Each month, we shine the spotlight on one of our incredible team members. This month, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Anne Waters, our new Director of Development. Anne recently moved here from South Carolina and is excited to bring her expertise to our team.
How long have you been with The ArtsCenter, and why did you join?
I started working at The ArtsCenter two months ago on the eve of our 50th anniversary gala, which provided a fabulous introduction. I joined the staff because I am passionate about the arts, and our mission to educate, inspire, and enrich people’s lives with art resonates deeply with me.
How long have you been involved with the Chapel Hill/Carrboro community?
I made my first trek to Chapel Hill in the 1980s to see Joan Jett & the Heartbreakers and I have been happily returning ever since. I am a new resident, though, but I feel very much at home. My husband is from Hendersonville and he and the rest of his family all attended UNC, where our son Eli just completed his freshman year.
What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday here?
My Saturdays start with a yoga class at one of the area’s fantastic studios—Franklin Street, Carrboro, Yoga Garden—just to name a few, which is followed by working at Koinonia Community Garden in Chatham County. After that, my family and I usually go out to lunch, and we are slowly making our way through the area’s wonderful restaurants.
What is a dream project you’d like to undertake at The ArtsCenter?
I am an avid gardener and student of permaculture and sustainable living, so my dream project is making The ArtsCenter an urban oasis where art and nature are seamlessly interwoven. I dream of The ArtsCenter becoming the centerpiece of a green corridor that stretches from the 203 Project, and meanders down the greenway to the Chapel Hill line.
What are your future visions for The ArtsCenter?
Our new building has provided us with amazing space to create and experience great art—and make wonderful memories. Having the children here for our AfterSchool program fills the studios, classrooms, and labs with chatter, curiosity, and joy. I want to build on that vibe by generating the funds for staff to expand our great programming and offerings so that The ArtsCenter is always teeming with creative energy.
What’s the most rewarding feedback you’ve received at work?
When my ArtsCenter colleagues found out I teach yoga, they asked to start practicing here at work. That has been very rewarding.
