Constance Clark is the Program Development Specialist of Arts@Large. As a career professional with 30 years of experience in theater, her role helps to provide financial opportunities for artists and develop visual, performing and culinary programming for schools that have lost arts funding. The existence of Arts@Large is very important to the Greater Milwaukee community. With a 16-year history, the organization pays much needed stipends to artists in specific communities and delivers program development that is central to the continued success of the fine arts.
As a lifelong resident of Milwaukee, Constance's immersion into theater was derived from family tragedy which highlighted the overwhelming need in her community for adult-directed nurturing, creative arts for youth. What began as a families' attempt to cope with their tragic loss grew into the African American Children's Theater (AACT), an organization funded on grants, donations and sponsorships that epitomized successful youth programing in urban space. For decades, under Constance's leadership, the AACT was the source of escapism and survival for Milwaukee youth.
As an artistic woman, Constance partakes in live productions whenever possible and spends a great deal of time exploring literature. Recent titles include Isabel Wilkerson's The Great Migration and Terarai Trent's The Awakened Women. Through these avenues, she is able to remain engaged with the prevailing themes that connect artists with the long tradition of theater in the United Sates.
Storytelling in theater has allowed her to evolve into a person who uses theater to render vulnerable and unintelligible voices in disparate communities relevant. She describes herself as a proud member of the village vanguard. Constance enjoys several Professional Dimensions special interest groups including the West Side Lunch group and member meetings. She also travels throughout different parts of the United States and is currently interested in visiting New Orleans to conduct family research. Someday she would like to visit Africa.
Please make sure to introduce yourself to Constance when you see her at one of our upcoming events or pick up the phone and give her a call!
