Arts Management alumni

Off the Clock: Stacey Schwartz added a Free Little Art Gallery to her community

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:37:49 +0000

Off the Clock: Stacey Schwartz added a Free Little Art Gallery to her community Lauren Reuscher Thu, 02/29/2024 - 09:37

Life is much more than time spent on the clock. In this series, we highlight the unique hobbies and volunteer activities of Mason's talented faculty and staff.

Stacey Schwartz opened a Free Little Art Gallery in her community for her capstone project in the Arts Management Program. Photo provided

Stacey Schwartz works as a digital strategist for the Center for the Arts and the Hylton Performing Arts Center at ��AV. A Mason alum, Schwartz, MA Arts Management ’23, brought her capstone research project to life when she opened a Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG) in her community.

FLAGs are similar to free little libraries. They contain free pieces of miniature art, submitted by artists and meant to be exchanged.

The Free Little Art Gallery is similar to a Free Little Library. Photo provided

While completing her master’s in arts management, Schwartz read an article about a Free Little Art Gallery in Seattle, Washington. She noticed that early in the pandemic, these galleries served as community builders for both local residents and those following the galleries online. She decided to start one in her Arlington, Virginia, neighborhood.

“The Arts Management Program is the reason that I started my Free Little Art Gallery, which has connected me to artists locally, nationally, and internationally,” said Schwartz. “My arts management background helped me understand how to use this tool successfully to build and strengthen my community.”

When starting the gallery, Schwartz reached out to artists and invited them to drop off their work. When artists provide new pieces, Stacey uploads photos of the work to the gallery’s Instagram. Visitors are free to stop by the gallery and take the art home, whether or not they have something to add to the gallery.

Schwartz encourages artists who leave art in the gallery to include their Instagram handle or other contact information with the piece, so they can be recognized for their contributions. Artists all over the United States have mailed pieces to her for inclusion in the gallery, and she recently received her first international piece from an artist and FLAG founder in Australia.

Recently, Schwartz worked with a local community member to install a geocache, expanding the gallery's reach. In geocaching, participants use their GPS to find hidden containers, called geocaches—which, in this case, leads them to the art gallery.

Visitors are free to stop by the gallery and take the art home, whether or not they have something to add to the gallery. Photo provided

Schwartz has worked with arts organizations throughout her career, including Washington Performing Arts, Arlington Arts, and WETA. In her current role as digital strategist for Mason’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, she combines her interests in the arts and technology. Schwartz is also the board chair for the Educational Theater Company in Arlington.

The decision to study arts management was an easy one for Schwartz. “I have focused on digital platforms and the arts throughout my career, and I was ready to see the bigger picture,” she said. “Many of my colleagues had gone through the program here at Mason and were so enthusiastic that it seemed like the perfect next step, and it was.”

Schwartz is planning to offer a summer internship with her FLAG.

Follow Schwartz’s Free Little Art Gallery on Instagram @freelittleartgallery_arlington.

Hear Schwartz talk more about Mason, her career, and the Free Little Art Gallery on the Embracing Arlington Arts podcast.

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Arts Management alumni

Christina Papaniclou

Pam Muirheid — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 17:14:56 +0000

Christina Papaniclou Pam Muirheid Tue, 02/09/2021 - 12:14

Biography

Tell us about yourself.

I am a first generation American with parents from Greece and Hong Kong. I have my MFA in painting and critical theory from Central Saint Martins in London. I have lived in New York City for most of my life where I founded E.TAY Gallery, a contemporary art space for recent graduate students. 

Why did you choose Arts Management at Mason?

I chose Arts Management at Mason because I wanted to pivot my career towards a nonprofit mission. After teaching myself the basics of running a gallery, I was inspired to go back to school to gain practical knowledge in budgeting, marketing, and development. Mason's course descriptions seemed to fit that mold. 

What makes you passionate about the arts?

I could never imagine my life without being immersed in the arts. I was voted "most artistic" in my high school yearbook, and then went on to receive my undergraduate degree in Studio Art. I have always surrounded myself with artists because we are able to respond to, influence, and uplift society in a way that no other sector or industry can. 

