Whitmore to depart OJAC after 15 years of service
By Melinda L. Lucas
After 15 years of dedicated service, Erin Whitmore is leaving her post later this spring as Education Director at The Old Jail Art Center to transition into a museum/visual art education role in the DFW area, with a special reception planned on March 22.
Whitmore began work in the museum’s education department in 2010, and was promoted to education director in 2012.
In recognition of her contributions to the museum, the OJAC Docents are hosting a “come-and-go” send-off reception from 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, in the Stasney Center. A special presentation is set for 2:30 p.m.
“Erin has contributed so much to the growth of our beloved Old Jail Art Center,” said docent Kathy Bales. “We invite the public to join us in celebrating Erin and her work.”
Upon her arrival in 2010, Whitmore set about expanding the Student Outreach Program that at the time served elementary students in Albany and Moran. Today, the monthly art education program has full-time and contract staff and now is in 30-40 rural campuses located within a one-hour drive from the OJAC serving over 3,000 students.
“During her tenure at the Old Jail Art Center, Erin has developed an education program that truly is the envy of the museum world,” said OJAC Executive Director Patrick Kelly. “The programs she has created have enriched the lives of so many – from young children to senior adults. Erin has also enhanced visitor experiences within the museum by continuing the legacy of making the OJAC a welcoming, educational, and enlightening experience for visitors. We are sad to see her move on from our museum, but grateful for the legacy of excellence she has instilled in our education program.”
The Distance Learning Program that Whitmore has continuously expanded provides virtual art classes in both English and Spanish throughout the US, Canada and South America.
Through the “Art to Heart” program, the OJAC visits nursing homes and assisted living centers with “memory and movement”, using art from the museum’s collection to trigger memories that the residents share and leading an activity to get them moving.
“Erin has just done an incredible job in art education,” said former longtime OJAC board chair Steve Waller. “She has taught classes from France to Canada to South America and everywhere in between.”
Through these programs and expansion of the Family Festivals (from two per year to monthly) and Third Thursday Studio workshops for adults (now monthly), Whitmore is credited with helping to grow museum membership and attendance.
“In fact, because of the Art to Go program, the family festivals now have more children coming from outside Shackelford County than from within,” Bales said.
Bales added that one of Whitmore’s most important roles has been Docent Coordinator.
“She has shepherded this group through growing pains as the museum grew, adding staff, and helping as the docents’ function changed,” Bales said. “She has been the docents’ champion with the OJAC staff and board, and her support is greatly appreciated.”
Whitmore has received several awards during her time with the Old Jail, including Museum Art Educator of the Year from Texas Art Educators Association, Virtual Art Educator of the Year from Texas Distance Learning Association (TDLA), and Texas Educational Provider of the Year from Connect to Texas through the TDLA.
She oversees Education Department staff and interns as well as the museum’s Docent Volunteer Corps. She develops and facilitates both gallery and outreach curriculum and coordinates all aspects of programming for student, family and adult audiences.
“I am really very proud of the outreach and visibility I’ve been able to build for the museum,” Whitmore said, “specifically through my programs for K-12 students, bilingual families, and senior adults.”
Asked what accomplishment she is most proud of, Whitmore said, “Even though the galleries were closed to the public during COVID, because of our virtual programming that was already in place, we were able to keep the staff working every day, and our programs and the museum membership actually grew during that time.”
Whitmore received her bachelor’s degree in art education from Oklahoma University and her master’s from the University of North Texas. Before teaching from museum collections, Erin taught PK-12 Art in the classroom in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Durham, North Carolina and Irving, Texas.
Whitmore has spent the last year training a new education staff.
“I’m excited to see how they continue to grow our programming and community,” she said.
Whitmore will be leaving Albany later this spring, with a specific date not yet set.
