VIRGINIA BEACH — Whether as an actress or singer, or through her work helping nonprofits with important missions, Tamar Smithers might have gone anywhere to work. She chose Virginia Beach.
Late last year, Smithers became the first full-time executive director of the Virginia African American Cultural Center after a nationwide search, according to Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammond, the founder and chairperson of the center who was elected to the City Council’s District 4 seat in November.
The center is destined to be built on nearly five acres of land at Lake Edward Park, and it is in the process of becoming a destination representing the cultural and historic experience of African Americans.
“We did a national search for an executive director with just the right qualities to help us move this project forward,” Ross-Hammond told me. “Being on City Council meant releasing some of our daily programming and community outreach to someone who also possessed the commitment and passion for opening the Virginia African American Cultural Center one day. I am certainly pleased to have her on board. She comes with the experience of helping open the National Museum of African American Music, which is a plus.”
Prior to joining the center and working toward its eventual construction here in Virginia Beach, Smithers served as the founding senior director of education for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee. She also worked for the Eastern Great Lakes chapter of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and currently serves on the Association of African American Museums membership committee.
Smithers told me she was serving as education director for the National Museum of African American Music when she saw the renderings of the planned center here in Virginia Beach.
The successful opening of the museum in Tennessee inspired her to take on an important task here in Virginia Beach.
“I saw the impact that NMAAM has made nationwide, and the VAACC has that same potential,” Smithers said, adding that the cultural center will be transformational for the city, Hampton Roads and the commonwealth.
“This cultural center is needed not just for African Americans, but for all cultures and all walks of life,” she said, “to learn about the history of the descendants of enslaved Africans and those trapped in indentured servitude and celebrate their legacy and contributions to building America.”
Smithers is an avid arts advocate with experience in the nonprofit sector and a particular focus on museums, higher education and cultural institutions.
A childhood interest in singing started her on this path.
Smithers holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in acting from Syracuse University and a masters degree in arts administration and a certificate in advanced study in higher education leadership from Le Moyne College. She said she is also an executive master in business administration candidate at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Smithers was born in upstate New York, and her family moved to New York City when she was six. At about that time, the performance bug bit her. However, Smithers shared that her desire to perform was always there. She wanted to be a singer because her mother and aunt were talented singers. Her aunt had a brief recording career.
Smithers said she also wanted to teach and encourage young artists, to help them develop what they are passionate about in the arts.
“Help them pursue their craft, unlocking the potential that they didn’t know they had,” she said.
She was mentored in art administration by Dr. Kheli Willetts, professor of African American art history and film at Syracuse.
Willits pushed and encouraged Smithers.
“Why are you here?” her mentor would ask. “How are you going to use those skills to help others?”
Smithers says her immediate objective at the cultural center is to focus on launching its capital campaign by early 2024. She wants to create more of a presence on the site so the community can see forward movement and momentum while building that relationship with the community before the doors open.
It will celebrate cultural achievements and history more than just one month per year.
“We are Black every day, 365 days a year, and learning about our history and celebrating our culture should not be limited to one month – and the shortest month of the year at that,” she said. “This is why I am even more excited for this cultural center because it will be a place for everyone to come and learn about African American history, culture and community all year round. The VAACC will be where our young people can see themselves and connect the past to the present and future. …
“We want to show more pride and meaning for the African-American culture,” Smithers added. “It is for everyone to share, learn and celebrate the achievements of the African-American diaspora.”
The nonprofit center hosts a golf tournament fundraising event on July 20 at Cypress Point Country Club, 5340 Club Head Road, and it seeks sponsors and participants. Visit vaaccvb.org for information about the center and ways to support it.
The author is a writer and documentary filmmaker who grew up in Norfolk and lived in Virginia Beach for much of his life. He ran a production company, worked in college athletics and was curator at an art gallery in Virginia Beach for years.
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