Today we’d like to introduce you to Susie Glauner.
Susie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been a creative person, but it wasn’t until I started taking painting lessons in 2014 that my focus and attention to art really took hold. I grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and moved to southern Pennsylvania when I was in high school. I played a lot of sports and participated in band–jazz, concert and even a little marching band–playing the saxophone. I’d also grown up playing the piano. Moving into adulthood, playing music was replaced by learning painting. I took lessons in oils and acrylics and haven’t left the art sector since.
I attended college at Penn State University where I majored in English and minored in German. I studied abroad and fell in love with traveling. After college, I took a manager’s position with a small business in Washington DC. It was a specialty toy store, and it was one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever enjoyed. From there I became a communications director for a small fitness company. While my kids were young I wrote articles for a local lifestyle magazine and volunteered a lot. Once they got older I was able to work more and I became the studio manager at the studio where I was learning to paint!
I joined the St. Mary’s County Arts Council as a board member in 2020, and then when the Executive Director position became available in 2023, I applied and have never looked back!
Many of these job changes aligned with life events–marriage, career moves for my husband, children, etc.
I’m passionate about uplifting the arts and artists here in St. Mary’s County. As ED of the Arts Council since January of 2023, I have proudly led the organization to reach a record number of constituents through:
-administering public art (murals, sculptures, etc,);
-new programming specifically serving minority populations and underserved groups (art activities at the soup kitchen and cultural events for minority groups);
-advocated for artists by creating economic opportunities via public-private partnerships and educational/professional development (partnerships with County Rec and Parks and a mural education workshop, also served on a governor appointed committee to seek innovative economic support solutions for artists);
-developed six additional local gallery partnerships to provide more economic opportunities for local artists and inject art into other public spaces for the public to enjoy (libraries, winery, hospital and soup kitchen);
-am currently in the process of opening the county’s first ever community art center and makerspace (opening October 2026!)
-looking ahead to create mobile art outreach program and an artisan village/artist residency program
-advocating for the arts and funding at the state legislature and local county commission, as well as during our county’s strategic planning process, rec and parks strategic planning process, and Town of Leonardtown municipality public arts plan
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Surely no, but a smooth road also sounds little boring!
Challenges are aplenty:
-juggling work life with family life
-relocating for jobs, especially when it’s not yours
-overcoming negative our outdated perceptions of the arts and arts orgs
-growing an organization
-funding challenges
-staying relevant in an ever-evolving political landscape
What I will say, though, is that in this position as the ED of SMCAC, I find the willingness of other colleagues and partners to collaborate to be incredible.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a voracious and eager student of the arts. I want to try it all! Once getting a handle on acrylic and oil painting, I have dabbled in watercolor, gouache, paper crafting, resin work, ceramics (both hand building and wheel throwing), found object art (primarily sea glass creations), linocut printing, printmaking, etc. I’ll try anything once! I’m a terrible dancer, though, if I’m being honest. 🙂
In my professional work, I think I specialize in making connections. I enjoy learning about individual people and what their interests are. I spend a lot of time attending meetings with other sectors, and this presents a unique opportunity to make connections with and for other people. Some folks might call that being nosy, but I prefer to think of it as just being “informed”. LOL.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Maryland, and I really like St. Mary’s County. I love the circle of professional colleagues I interact with and the ‘can-do’ attitude I receive when I propose projects and ideas. The environment is also something I love about St. Mary’s. We have a wonderful park system, access to the rivers and the bay, and natural spaces that soothe the soul. We have so many great restaurants and unique shops to explore. And, of course, I love the art scene.
I just wish for more! Having lived in St. Mary’s for a total of almost 13 years, I see growth and development to the level that I don’t feel like I am “missing out” by not living closer to places like Annapolis and DC.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smcart.org
- Instagram: instagram/smcartscouncil
- Facebook: facebook/smcartscouncil
- LinkedIn: Susie Glauner
