Meet Vanya Foote | Arts Administrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanya Foote and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanya, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success has always been to listen to others involved in the project or business and get their insight, feedback and process so that it can inform the bigger picture and my decisions.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
So professionally, I am the Managing Director of Theatrical Outfit – the only nonprofit professional theater company in downtown Atlanta (we’ve been downtown for over 20 years!). I’ve had the pleasure to work here for just over a year. Prior to that I was the Executive Director of the Atlanta Chamber Players. In college, I was an acting major and I quickly decided that business and management was more within my skillset, so I decided to attend Florida State University for my Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Management. Following graduation I worked as Company Manager at Weston Theatre Company (Weston, VA), Company Manager and then Assistant General Manager at McCarter Theatre Company (Princeton, NJ) and Company Manager at Virginia Opera (Norfolk, VA).

Since my time at FSU, my goal was always to be Managing Director for a mid-sized professional theater company and I’m proud to have achieved that here in Atlanta, GA!

The path was never easy, but every job I took was a stepping stone to where I intended to be and I made sure to take ever opportunity and experience and learn from it and it all continues to help me in my current position.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First and foremost, I would take them to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Midtown! Everyone who is my friend appreciates the artistry of Jim Henson and I believe we must have the second largest Henson collection in the world here in Atlanta. It’s also something that is so unique to Atlanta!

I know that it can be a bit touristy, but we also have taken many of our friends and family to the Aquarium. It’s incredible and has so many one of a kind exhibits that you really can’t find elsewhere. For one, we got to sleepover in the room with the whale sharks and you can’t do that anywhere else in this hemisphere!

Then, there is also the rich history in visiting Martin Luther King, Jr’s home and other historic sights centered on the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the fun tours of visiting filming locations.

As for food, Mary Mac’s Tea Room is a must! My favorite is the fried chicken, but everything is so good. Then there is Williamson Bros. BBQ! Otherwise, we tend to prefer to cook at home when entertaining out of town guests, but I know there is much this city has to offer.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Smyrna Arts Council. As I have grown in my capacity as an arts administrator, having the Smyrna Arts Council – a grass roots community effort with major impact on our city – continues to ground me but also shows the largest impact that the arts can have every day.

Instagram: @vanyafoote

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanya-foote

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/footev

Image Credits
Headshot Credit: Stuart Hasson