The wonderful painting shown above depicts the uplifting creativity of art by artist Michele Jones and was presented to Sophie McCann on her recent retirement. It was a sad day for many of us who worked with her for 22 years.
Sophie had a genuine love for the arts, was educated and trained in the field, with her previous experience in programming within an arts and culture organization, she fully understood the value arts and culture have in the mental health of a community.
It's an aspect all too often overlooked and cut back by municipalities in favour of active sports and recreational activities. Arts and culture provide a different and equally important means of building skills in creative thinking, decision making and problem solving, enriching the lives of the individuals who partake.
Sophie McCann offered creative experiences to thousands of children, teens, and adults in her role as city staff employee at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts.
As the Arts coordinator she quietly worked at her role with diligence, respect for all, and integrity. She used her extensive knowledge and networking skills to make connections and artistic partnerships.
She understood the immense value of the creative process for individuals. The ability to personally create is an underestimated attribute. No matter which level or artistic genre, creativity raises levels of self- esteem. When self- esteem is raised it helps combat many mental health problems.
Looking back through history, it is all forms of art, literature, music, drama that endure the centuries.
Art in all forms is an integral part of society, art reflects the history of all civilizations from the etchings on cave walls to modern day digital art. It is a personal expression of self like no other.
Even those who think they don’t care about art are influenced by it, from the pattern of our textiles, design of furniture, our clothing, and our cars, the books we read, the music we listen to, all are various forms of art.
Parents witness the satisfaction children get when they bring home a sample of their creativity or participate in drama or music. Their delight is to share, it gives them a precious sense of accomplishment and raises their self-esteem.
Sophie was responsible for the planning, administration, and marketing of visual and performing arts programs as well as gallery programs and special events within the Centre for the Arts. She recruited, hired, and supervised instructors for the workshops, classes and events including the supervision of both the pottery and gallery technicians, the gift shop supervisor, the Saturday supervisors and all summer camp staff.
She built partnerships by connecting local artists, actors, musicians, potters, film makers, dancers, and arts educators to children. Each summer arts camps offered over 30 different visual and performing arts camps, from Harry Potter Adventure to Monet’s Garden and everything in between. With close to 7,500 campers having graduated from the CCA Sophie has helped to inspire a whole new generation of creative children.
In addition, Sophie arranged over 20 annual Cambridge Artists Juried Shows each year in October selecting appropriate qualified jurors.
She, along with a volunteer committee, selected suitable artists for exhibition spots in the Gallery, combing through hundreds of applications to choose a variety of the best work. This was no easy task and often led to artists not chosen, to raise their objections to Sophie. With over 200 exhibitions in the Gallery, over 1,000 artists have been represented.
Sophie has ensured that programming exists, and everyone is welcome at the Centre for the Arts regardless of age or ability. Notable programs include “Going Green with your Sewing Machine”, “Fearless Painting,” “Ageless Arts and Yoga” “Pottery on the Wheel”, and “Music Together.”
Sophie also worked with a variety of organizations including the YWCA, the YMCA, the Cambridge Arts Guild, Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, Studio 30 Painters Group, The Waterloo Regional District School Board.
Not to forget the theatre, Sophie was instrumental in countless drama and dance programs offered to children and adults over the last two decades. Whilst she dealt with them in her quiet dignified manner not all people Sophie interacted with reciprocated by treating her as well as she treated them.
When Sophie was hired, I was still very involved in the day-to-day happenings and events at the newly opened CCA. I well recall how we struggled to find programmes and artists suitable for the Cambridge Community.
When, a few years later the CAG suggested an Artist in Residence programme would bring new ideas, Nicole Cichello ran the programme until 2009 when the responsibility was handed to Sophie. The wide variety of Artist-in-Residence programmes included vocalists, pianists, visual artists, writers, painters, muralists, dancers, choreographers, iconographers, playwrights, fibre, street, textile and display artists, photographers as well as poets and storytellers; all brought memorable events, projects and partnerships that connected the community to the arts.
In 2010, well known for her knitting projects Sue Sturdy undertook a huge overwhelming project that she struggled with. Where could she organize and keep all the rapidly mounting knitted pieces for her KNITbridge project?
Sue found Sophie not only helpful in solving the storage problem, but a calming and reliable source of support as knitted pieces came from residents and around the world.
Over the years there are so many memories of Sophie's positive influence, more than a few amusing stories, and some awkward and frustrating times too, but she put her heart and soul into her work and loved her job more than most. After many years of overseeing arts centre programming and the art gallery schedule with limited resources and staff support, Sophie took an early retirement.
Her retirement party honoured how much she had accomplished. Her parting gift of the painting pictured here, a balloon bouquet uplifting creativity at the centre, painted by Michele Jones, was perfect. Supported by many volunteers, the CAG, and city staff, Sophie added immensely to thousands of lives as they enjoyed a variety of disciplines in the artistic field.
That is what Sophie McCann did, uplifted the Centre in many creative endeavours. Oh, how she will be missed.
The Cambridge Centre for the Arts was designed as a building to offer a unique arts and culture experience as an alternative to traditional sports and recreation. Initially it was conceived by a hardworking volunteer committee with no funds, no phone, or staff, but fuelled by a passionate belief that such a building would enhance the creative opportunities for citizens.
Hiring someone to follow Sophie in a similar position with the same required experience and credentials is essential to continue this important legacy for our community.
Thank you, Sophie. You will be missed.
