What the Arts Pass On

This week, Hollie Bannister was named the Springfield Washington County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Educator of the Year, and I have to tell you, that one hit me right in the heart.

I have worked with Hollie since she was twelve years old.

Over the years, I directed her in shows, watched her grow as a performer, later had the pleasure of sharing the stage with her, and eventually trusted her to assist me as a director before going on to watch her direct productions of her own. One of the real gifts of a life in the arts is that, every now and then, you get to step back and watch your work keep going on in someone else.

That’s what I see when I watch Hollie.

I have seen her grow from a performer who learned the importance of taking direction to a leader who learned the importance of listening.

Those are not small lessons.

In theatre, we spend a lot of time talking about performance, but some of the most important growth happens quietly. A young performer learns how to listen. How to adjust. How to take a note. How to trust the process. And if they stay with the work long enough, and do it well enough, there comes a day when they are the one offering guidance instead of receiving it.

That kind of leadership takes more than talent. It takes patience. Humility. Good instincts. A generous spirit. And maybe most of all, the wisdom to understand that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about listening well enough to help other people grow.

That is one reason Hollie’s recognition means so much to me.

I am incredibly proud of her. But what moves me even more is what her journey represents. Her award is a reminder that the arts do not stop when the applause ends. When at their best, the arts shape people who then go on to shape other people.

That matters.

We often talk about the arts in terms of performances and productions, and of course, those things matter. But some of the most lasting gifts of the arts are quieter than that. The arts teach discipline. Empathy. Collaboration. Resilience. Responsibility. Trust. They teach young people how to listen, work with others, solve problems, and keep going when the work gets hard.

And those lessons stay with them long after the curtain falls.

They show up later in classrooms, workplaces, family gatherings, and town halls. They show up in teachers who know how to challenge students while still making them feel safe enough to try and fail. They show up in leaders who know how to listen to an employee complaint. They show up in people who understand that art is not only about expression. It is also about connection.

So while it was flattering to be mentioned in her post, the real joy is seeing someone I have worked with since childhood become the kind of artist, teacher, and leader who is now making a difference in the lives of so many others.

That is the reward.

A student becomes a collaborator.
A collaborator becomes a teacher.
A teacher helps shape the next generation.

And the work keeps moving outward.

So congratulations, Hollie, on being named the Springfield Washington County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Educator of the Year.

And thank you for the work you are doing, for the lives you are shaping, and for the reminder of why the arts matter.

Wow! That feels like a pretty good note on which to begin Bart’s Blog again.

PS – If you’re interested in keeping up with my musings, please share your contact info. I promise not to share it with anyone other than Publisher’s Clearing House: https://bartlovins.com/contact/