ARTIST PROFILE
Ben Smith
When dealing with the artistic community, it is easy to identify the artists, and performers. They are the ones standing in front of the exhibits, accepting the handshakes, or taking the bows. It isn't so easy identifying the people who brought those artists to you – the people behind the scenes who sacrifice time and energy for the sake of art, but who rarely get the applause or appreciation they deserve. They are the administrators, volunteers, gophers, technicians, and helpers who make the events come together.
Ben Smith is one of those hidden heroes. He was finally recognized for his efforts at "A Piano Celebration", the unveiling of the Kiwanis Community Theatre Center's new Yamaha 10-foot concert grand piano on November 28th.
The piano will bear a permanently fixed plaque for all to see which reads:
Benjamin F. Smith
Educator and Arts Leader
November 28, 2003
Ben has been very involved in the continuous fund-raising required to maintain the Steinway concert grand piano which was presented to Community Concerts Association in 1959. When the association wound up operations, Ben managed the donation of the piano to the Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre, where it was used continually until this past summer. Its recent sale provided the seed money for the new Yamaha concert grand piano.
An educator for over 30 years, Ben Smith taught business in the local public secondary school system. At the same time, he was actively supporting and promoting the arts through the Community Concerts Association, bringing world-class performers to Sault Ste. Marie audiences.
Ben Smith has also been continuously active in the administration of other arts organizations throughout the city. He has been active in the Community Theatre Centre since its inception, and was president of that board during the time when the Centre was burdened by renovation debts. As Larry Whalen (current president of the KCTC) states, "Those were not pleasant years to be the president, as you can imagine. But Ben shouldered the load and got us through it."
Ben refers to his involvement in the arts as his "life sentence." He is still an active member of the Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre board today. He is also active as an Arts Council volunteer, and in the past he served on our Board of Directors and as a member of the Executive Committee.
If not for the dedication of Ben Smith, and all of the other Ben Smith's of this community who give so freely of their time and talent, we would not have the quality of art – nor the quality of life – that we take so much for granted.
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