Newberg Graphic Online

Chehalem Cultural Center has a new executive director

Culture and the arts — Robin Anderson to supervise events, classes and more at former Central School site

• By: David Sale  
• Published: 11/24/2009 2:11:33 PM

Photo By: Gary AllenTaking the reins
Robin Anderson will be responsible for organizing the many events and classes planned for the Chehalem Cultural Center.

   The Chehalem Cultural Center Association has announced the selection of its first executive director, Robin Anderson, from among 35 applicants.
   Anderson will be responsible for creating and managing programs, facility management, coordinating personnel and volunteers, curating exhibits and developing events for the center, which is scheduled to open in the spring.
   “(Anderson) brings the background in the arts and the management experience we were looking for,” said Loni Parrish, Chehalem Cultural Center board chairwoman. “We are impressed by her passion for the arts and her enthusiasm for developing a dynamic regional cultural center.”
   Originally from the San Francisco Bay area, Anderson earned a master’s degree in fine art at the California College of the Arts, specializing in sculpture, and previously worked as the arts program director for the city of Lakewood, Colo., a Denver suburb.
   “I started as a curator for the city government, which ran five galleries, and moved up to being the director of their cultural center — very similar to what I’m doing now,” she said.
   The opportunity to develop a new art, heritage and cultural center attracted Anderson to the position. “It’s rare to see an undertaking of this scope,” said Anderson of the Chehalem Cultural Center. “There is a tremendous amount of support and community energy propelling this project forward. I am excited to be a part of it.”
   A former resident of Ashland, she was also pleased at the chance to return to the Northwest. “I wanted to find a smaller town where my skills could be of use,” she said.
   Anderson’s background includes experience in developing art programs, creating exhibits, administration and facilities management. She has been recognized for producing award-winning art exhibitions and is known for community outreach to develop programs and events that serve both broad and diverse communities.
   “She has a real desire to work with the community and it showed in her approach to Lakewood’s arts in the schools programs — she developed a curriculum in collaboration with teachers,” Parrish said. “She’s interested in making art a part of everyone’s life.”
   As director, Anderson said she hopes to continue to offer curriculum enrichment to local schools — including a summer arts camp — as well as drawing on the resources of George Fox University, Linfield College and the Portland arts community to develop classes and exhibits for the center.
   While in Lakewood, Anderson also worked to develop arts and cultural events of interest to that city’s Hispanic community, which she hopes to do in Newberg as well. Another area of interest is local history.
   “I’ve been meeting with community groups and taking suggestions — quilting classes and exhibits, and a photography darkroom, are another couple of ideas people have recommended,” she said.
   Phase one of the Chehalem Cultural Center will include gallery space, glass and ceramic studios, classrooms, a recording studio and offices. It is scheduled to open in January.
   As future sections of the former Central School are renovated, Anderson said she looks forward to adding drama and dance lessons and recitals.
   “It’s one of the few places I’ve worked that has all these elements in a single space,” she said. “We’re still fund-raising and I hope that opening the first wing will encourage more people to get involved — once the entire center is open, it will be a destination spot for visitors to the region.”

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