Cluny Madison was impressed by the Jansen Artwork Middle when she first got here throughout the chief director opening.
“Every part about it, from the superbly restored constructing to the wide selection of arts and crafts provided and the general high quality of the programming, stood out,” she stated.
What actually captured her, although, was her expertise throughout the interview course of.
“‘The J’ transcends being simply an artwork house; it’s a artistic dwelling for the folks of Whatcom County,” she stated. “It’s a pleasant and alluring place the place folks come to find their hidden skills, make associates and create lovely artwork.”
Madison, 59, who began as the brand new chief in late September, stated she is honored that the board and employees have invited her to be part of this vibrant group and “to steer the J ahead, and to proceed fostering an area the place creativity thrives.”
Madison is initially from Sheffield, England, and has lived in Washington state since 2007. She graduated from the College of Central Florida with a level in communicative problems.
“My love of phrases and language pointed me to that diploma and in the end led me to work in communications,” she stated. “I used to be influenced by my mother and father, who have been each passionate in regards to the spoken and written phrase.”
Cluny Madison admires a number of the artwork on show within the Jansen Artwork Middle’s convention room. (Andrew Ford/Cascadia Each day Information)
She’s labored for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Nationwide Audubon Society — organizations devoted to preserving land and water for folks, nature and birds.
Throughout her practically six-year tenure as the chief director of the Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS), Madison stated she developed an appreciation and pleasure for small, community-based nonprofits.
She touted her two-decade stint at TNC, in each Florida and Washington state — first in philanthropy and later as a director of promoting and communications.
“The TNC nurtured my love of nature and invested in my pursuits in administration and management,” she stated.
Considered one of her favourite recollections is when she obtained a conservancy fellowship to go work in Australia for 2 months to assist a small conservation group write its first communications plan.
“That tremendous expertise was the spark that impressed me to consider becoming a member of a smaller, native group,” Madison stated.
After working with a world non-governmental group like TNC, turning into the chief director for the Seattle nonprofit ECOSS couldn’t have been extra totally different, Madison stated, with a employees of 20 in a single location and all the things on a smaller and extra quick scale.
ECOSS is a multicultural group that works with immigrant and refugee communities to beat boundaries that restrict entry to data, assets and Washington state’s pure areas.
She beloved it.
“Working there opened my eyes and coronary heart to be taught from variations and respect how different cultures expertise the fun and challenges of life and nature,” she stated.
With a fancy enterprise mannequin that depends closely on earned revenue from fee-for-service applications, she stated she realized quite a bit about how one can run a profitable nonprofit.
Cluny Madison performs the piano in Jansen Artwork Middle’s second-floor Chamber Corridor — the positioning of each artwork displays and stay music concert events. (Andrew Ford/Cascadia Each day Information)
She was intrigued by Whatcom County after her son graduated from highschool and commenced his research on the College of British Columbia (UBC) throughout the pandemic in 2020.
He couldn’t get throughout the border to attend courses at UBC in Vancouver, she stated, so that they brainstormed about how one can make his first yr thrilling even when he couldn’t get on campus. Bellingham was the apparent alternative when it got here to the place to stay.
That’s when Madison and her associate Brad Ruekgauer began visiting Whatcom County and thought they could wish to stay right here, too.
Madison stated her strategy to her new place is to hear and be taught.
Weeks earlier than she began the job, a ceramics teacher was arrested on the heart in entrance of staff and members for crimes allegedly dedicated in Montana.
Cascadia Each day Information lined the incident and its aftermath in a current story, which included the steps Jansen Artwork Middle’s board instantly took to take away the teacher from his job and the humanities house.
“I used to be knowledgeable of the arrest earlier than assuming my place,” Madison stated. “I’ve full confidence within the board’s dealing with of the matter. The board acted swiftly and responsibly to handle the scenario. They expressed deep concern and a dedication to making sure the continued security and well-being of our group.”
Madison stated in her position as government director, she understands the gravity of the scenario, and needs folks to know she and the board are “utilizing the occasion as a possibility for a deep dive evaluation of our hiring and screening practices.”
She stated she is dedicated to understanding the Jansen Artwork Middle from all views — the board of administrators, employees, studio leads, volunteers, donors and group members — and is wanting ahead to studying from different arts leaders in Whatcom County.
Madison stated she is happy to discover Whatcom County’s forests and mountains with Ruekgauer and their canine, Maisay.
“Our ardour for journey has taken us to Iceland, Portugal and Eire lately, and we’re all the time daydreaming in regards to the subsequent journey,” Madison stated.
The Jansen Artwork Middle is situated at 321 Entrance St., Lynden. The house options a number of exhibitions, artwork studios, a retailer and efficiency areas. Entry is free. Data: jansenartcenter.org.
