Mr. Richard Willing This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Maine Arts Commission

   www.mainearts.com/cgi-bin/deta - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/23/2005   Last Visited: 1/8/2006

   Although the saying goes change is often for the best, it is with mixed feelings that L/A Arts announces the departure of Executive Director Richard Willing. Thirteen years ago, Mr. Willing began his work with L/A Arts as the Education Director and, for the last eight years, has guided the organization as the Executive Director.
   
   In 1991 Richard Willing was hired as the Educational Programming Director at L/A Arts. He retained the position for five years, pushing the already successful Arts in Education program to a new level by making connections through art to other areas of school curriculum. Working with artists, administrators, teachers, students, parents, and other community members, Willing developed an arts in education model that soon gained national attention. In 1992, L/A Arts applied to the Kennedy Center's newly initiated Arts Centers and Schools: Partners in Education program and was accepted. This program was developed to address needs and issues of national, regional, and local arts educational programs. The L/A Arts program that Willing directed was seen as a model program and continues to achieve national acclaim as evidenced by the presentation of the Dana Foundation's Acts of Achievement Award in 2003.
   ...
   Instead of excluding him, Hall and Willing decided to make him the king.
   ...
   Willing concludes, "Arts opportunity didn't change his environment; it changed his understanding of opportunity. The responsibility rested on his shoulders to take advantage of opportunities given him. It's just one of many examples I have of how the arts can impact education."
   
   Leon Levesque, Superintendent of Lewiston Schools reflects, "Richard is a talented person who loves the arts and worked diligently to enrich the lives of children in our community.
   ...
   In May 1995 the Governor of the State of Maine appointed Richard Willing to the Maine Arts Commission. He served on the Arts in Education Committee and the Executive Committee of the Commission, and was also the chair of the Advocacy Committee of the Commission.
   
   "Richard Willing has made an extraordinary contribution to the arts not only in Lewiston but also in the entire state. Richard was a chief designer, advocate and leader to secure major funding increases for the arts and related cultural activities in the state. As a member of the Maine Arts Commission Richard served admirably and always held high the torch for the essential value of the arts in education. Richard is one of my most treasured colleagues. I will miss Richard's intelligence, political acumen and wit and look forward to enjoying these qualities as Richard settles into his next endeavor," Alden C. Wilson, Director, Maine Arts Commission.
   ...
   When the Executive Director position of L/A Arts opened up in 1996 Willing applied and was hired for the job. During his tenure, Mr. Willing has been a catalyst for programmatic evolution. He lead L/ A Arts to initiate a host of community outreach programs, develop new performance series, revive other series, and continue to support the arts in education programs.
   ...
   Pianist Brad Mehldau's concert elicited a more touching reflection for Willing. "We contrived to obtain a Steinway concert D piano for him, the only piano he would play on, which was quite a challenge . . . When he played on stage at the [Lewiston] Middle School it was magical, probably one of the most intimate experiences that space has ever heard."
   
   "Richard has been a driving force in promoting the arts and bringing recognition to Lewiston-Auburn as a vibrant arts community," notes Pat Finnegan.
   ...
   Willing is looking forward to attending all the Cabaret events scheduled for the upcoming 2004-05 season, and promises to drive up from his home in Portland to attend. "I'm especially excited about coming up for Oscar Brown, Jr. I think he's an incredibly soulful blues singer!"
   
   Richard Willing was a new England Foundation for the Arts, Building Communities Through Culture Fellow. He has served on the Steering Committee of the Maine Arts Sponsors Association and on the Board of the Maine Association of Non-Profits. He also served on the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce education committee and the Community Building committee of the United Way. Willing has been a member of the steering committee of L/A Excels, a strategic alliance of business, education, and government for community building.
   
   Chip Morrison, President of the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce sums up, "Richard Willing has spent 14 years building the arts in our communities - transforming Lewiston -Auburn from a "cultural wasteland" into a leading arts community in Maine and the entire northeast region.
   ...
   We owe Richard our deepest gratitude for his tireless advocacy and phenomenal results! LA is different because of his leadership."
   
   When asked why he decided to leave at this time, Willing explains, "Change is good.
   ...
   Willing concludes, "I want to thank the staff that are the real thing that makes L/A Arts work and the board for their passion and devotion and making L/A Arts thrive. And finally, the community for its creativity and support."
   
   Through his efforts, Mr. Willing helped L/A Arts achieve local, state, and national recognition as an innovative arts agency. His vision and involvement will be sorely missed but his legacy will live on in the obvious success of the organization as it grows and continually rises to meet the needs, desires, and visions of the community.
   
   Jon Oxman, current Board Chair of L/A Arts sums up, "Richard leaves a strong foundation and a structure that is still growing and changing and will feel his influence for years to come"

2. 2. Fiddlehead Center For The Arts

   www.fiddleheadcenter.org/festi - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/22/2003   Last Visited: 4/30/2004

   - Richard Willing. Educational Programming Director of L/A Arts. December 1st, 1994.

3. 3. Chantons

   www.laarts.org/community_outre - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/28/2001   Last Visited: 10/30/2006

   THANKS: L/A Arts, Anne Moreau Burg, Tom Morrill, Parents of Young Singers, Carole Walker, Richard Willing