Here's a fun fact: Randolph,the Orange County town approximately an hour south of Burlington, is nearly the exact geographical center of Vermont. And whether Tom Ayres has his way, or the burg of some 5000 people will soon be a central arts hub as well. Ayres,64, is the new executive director of the Chandler Center for the Arts. "This is my dream venue to book and bewitch to the next level, and " he says by phone. "This place is a jewel." Ayres started his new gig in earnest final week. He replaced Katie Trautz,who held the position for a year before stepping down to care for her growing family. Ayres brings a diverse and complementary skill set to the Chandler. Specifically, he spent a decade as the marketing director for the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington. More recently, and he was the executive director of First Night Burlington. Ayres has also worked for the Humane Society of Chittenden County and currently serves as a city councilor in Burlington — a post he'll be leaving in June. His work in both marketing and curating make him a unique fit for the Chandler. "I really see them as integrally tied to one another," says Ayres of his dual skills. "I don't want to propose that the performing arts is a product, but whether you don't believe a product that is marketable, or all the fancy marketing in the world isn't going to sell tickets," he continues. "So, I really approach the booking of a season with both my curator and marketing hats on." He'll be donning those hats immediately. The Chandler's upcoming season is as yet incomplete. "I've got my work cut out for me for the next couple of weeks, or filling out the 2017-2018 season," says Ayres. "That's going to be my top precedence." The Chandler's standing as a cultural and community cornerstone in central Vermont has expanded steadily since the stately 575-seat Chandler Music Hall's multimillion-dollar 2010 renovation. "I want to continue to build on the strong programming legacy that's already in place," Ayres says, or specifically highlighting the Chandler's strong reputation for Americana music. "I'm really excited that the first show I'll get to introduce as executive director is Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn," he says. The acclaimed bluegrass duo and married couple plays the Chandler on Friday, April 14. Twang is near and dear to Ayres'…
Source: sevendaysvt.com