Rockville Arts and Culture Leaders’ Exchange

Rockville Arts and Culture Leaders’ Exchange

The first Rockville Arts and Culture Leaders’ Exchange welcomes all leaders at the helm of Rockville’s arts and culture organizations for a time of co-facilitated learning. Leaders will share with each other how they have created innovative ways to carry their organizations forward in today’s challenging arts and culture nonprofit environment and how they can work together to address the sector’s challenges.

This first quarterly meeting’s conversation will feature Sarah Chapin (Managing Director, Adventure Theatre & ATMTC Academy) and Laura Andruski (Board Member, Rockville Little Theater). Chapin who will share how ATMTC has created GRACE, Greater Rockville Arts Collective, and what GRACE does to support local nonprofits, including renting space at a nonprofit friendly rate. Andruski will share how RLT has designed partnerships with other local nonprofits to reduce overhead and leverage networks to boost ticket sales. Their presentations will be followed by a time to determine leaders’ call to action and how leaders will address challenges together in the coming months.

The event is hybrid and no registration is required. Leaders can attend the Exchange in person at ATMTC’s studios at 837 D Rockville Pike, or online through Webex. Virtual meeting information is below:

Meeting link: https://rockvillemd.webex.com/rockvillemd/j.php?MTID=m80ed1f2c48513ff368ea4d29fe9682dd
Meeting number: 2634 797 4864
Meeting password: NaAudbHU373
Join by phone: +1-408-418-9388 (Toll)
Access code: 26347974864

About the presenters:

Sarah Chapin, Managing Director, joined Adventure Theatre MTC as Managing Director in April 2024. Introduced to theatre in a class at her local community center, she can personally attest to the lasting impact of arts education. Originally from the DMV, she began her professional theatre career as a teenager in DC, appearing in productions at The Keegan Theatre and Studio Theatre. She graduated from Yale University with a degree in Theatre Studies, and spent her first years out of school performing professionally on stages around the world. She joined Signature Theatre in 2022 as a member of the Development team, building new relationships and even stronger connections to the theatre community in the DMV. She is a Helen Hayes Award winner and is excited to continue working in the theatre community that raised her! Sarah is eager to expand access to theatre for all students, so every child that steps through the doors of Adventure Theatre feels valued, engaged, and inspired.

Laura W. Andruski received her B.A. in Theatre/Communications from Rider University. A dedicated arts administrator for over 40 years, Laura has previously been employed as the Theatre Coordinator for the Arts Barn/City of Gaithersburg; Education Program Manager at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, NY; and Program Manager/Publicity Director for the Department of the Arts (iEAR Presents!) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  She also previously served as the Associate Program Director for the ’62 Center for Theatre & Dance at Williams College.  As the Assistant Director of the Richard L. Swig Arts Center on the Campus of The Peddie School, she developed several summer arts programs in the visual and performing arts for children ages 6-18, including the award-winning “Stars of Tomorrow Showcase.”  Laura is a trained facilitator for Secondary Schools Shakespeare Festivals from the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.  In addition to her administrative work, Laura is in-demand as a theatrical director for community and college theatrical productions, and she has been recognized by WATCH (Washington Theater Community Honors), Ruby Griffith Awards (MD), and TANYS (Theatre Association of New York State) as an award-winning actress and director. A budding playwright, Laura has co-authored several youth theatre musicals including The Snow Queen and Puss in Boots.  She has served on several arts boards and panels including Rockville Little Theatre, City of Rockville Cultural Arts Commission, the Town of Clifton Park’s Community Arts & Culture Commission, Schenectady Civic Players, Princeton Opera Association, The Saratoga Arts Council, and Arts Center of the Capital Region. Newly retired, she is also the founding Producing Artistic Director of A Taste For Murder Productions, providing audience participation murder mystery productions for public, private and corporate events.  Laura resides in Rockville with her husband Stephen and two cats, Hagrid and Luna.