What area of arts management are you interested in and why?

I am interested in project management or exhibition coordination for the visual arts. I love working with artists directly to help them achieve their vision and goals.

What is your favorite art activity in the area and why?

My current favorite art activity relates to a project I am working on outside of school. I help an artist coordinate public dialogues that address the intersection between artistic practice and activism. At these events, we invite local grassroots activist organizations to mingle with our crowd to inspire action towards social justice issues. 

What was a favorite project or class you've had and why?

My favorite class was Museum Management with Professor Claire Huschle. It was a summer course in which we discussed contemporary issues within the sector. We had to opportunity to visit several museums and meet professionals in the field. Some of the museums we visited were The National Museum of the American Indian, the Hirschhorn, and Glenstone. This course inspired my Capstone project, which focuses on what it means to "decolonize" a museum.

Natalie Gelbvaks

Kelly Hansen — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 21:55:05 +0000

Natalie Gelbvaks Kelly Hansen Fri, 01/29/2021 - 16:55

2020, Arts Management, MA

Biography

Tell us about yourself.

Natalie Gelbvaks is a graduate student at the College of Visual and Performing Arts, pursuing her master’s degree in Arts Management. Born in Beer-Sheva, Israel she relocated to Brazil at 6 years old where she was raised and obtained her high school diploma at A.Liessin Scholem Aleichem and Bachelor’s degree in Social Communications at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio).

Why did you choose Arts Management at Mason?

I have always been passionate about the Arts, specifically the performing arts, and I had opportunities back in Brazil to perform with choirs, Musical Theatre and solo. However, I also have always enjoyed the behind the scenes of the arts, making me want to study Arts Management to gain more knowledge about the field. The reason I have chosen Mason was because when I came to visit the University I could see myself here. Also, I was amazed by all the art in D.C and thought it would be great to learn about Arts Management in this location.

What makes you passionate about the arts?

I believe the arts have many "powers". To heal, to engage, to give some piece to people. For me, personally, that's what singing is. It helps me to breathe better, have a better posture and feel happy! I love going to a concert and see the audience singing along to the singers, for example. I believe this is the power arts have, it just makes us feel better.

What area of arts management are you interested in and why?

I really enjoy marketing for the arts, producing and event planning. I believe those roles require good communication skills, being outgoing, being proactive, having a good time management and I believe I could be good at it. It would be fun to use creativity on a daily-basis.

What is your favorite art activity in the area and why?

Singing and seeing other people sing. I have been studying singing for 10 years and I absolutely love it! I have always loved musicals and that's the reason I decided to study singing, because I wanted to sing like the Disney princesses. Overall, it really makes me happy. I used to love doing my classes first thing in the morning because I knew the rest of my day would be awesome because my energy was so high!.

What was a favorite project or class you had and why?

A favorite project was a Marketing assignment. I had to do a Marketing plan for the musical "The Band's visit". It was really special because first of all, it's a musical and I love it. Second of all, the story is set in Israel, where I was born and they even speak and sing in Hebrew a little bit. The ironic part is that I chose it randomly, out of a basket, and I got this one. It was perfect for me.

Arts Management alumni

Off the Clock: Stacey Schwartz added a Free Little Art Gallery to her community

In This Story

Follow the Free Little Art Gallery

More about the Arts Management Program

More Off the Clock stories

Topics

Christina Papaniclou

Biography

Tell us about yourself.

Why did you choose Arts Management at Mason?

What makes you passionate about the arts?

What area of arts management are you interested in and why?

What is your favorite art activity in the area and why?

What was a favorite project or class you've had and why?

Natalie Gelbvaks

Biography

Tell us about yourself.

Why did you choose Arts Management at Mason?

What makes you passionate about the arts?

What area of arts management are you interested in and why?

What is your favorite art activity in the area and why?

What was a favorite project or class you had and why?

Why did you choose Arts Management at Mason?

What area of arts management are you interested in and why?

What is your favorite art activity in the area and why?