If you have interacted with a picture, social media post or promotional material for Columbus Arts Council, chances are you’ve seen Stephanie Watts’ work.

Watts came on board as the marketing coordinator for CAC in December, and she has since fallen in love with the job.

“I went to a couple of shows throughout the interview process just to see what it was like,” Watts said. “In Mississippi, especially, you run into a lot of close-mindedness, and I feel like the art community doesn’t have that as often. It’s usually pretty open. So being able to see that in a town like Columbus is really cool, and I thought it would be cool to be a part of it. Meeting the artists and musicians that come in are just experiences I wouldn’t have had if it hadn’t been for CAC. I really love that they have concerts all the time, which are super fun because I love music. I love art too. I’m just not artistic.”

While she may not be artistic in the painting sense, Watts has a passion for photography, and her new job has honed those skills even more.

“I got my first camera when I graduated high school,” Watts said. “I was really big into taking scenery pictures, but the older I’ve gotten, especially working at CAC, I take a lot more pictures of people now. It’s really different, but I love it.”

When she’s just shooting for her hobby, she leans on old-school methods.

“I love shooting film. It’s my favorite, but it doesn’t really work for what we need (at CAC),” Watts said. “So I shoot film on my own time and digital whenever I’m on the clock. … I’m kind of that person who thinks, anytime anything is happening, ‘Oh that would be a good picture!’”

From health care to art
While Watts has fallen right into the position, it was not what she envisioned when she graduated in 2019 from the Mississippi University for Women.

Her plan then was to become a veterinarian.

“I realized quickly that was not for me,” Watts said. “I’m not big into medical stuff, but my whole family is. I had no idea what I wanted to do at all, so this kind of just fell into my lap.”

Watts knew CAC Executive Director Salem Gibson, and she said he convinced her to give it a shot.

Taking that chance has not only paid dividends for Watts, but it has expanded her understanding and appreciation of the arts.

“(I’ve seen) different art styles that I didn’t know were a thing before working here,” Watts said. “I was like, ‘Oh, it’s either realistic or abstract. There’s no in between.’ Even just in the couple of months I have been there, (my understanding) has been broadened by a huge amount.”