Carpenter Art Garden announces new Executive Director.
Carpenter Art Garden is pleased to name Jazmin Miller as the new executive director of the Carpenter Art Garden in the Binghampton community in Memphis.
“Jazmin Miller is an incredibly creative and talented artist who has worked extensively with the Binghampton community for many years,” said Rush Waller, board president of the Art Garden. “Her desire to inspire children through art and her prior leadership positions are a perfect fit to become the director of our organization. We are very excited for the future of the Art Garden.”
A Memphis native, Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre with a minor in Spanish from Rhodes College. She received a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Direction from the University of Memphis.
Most recently, she served as the Director of the Crosstown Theatre where she founded a youth theater program in partnership with Crosstown Arts’ Storybooth, an afterschool space for youth ages 11-18. In addition to managing the staff, building operations, and programming, she also worked closely with the Crosstown Arts Music, Film, Private Events, and Youth Theater program to curate each season of performances and events to achieve both mission and financial goals.
Before that, she was an instructor of Theatre at Rhodes College and a teaching assistant at the University of Memphis. She also was a resident artist at Rhodes College and worked as a Community Theatre and Teaching artist at several theatres, including Germantown Community Theater, Theatre Memphis, New Hope Christian Academy, and Hattiloo Theatre.
Miller said she is passionate about equity, youth, and education and is elated to be named as the Art Garden's new executive director.
The announcement of Miller helming the non-profit on Carpenter Street comes as the Art Garden continues to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Through the generosity of supporters, the Art Garden continues to provide space and community for the young people in the neighborhood to thrive by offering an array of artistic, educational, and vocational programs.
Miller succeeds former Executive Director Megan Banaszek, who recently announced she was leaving to pursue other opportunities. Banaszek, who started as a volunteer, was one of several employees and supporters to help with Art Garden's growth over the years, including the opening of Aunt Lou's House, a tutoring center, along with a bike shop, art shows, and a sewing studio.
Miller will begin her new job at the Purple House, where the Art Garden offices and indoor classes are located, in January 2023.
About Carpenter Art Garden: Carpenter Art Garden is a non-profit organization dedicated to working with the children of Binghampton to promote each one's creativity and self-worth through exposure to artistic, educational, and vocational programs. We partner with the Binghampton community to develop and implement vibrant programs that cultivate creativity, a love of learning, relationship-building, leadership, and neighborhood pride.
