Beverly Arts Center Names First Artistic Director

The Beverly Arts Center named its first-ever artistic director, Shellee Frazee, to lead the center’s ongoing rejuvenation as a South Side arts haven rivaling downtown Chicago.

Frazee, 55, has worked as an instructor and coordinator of BAC’s dance and theater programs since 2009. Her appointment to the newly created position of artistic director is the latest benchmark in the not-for-profit’s expansion of the center’s arts programs and offerings.

“I want our programs to stand on equal footing. All of them—dance, visual arts, music, film and theater—should move forward together,” Frazee said.

Her goal is to maintain BAC’s connection to its existing community and members while concurrently expanding the arts center’s scope by nurturing a conservatory-like curriculum to run parallel to its current slate of classes.

Frazee explains, “Our ultimate aim is to create two tracks here: a casual one for people who want to sample a particular arts discipline and try things out, and a more regimented option for serious students who want to pursue their creativity to a professional level.”

As a former owner and director of her own performing arts company, Frazee brings with her more than 20 years’ experience in both sides of the arts world—the creative side and the business side.

“We were attracted to Shellee’s remarkable depth and breadth of experience and passion for the arts,” executive director Heather Ireland Robinson said. “From performing to directing, from administration to relating with the families of our students, she really does possess the complete vocabulary of arts education, creation and production.”

Frazee likes to quote Twyla Tharp to students:

“‘Before you even hit the stage, make sure that you’re in the moment—always be ready,’” Frazee said. “I want Beverly Arts Center to be what the community needs now, to be in our moment, and to also be ready for where I know we can go.”

The arts center is currently engaged in a community fundraising program as part of a debt forgiveness deal with its mortgage holder, structured to put BAC back on the financial straight and narrow after coming close to closing its doors last year.

Beverly Arts Center is a not-for-profit organization focused on serving southwest metro Chicago with programs in dance, visual arts, music, film and theater since 1968. Its 40,000-square-foot facility in Chicago’s historic Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood houses galleries, classrooms, rehearsal spaces and a 400-person theater. BAC also functions as home base for the Center’s extensive community outreach.

For more information, please call 773-445-3838 or visit the Beverly Arts Center.