For almost four decades, Art Saint Louis has been dedicated to enriching the community through the creative expression of the region’s visual artists. Along with providing artists and patrons resources, it presents exhibitions year round at its gallery in the historic Park Pacific building downtown. The nonprofit kicked off 2023 with the exciting announcement that Francesca Passanise would be taking the helm as executive director. T&S reached out to Passanise to learn more about Art Saint Louis, the local cultural community and her plans for both.

Have you always been interested in working around art?
I didn’t always know it was an option. I was not particularly encouraged to pursue the arts, but it was something I was always compelled towards, both visual and literary. When
I was in college, I told myself that I knew I would be on the right track if I was working in the arts and able to express myself creatively within five years after graduating.

As a native St. Louisan, what do you think of the creative culture in the city?
St. Louis is very humble. We’re not always great about tooting our own horn, but I think we are bursting with creative energy. One thing Art Saint Louis aims to do is create a centralized community for visual art. We not only want to share resources with artists, but also make sure people are aware that we have regional voices expressing themselves and various galleries and institutions where local art is exhibited—not only in places like Midtown and the Central West End, but also in West County, southern Illinois and beyond.

What brought you to Art Saint Louis?
I’ve known the artistic director, Robin Hirsch-Steinhoff, for years. She and I have a similar opinions about how rich our artistic community is and the importance of having a centralized resource for artists. Prior to coming to Art Saint Louis, I led Webster University’s Arcade Contemporary Art Projects, which is just down the street. We shared the goal of ensuring people knew there wasn’t an arts desert downtown. I also worked with Art Saint Louis on a few projects, including serving on the jury of an exhibition. That was a wonderful experience, and I got to work with and meet so many wonderful local artists. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Art Saint Louis has been without an executive director, and Robin has been a bit of a one-woman show. She let me know they were going to be posting the position again, and I saw an opportunity to expand on so much that has not been explored culturally in our community.

Can you tell me about Art Saint Louis’ mission?
We put a spotlight on the vital contributions of local visual artists. Along with creating exhibitions, we provide opportunities for networking, access to resources and tools, and education and professional development programs. Everything is evolving at such a rapid pace, connectivity is that much more important. We want to enrich the overall region through access to contemporary art. Part of that is creating an in-person community that can connect and inspire people. It also has a positive economic impact while creating a more culturally rich St. Louis.

Why is it important to provide a bridge between visual artists and the community?
Art has the power to pull people out of isolation. It brings out what we share as human beings—it’s really about the collective human experience. Engaging with art makes us more empathetic and understanding to others. Deciding to be an artist takes courage. We want to ensure that they can thrive locally, and that means the community has to support them. We help connect artists with galleries where they can display and studio spaces where they can create. Historically, St. Louis is a much more affordable place to live and work than Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. There are a lot of opportunities here, and being a home to artists enriches our community. Plus, it opens more people to art collecting. It’s often considered something that is only for the 1%, but purchasing local art can be an enriching way to boost the economy and make a deeper connection with a work.

What do you hope to achieve as executive director of the organization?
One of the main things is to really act as a centralized hub for artists and art lovers. We currently have a listing of local galleries and museums, and I really want to make something more comprehensive. I’d like to have a directory that could be searched by region, art style and other keywords, so if you’re interested in modern textiles or Native art, you can know exactly where to go. More than 90% of membership is visual artists, so we’re serving the same community we always have. I’d like to do more to connect with collectors and potential patrons, such as creating panel discussions. Art galleries can be intimidating, and we want to break down those barriers. Those are some of my more bite-sized goals for the first year or two, but there’s a lot more I’m excited to sink my teeth into

Are there any upcoming exhibits you are excited about?
We have at least 10 exhibitions planned for this calendar year, so there is always something to be excited about. One of my favorite annual exhibits is Varsity Art. It showcases our rising visual artists in collegiate programs. While there may be some master’s students involved, the vast majority come from bachelor’s programs. It’s always packed full of interesting and fresh ideas. Maybe it’s because of my background in education, but I think there’s something wonderful about the energy that comes from a young artist who is just ready to go and knows that nothing can stop them.

Pictured at the top: Francesca Passanise
Photo courtesy of Art Saint Louis