Meet Linnell Bowen, Executive Director, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts

Q: Tell us about your family background - how long have you lived in the area? Is your family still in the County?

A: I was born in Orlando, Florida - before Disney - that is my preservation statement. My family moved to Maryland after WWII. Ergo... I have lived in A. A. County over 50 years! I attended 4th Avenue Elementary School in Glen Burnie where the Principal was my 4th grade teacher. Then my family moved to Severna Park and I attended Annapolis Jr. and Senior High Schools. My sister and her family live in the Annapolis area. My daughter Julia is a lawyer in Washington, DC. My 1991 USNA graduate son, Paul, is now in Minneapolis MN.

Q: You graduated from Annapolis High School. Please share some memories of the school when you attended. What was the city like then?

A: I graduated from Annapolis High School in 1958. The 50's were a rather calm time and we all loved our school - sock hops, parades, sports - I even studied alot. Annapolis was a small town then and everyone knew everyone. Main Street really closed down at 8 PM, but we had 3 movie theaters downtown. Main Street was not bustling then, but the buildings - the Capital, old Carvel Hall Hotel (now the Paca House),USNA, etc. were the centers. Reynolds Tavern was the public library.

It was different than today, but I take great community pride in the fact that the buildings, the town plan have been preserved and protected. We just had our 40th Annapolis High School reunion with a Friday cocktail party at MD Hall. It was great fun to show my classmates what their old school had become.

Q: The original building for Annapolis High has since become Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, where you are Executive Director. Is it strange - or comforting - to work in a building where you went to school? How does the community respond to "the old school building"?

A: I love the old 1932 Annapolis High School and I love what it has become since 1979 when MHCA was created by some very visionary arts advocates. Architecturally this building has a solid foundation with some very classic features. Had it been abandoned, it would not have become the hub of Annapolis and A. A. County cultural life.

The community is responsible for our 20 years of success. It is amazing to me that we have over 5,000 students yearly, over 60 thousand patrons to our see fabulous Resident Companies - the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Annapolis Opera, the Annapolis Chorale, the Ballet Theatre of Annapolis, and the Peabody Preparatory of Baltimore. How many small towns do you know that support this wide expanse of arts in their back yard?

There are 3 public galleries for the visual arts that host exhibitions all year-round. Our 13 Artists-in-Residence and over 75 faculty members are incredibly talented residents of our community. MD Hall makes our community a better place to live because of the creative arts programs in both the visual and the performing arts.

Q: Your knowledge of Annapolis history and cultural life is extensive. What are some of the positions you've held - and how have they affected your current role as Maryland Hall's Executive Director?

A: My background enables me to connect many organizations to MD Hall, and make it a true community center open and available to all our citizens. I've been a professional volunteer in educational, historical and cultural communities. Presidents of PTA's, Scholarships for Scholars, Cultural Arts Foundation of A. A. County. Currently on the AAACCVB, AAAC Chamber, CAFoundation. I was Director of Development/PR for Historic Annapolis Foundation and Executive Director of the Annapolis 300- A Capital Celebration. I am able to find support from all of these corners of my life, people who are dedicated to lifelong participation in the arts, and the arts are everywhere.

Q: So far - what has been your best moment as Executive Director?

A: I have great moments everyday at MD Hall - when I see the little dancers in their tutu's or tap shoes, or when I see the faces of the school children leaving a live production in the theatre, or the students proudly displaying their hand-made pottery, paintings, sculpture, photography - the list is endless. I am always in awe of the creative spirit. My favorite thing is to sneak in on one of the many rehearsals held at the theatre - it always lifts my spirits. I have a cool job.

Q: Do you have a favorite room in the center? A favorite memory?

A: My favorite room is the old principal's office - Albert W. Fowble was the principal for 25 years at AHS, and mine also as a student and as a teacher. Now that office is my office and I have great respect for his memory.

Q: What are your dreams for Maryland Hall? Name three things at the top of your wish list.

A: For MD Hall to become the leading creative center in the region, accessible to all:

We need to renovate the building and upgrade every classroom we need to expand into other spaces in order to keep up the demand for classes and continue to offer quality educational programs for all our community we need scholarship money to offer more and more student tuition free classes (currently 20% of student classes are scholarship); and we need to underwrite visual and performing arts programming if they are to grow.

Every school child in Anne Arundel County should come to the Hall to see a live production of an opera, a symphony, a ballet, and a chorale. My long- term wish is for a school dedicated solely to the teaching of the creative arts.

Q: How can the community and businesses become more involved in Maryland Hall?

A: Everyone should become a member of Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts - for as little as $25 you can support the arts in your backyard with a membership donation. Businesses and individuals can provide sponsorships, volunteer - we have a terrific group of volunteers, or attend a concert, an art exhibition, or take a class. Call me 410/263-5544, I'll find something!

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