit its needs. Smith spoke about how much of a resource — and initial hurdle — as part of 97.9 The Hill’s Forum on The Hill series.
“It’s been really exciting being in a new building,” she said. “Of course it creates certain challenges as we figure out how we’re going to use that space, how we’re going to grow that space. We did not skip a beat — we moved out of our building on August 25, held a grand opening on August 26, and then started programming that Monday. So, we have been super busy settling in.”
“I love that we’re all on one floor now,” Smith added, “so we’re totally accessible. We also have created spaces based around the programming that we’re doing now. We moved into our old building in 1987 and our programming has changed a lot, so now our spaces are purpose-built. Everything is flexible: our green room is now also a writing room, our performance space can also be a dance studio. I love that we really have flexibility in this new space.”
Another big benchmark on the horizon is The ArtsCenter’s 50th anniversary in 2024. A gala on March 16 will help kick off the anniversary celebrations for the next year. Smith said she feels “especially honored to be leading The ArtsCenter into the next 50 years” as she transitions into the executive director position before that anniversary.
Smith confirmed the nonprofit will hire a new director of development, but that those responsibilities will still fall on her in the meantime.
“It’s been a very busy transition,” she said, “but it’s a very exciting one.”
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