Introducing the New Arts Ambassador

If you read my last post, you’ll remember me mentioning that video and blog was my “last-ish” entry for Annapolis Discovered. Well, this post is now my official last post for Arts Annapolis. Being the host of this video blog has brought me new experiences, new friends, and an expanded love for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. I am proud to not only be a member of this community, but a member of the thriving arts scene that exists here.

Before I introduced the idea of my leaving the blog, I knew that I needed to find the perfect person to pass the Arts Annapolis baton to. Running through the Rolodex of artists and creatives in my mind, one person stuck out - Thomas James. I met Thomas a couple of years ago at Circle Gallery on State Circle in Annapolis.

He was working with the Maryland Federation of Arts (MFA) as their Exhibitions Manager. Friendly, warm, and beyond knowledgeable of the local arts scene, I knew that he would be a perfect fit. After many excited emails, the day arrived for us to shoot our first video together. By the end, I was entirely encouraged that I had made the right choice!

Like reading a book, I feel a little sad about approaching the last sentence of the last chapter. On the contrary, like a properly written series, I am anxiously awaiting the sequel!

Hello everyone! My name is Thomas James and I am super excited to be the new Arts Ambassador for Annapolis Discovered. I’ve been involved with the Annapolis arts scene since January 2016 when I interned with Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts under (then) Director of Exhibits and the Visual Arts, Sigrid Trumpy. I worked with her for a month before curating my first exhibition entitled “The Legion of Imagination: Versatility in Photography” at Mountain City Center for the Arts in Frostburg, MD.

After that, in November 2016, the next exhibition I curated entitled, “Darkest Before the Dawn,” was held at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts! From there, my time in Annapolis expanded immensely as I began working as the Exhibition Manager at the Maryland Federation of Art (MFA) in August 2017.

My time at MFA was very special because it allowed me to connect with Annapolis in an entirely new way. I was able to ingrain myself into the community by meeting artists that are still living and working in Annapolis, connecting with the many art administrators that keep the art community’s engine running, and I was able to collaborate with other businesses within the community to host impactful workshops in their spaces.

All of this experience helped me to become the Visual Arts Curator at Creative Alliance in Baltimore, MD - and even though I’m 30 minutes up the Beltway, that hasn’t stopped me from being part of the Annapolis community. I blog monthly for Urban Walls Brazil and I take part in artist talks at The Commons and West Annapolis Fine Art and Framing.

I am very happy to now take on the role of Arts Ambassador for Annapolis Discovered and promise to continue to bring high-quality content that sheds light on our amazing arts community.