Gillian Eaton, Vice President of Arts and Humanities

An interview with Gillian Eaton, Vice President of Arts and Humanities, is available on The Detroit Hub, a Web site featuring Detroit regional news. Gillian discusses the Y Arts Fresh Eyes approach to looking at Detroit which is embedded in the broad range of programs our branch offers. She mentions our work with political refugees, our instructional programs, and some of the partnerships important to making our work successful. Here’s what she had to say:

Q. What is your ultimate goal?

A. We see our Y ARTS BRANCH as a spring board or cheer leader for young people and the arts. There are great employment opportunities in the entertainment industries, which are very suited to our youth. They understand the computer gaming, music, film and video worlds better than we do. We need to open doors to these careers and nurture individual potential so that our children can create vibrant futures not only in the arts and entertainment industries, but also in local companies, civic institutions and the community. The children and adults that come through this program have fresh eyes that not only look at the city and region differently, but that can also make a positive impact on the organizations that employ them. In many ways they are entrepreneurs.

How do you encourage people to look at Detroit?

A. We want people to look at Detroit with fresh eyes … look at its assets. Music, for example, has always played a vital role in Detroit’s culture and growth. Y ARTS has a 40-person community-based choir, called Deep River. It is very diverse group made up of urbanites and suburbanites, homeless people, refugees and others. They are putting out their second CD.

Q. You mentioned refugees. Where do they come from? How do you work with them?