An Artist for All: Jackie Coleman of Maryland Hall

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One year ago, Jackie Coleman was appointed as the new Executive Director of Maryland Hall; this is her story  

At age three, like many precocious children, Jackie Coleman would dance around her living room. Most would move on to other things, but not young Jackie. Early on, she liked performing, even if it was just for her parents. By seven years old, she performed as a “Bon Bon Candy” in The Nutcracker. And…she knew that acting was for her, forever and ever. 

Coleman’s father believed one should never ignore their passion and he recognized hers. So, acting class was next and a role as a monkey in The Wizard of Oz. During her formative high school years, she attended a performing arts school in Massachusetts. When her father took her to see Cats, an opportunity was presented to some members of the audience to come on stage and view the sets up close. Coleman says she viewed the audience from center stage and felt at home. 

Her developing passion took her to the University of Connecticut to major in Theater. From there, she took a giant leap to New York City, where, she proudly says, she did get paid for her acting efforts. Most fun for her, however, was a nearly-five-month stint at the Lake George Dinner Theatre, performing the lead role in Jest A Second!, the sequel to the hit play Beau Jest.

But after 10 years, Coleman felt, intuitively, she had to do something else…still in theater, of course. That notion landed her at the University of South Carolina in pursuit of a Master of Fine Arts. Here, she caught the teaching bug and was selected for an intern program to work with 4th grade students. She was inspired by the way acting opened and cultivated their minds. She felt passionate again and teaching became the right fit for her.

In 2003, she landed in Hartford, Connecticut, as director of education for Hartford Stage. And then, as a founding executive director of Hartford Performs, a program for Hartford public schools. She also became an arts education consultant for the Connecticut Department of Education. 

The performing arts, as an industry, exists on the ability to raise dollars. So, Coleman stepped her foot into public giving—a bit different than the acting she once thought she would do forever and ever. Along the way she became enamored with the National Coalition for Arts Standards organization and its values, and describes herself as an expert in identifying these core values. The values in dance, music, theater, and the visual arts are the artistic processes “that guide educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school.” Common values for all art are balance, harmony, movement, pattern, repetition, rhythm, unity, and variety. Harmony may be the most important. By teaching students to think like artists, they learn to think creatively and develop problem solving skills . 

Coleman brings this vision to Maryland Hall, as it restores itself after the years of Covid lockdown. Maryland Hall faces challenges in funding, outreach, and a diminished staff. Coleman has engaged her board and staff by creating a new vision for the arts institution that she calls, “re-imagine, re-build, reach beyond.” You can bet the NCAS values will be integrated in the mission as Maryland Hall moves forward through the next decade.

Maryland Hall was founded in 1979 as an organization and space dedicated to the performing and visual arts. Today, five thousand students of all ages are actively engaged in arts education classes annually, and 20,000 students attend school performances in the 725 seat auditorium. Over 100,000 visitors pass through Maryland Hall each year. The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Opera, Annapolis Chorale, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland are resident companies. Thirty artists exhibit in its three visual arts galleries. The Peabody Preparatory is a partner. Volunteers provide 3,000 hours of service. Its $27 million operating budget is supported by the government, individuals, corporations, and foundations. 

Jackie Coleman, with a background in the performing arts and who always knew when things felt just right, experienced this feeling when she stepped into Maryland Hall. Her leadership for the Hall’s future has just begun, and the hope is that—like so many endeavors in her life—it will be a magna cum laude performance.