Big changes are happening over at St. Paul's Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts, a hub turning creativity into a lifeline for artists with disabilities. After a stellar 27-year tenure, Jeanne Calvit is handing over the reins. Calvit, the center's founding artistic director, has announced her retirement effective Valentine's Day, confirming a transition that's been brewing since before the pandemic threw the world into chaos, American Theatre reports.
Interact, a cornerstone for artists who navigate through the world with disabilities, has seen advocacy and artistry hand in hand, or rather, brush in hand and voice on stage. Calvit isn't one to "put your feet up and do nothing" post the executive role; she's got her sights on internationally spreading the gospel of transformative arts. She will pass the baton to a new leader, Joseph Price, who is no stranger to the mission as a father to a child with disabilities and a dedicated operations manager, according to information provided to CBS News Minnesota.
"I am proud to say that with the help and support of our incredible arts community, an exceptional staff of dedicated arts collaborators and mentors, the families and friends of our artists, and most important of all, our company of theatre and visual artists – Interact has been a vital part of the Twin Cities professional arts community for almost 30 years," Calvit penned in what could be described as a love letter to her life's work, details of which emerged in an American Theatre release.
Meanwhile, Price is stepping up to champion the space that not only fosters artistic ambitions but also empowers individuals. "We provide a space where our artists can really pursue their dreams," Price said. "It's a place where they belong. They feel that, they know that. We want to make sure that they feel that everywhere that they go. And we think through pursuing their art and sharing that with the community, that people will get that and they'll find a deeper sense of belonging," Price said.
Price takes command of an award-winning arts center that's not only conquered stages with esteemed local collaborations but also scooped accolades from the National Endowment for the Arts and an Innovation Award from the MN Department of Human Services. If the past is any indication, the future of Interact under Price promises to continue painting a diverse, inclusive, and bold stroke in the Twin Cities arts tapestry.
