DURANGO, Colo. – For more than a decade, many who’ve known Carson Jones have equated her professionally with social work. Now in her new position as executive director of the Durango Arts Center, she’s setting out to serve the public in an entirely new way.

“I care about this community,” said Jones who, on May 27, assumed the position vacated by Brian Wagner last fall. ‘This arts center is huge for this community. The selection committee warned me of the challenges and that it was at a crossroads, and I’m definitely aware of that... I’m coming in not wearing rose-colored glasses.”

For years the Durango Arts Center (DAC) has been struggling with its identity. It had been predominantly a visual arts organization from inception, but the move to the current location at the corner of E. Second Ave. and 8^th St. in 1995 opened the door for theater, dance, extensive children’s activities and more. And as the activities increased, so did the budget, currently sitting at approximately $650,000, making DAC one of the larger, at least based on budget, non-profit organizations in the region. With the purchase of the Diamond Circle Melodrama (and subsequent extensive remodel of the DAC theater), the budget further expanded and the current need for dollars looms even larger.

“Though I’ve always known that money was a huge issue for this center, I’ve come to realize it even more,” said Jones. “I’m getting a grip on understanding how the budget stands and what we’re looking at programmatically, and how we can make this function.”

Though from her appearance, Jones (who just celebrated her 34^th birthday) comes across more as a fashion model or, as one local marketing consultant put it, “a cute-as-a-button soccer-mom,” she has a tough inner core and a generally unflappable personality. She views herself as the “calm in the storm” that is currently the DAC, and has little if any self-doubt about her ability to build it into the true “community center” she believes it should be.

Born in Hendersonville, N.C., Jones spent her school years in a small ranching community in north central Texas, graduating among 23 students from Ponder High School. She continued her education at Texas Women’s University, earning her bachelor’s degree in social work. Jones then worked as a Probation Officer for Dallas County, often vacationing in Durango.

“Every time we came here to visit I didn’t want to go back. This place is just home to me,” said Jones, who finally made the decision to move in 1997. “I was so happy. It was such a good thing for me.”

She had applied for a job in the La Plata County Department of Human Services, but until a position became available, she served as a legal assistant for Maynes, Bradford, Shipps and Sheftel. Once hired by the county, she worked in the Child Welfare Division, wearing a variety of hats over her decade of service including, investigations, mentoring, fund development, education and more. She also earned her Master’s in Behavioral Science; Negotiation and Conflict Management.

“I’d always loved the community aspect of wherever I lived, so social work felt very good to me,” said Jones, who served as a volunteer in Africa. “I love working with people and networking, and making things the best they can be.”

But in addition to social work, Jones is passionate about photography. Learning at the elbow of her uncle throughout her youth, she hadn’t felt the need for “formal” education in college, but pursued her “art” as a balance for the social work, photographing friends and her travels, selling her work when opportunity arose. Last year she formalized her photography business.

“I wouldn’t do photography full time,” she said, explaining that she prefers to take only those jobs that allow her to be creative. “I want to put all of myself into whatever I do.”

The name for her business – Red Scarf Shots – was an outgrowth of a photo of Jones shot by a stranger in Paris, France, to which she travels to annually. In it, she happened to be wearing a red scarf. The photo is one of her favorites - and wearing scarves is a signature "look" for Jones.

“It (the photography) definitely fuels me to be as creative as I can be and appreciate others’ creativity as well,” she said – but the photography wasn’t enough.

“This past year, it was bubbling up,” she explained. “I love social work, but I’ve found I feel more fulfilled when I am doing more ‘art’ work, and when this job came up again … I decided I had to do it. I was so thankful that they didn’t find anybody the first round.”

Following Wagner’s departure – shortly after the Melodrama had been acquired – the DAC board of directors recognized the importance of finding “the right” person to step in at this crossroads. Then board president Karen Thompson filled in as interim director to keep operations afloat, and though all knew the search would take some time, no one had anticipated not finding someone during the first call.

With the second search on, Jones stopped by the DAC to visit with Thompson, who was instantly charmed, becoming one of Jones’ biggest advocates. Not all those on the selection committee were as enthused, however – until they met her.

“That interview process was quite an interview process,” assured Jones. “It made me say to myself, ‘OK, I’m going to be myself and I’m going to be real, and if this isn’t what they’re looking for, then I’m not the right person for the job.”

But she was the right one for the job. The search committee recognized her ability to communicate, manage people, fund raise and be “non-reactionary” all could be applied to managing the DAC. Her passion for the arts was a bonus.

With a mere three weeks on the job, Jones’ primary focus has been keeping her head above the waves. The activity at the DAC has been swirling at a feverish pace with the theater reconstruction and preparation for the two shows, “The Spoilers” and “Whoop Ti Ay,” which will be staged on alternate nights through August. She’s overseeing a special fundraiser on June 16 to help finish out the financing for this latest venture.

“We’re still renting the space outside of the Melodrama season and on Tuesday nights,” she said, noting the Melodrama is dark on Tuesdays. “People are already booking for next year. And we will have some Broadway shows during the off-season.”

Next up is the Durango Arts Festival, set for August 9-10, this year relocated to E. Second Ave. between 7^th and 10^th Streets.

“Everyone on Second is really happy about it, and everyone on Main is even happier,” said Jones, referencing the Main Ave. merchant displeasure with the street closure and business disruption. “I think it’s going to be good because this is where the Arts Center is.”

Children’s programming at the DAC is well-established, but Jones sees a need for more adult activities – art classes, lectures and more. She’s also looking forward to giving the now “tired” center a facelift. As DAC is housed in an historic building, not much can be done to the exterior, but look for, as Jones says, “some oomph” to go on inside.

 “I want it to be eye-catching. I’d like it to be a little sexier,” she said. “I want to bring people into this place, not just for artist receptions or special functions. I want bodies in here.”

And, a key group of “bodies” with which she is seeking to reconnect is the local visual artists. Jones was herself one of those “disgruntled artists” who fell away from the DAC. Already the artists are knocking on her door, placing phone calls, seeking involvement.

“I was really pleased to see with this (current gallery) show that there are a lot of new people contributing,” said Jones, noting that the artists’ reception was her first introduction to the community. “People started clapping and I (said to myself) ‘Yes!’ Everyone was smiling. There was just really good energy… There’s a lot of room for growth, and we live in a gracious community. There are people who will come out to support, donate and sponsor this new beginning. I’m confident.”

 indiana@durangodowntown.com