A Q&A with Alyona Ushe, St. Lucie Cultural Alliance’s new executive director
| Alyona Aleksandra Ushe has found her perfect job and is now ” in the active process of looking for my new home in St. Lucie County. I strongly believe that in order to understand the real needs of the community I need to be an integral part and fully engaged in it.” Even her little rescue dog, Azazella, or Azzie for short, appreciates the arts, mostly in the form of treats, Ushe said. When we first touched base at the beginning of her life as executive director of the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance, my first question had to do with pulling all the arts groups and individuals together. And then what? A Q&A with a very busy lady follows. Have you been able to meet with SLC arts organizations and artists/musicians? Yes, many but we still have a long way to go. I am calling this my discovery phase, where I am meeting with members of our creative community and leadership to assess the needs that are facing the county and to learn what has worked in the past. This will enable us to build on the good work and base, established thus far. I am continually looking for and seeking out artists and creative establishments who are not part of the Alliance yet, and perhaps can share ways it may be of support. I would like to encourage your readers to please reach out to me. I sincerely want to hear and share stories, aspirations and goals so we can best work together to determine the role that the Cultural Alliance can play as we move forward in partnership and service. |
 How has your first month on the job gone for you? Getting to know our remarkable community of exceptionally talented artists, passionate advocates, diverse nonprofit and cultural organizations and creative businesses, continues to be an exceptionally rewarding experience. St. Lucie County is a budding cultural mecca. I am thrilled to be a part of it now at such a critical junction of its development, and to play a role in expanding its footprint on the Treasure Coast creative map. How are you dealing with the ebb and flow of regulations and public reaction to them? I have been inviting opportunities to meet with the members of our creative economy and accepting invitations every chance I get from many cultural establishments. I find the arts and cultural community here welcoming, supportive and engaging. Our team is listening and brainstorming with individual artists and speaking with various business owners. In a sense, it’s clear we are all in the same ‘business.’ The Arts helps to overcome challenges, inspire and motivate. The Cultural Alliance is working to bring our community together, so when the time is right, we can all rejoice and celebrate together. What can you do to move the Cultural Alliance forward when there isn’t any clear end to this pandemic in sight. Arts is the only universal language, and now more than ever, we need to come together as a community. In addition, we are taking this time to dig deep and identify the needs of artists, cultural organizations and other members of the creative economy, to shape and forward the vision of the organization and the county. “I would like to offer this message to artists and those that appreciate the benefit of arts and cultural at this challenging time and always. Keep creating and sharing your talents with us. Healing through the arts is a constant throughout history. The arts is an unstoppable universal means to joy, celebration and expression! Let’s meet!” |