HOUSTON (December 15, 2009) – Effective December 1st, Spacetaker founder and long-time arts champion, David A. Brown, passed the Spacetaker baton to the organization’s Managing Director, Jenni Rebecca Stephenson. Brown started Spacetaker eight years ago with passion and a deep respect for artists and the organizations that nurture their artistic growth. Through Spacetaker, he raised awareness of Houston’s vibrant art scene, as well as provided professional resources for local artists and arts organizations. Naming his successor, Stephenson, at Spacetaker marks the completion of a three-year strategic plan initiated by his work with National Arts Strategies.
Brown will continue as a significant force within the organization, serving as Founding Director on the Board of Directors, as well as on Spacetaker’s newly formed Artist Advisory Board. His knowledge and many years of experience in the field will be invaluable in advancing Spacetaker’s ongoing mission to provide artists and non-profits access to economic development, continuing education, and networking opportunities to support their professional growth. Says Board President Amy Tanner, “We are very grateful to David for identifying a need in the Houston Arts Community for Spacetaker, expending the vast amounts of energy and passion to create it, and then having the insight to pull from the greatest talents around to assist in keeping it alive. David has continued to position the organization for great continued success, as evidenced by his insight in hiring Jenni Rebecca in 2008 and also the recent launch of the new Spacetaker website.”
July of 2008 marked both the hire of Stephenson as Spacetaker’s Managing Director and the organization’s move to a new home in Winter Street Studios, where the Artist Resource Center (ARC) was born. Over the last year, the ARC hosted 24 professional development workshops for artists and arts organizations, assisting over 1,200 individuals. Furthermore, Spacetaker has put over $57,000 in the hands of more than 160 local artists and raised roughly $8,000 for local nonprofit arts organizations through programming such as the Winter Holiday Art Market and Cultured Cocktails. Through its events and collaborations with over 50 Houston-area nonprofit organizations, Spacetaker has directly impacted over 7,000 Houstonians. The impressive lineup of professional development programming, along with the record sales and attendance of this year’s annual Winter Holiday Art Market (WHAM) have made 2009 a hallmark year for the organization.
“Over the past 18 months, Jenni Rebecca has brought many talents to the organization. She was pivotal in launching our ARC workshop series, the Arts Leadership Forums, and Cultured Cocktails, and I feel that the organization is in a great position with Jenni Rebecca’s leadership to continue to serve the Houston arts community. Her commitment, passion and hard work will lead the organization to even greater success,” says Brown.
Stephenson holds a Bachelors of Music from the University of Houston’s (UH) Moores School of Music and a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing at UH, where she was part of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration. At UH, she directed for the Moores Opera Center, the Stuart Ostrow Musical Theatre Collaboration, and the Edward Albee New Playwrights Workshops. She cofounded Nova Arts Project and has acted in and directed several Nova productions, such as The Joy Luck Club, a collaboration between the Asian Pacific-American Heritage Association, Dance of Asian American, and Maggini String Orchestra produced in coalition with the Houston Public Library for the National Endowment of the Arts’ Big Read Campaign. Nova’s Founding Directors won one of the first annual Houston Press MasterMind Awards for the company's work. Stephenson has also worked with outlets such as The Ebony Opera Guild at Miller Outdoor Theatre, TUTS, and YOSA at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio. She serves on the Board of BooTown and the Advisory Board of Opera in the Heights. Since her hire as Spacetaker’s Managing Director, she has regularly contributed to 002 Magazine and Absolutely! in the Loop, as well as blogged with the Houston Chronicle (Chron.com) City Brights.
Says Stephenson, “I am honored that David has entrusted the leadership of the organization to me and will fulfill Spacetaker’s mission to the best of my ability. I am also proud of the Board of Directors led by Amy Tanner, Elaine Conway, and Jim Stevens and including so many leaders in the art community. With the Board’s guidance and support, I am confident 2010 will be a pivotal year for the organization’s growth.”
In light if this transition, Stephenson and the Board of Directors are pleased to announce that Spacetaker’s 6th annual Gala on Saturday, March 20, 2010, will honor Founder David Brown and his eight-year commitment to the organization and its mission. The event will celebrate the important contributions Brown has made to the Houston art community and his lasting impact on the organization.
