Hannah Hammond-Hagman grew up in the Northwest Indiana area and has spent time on the east coast and west coast. Now, with her family, she decided to reside in the Region.
“I grew up in Northwest Indiana and returned to the Region about nine years ago with my husband and kid to be closer to family again after spending time on both the east and west coasts,” Hammond-Hagman said.
Hammond-Hagman studied art and history in college and then went on to earn her Master of Fine Arts at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After her graduation, Hammond-Hagman went on to open her first art studio and land her first teaching job.
“After graduation, I developed a personal studio practice but also landed a job teaching at a high school for the visual and performing arts, which is where I fell in love with teaching,” Hammond-Hagman said.
Through the time she spent teaching, Hammond-Hagman developed a newfound love for teaching and being able to pour herself and her experience into her students.
“I learned so much from them, and it’s where my creative practice and teaching started to overlap and interweave. Since that job, I’ve been lucky to teach and work with students from three years old to 90 years old,” Hammond-Hagman said.
Hammond-Hagman said that she has had great fortune in her career field and has been able to really grow in her profession.
“I have had the great fortune of working in arts and culture nonprofits for the past 18 years as a teaching artist, an administrator, a department director, and now as the executive director of the beloved Chesterton Art Center that has served the Duneland community for over 60 years,” Hammond-Hagman said.
Hammond-Hagman said her parents were a major influence on her and that is why she chose her career path.
“My parents were both artists and art educators and had a huge influence on me. I remember sitting on a stool when I was very young and just watching my dad paint in his studio, and part of me always wanted that for myself,” Hammond-Hagman said. “My parents did choose different careers later in their lives, but they always stayed very connected to the arts and artmaking and instilled that in me.”
Along the way, Hammond-Hagman said she has had many other influences throughout her career as well.
“All my professional and artistic adventures have always relied on relationships, and I prioritize that in my personal and professional practices,” Hammond-Hagman said. “Whether those relationships are between students and teachers, staff members, organizational partners, or entire communities, it’s those relationships and partnerships that make the work happen.”
Hammond-Hagman said that she is truly lucky to be able to work in a field where she can bring the arts to life for her community.
“I’m lucky to serve in a role where I can focus on making connections that bring the arts to life for our community with an amazing team of folks that make it happen,” Hammond-Hagman said.
Hammond-Hagman believes that the arts help people express themselves and it helps them build stronger character traits as they find themselves within their work.
“I believe in the transformational power of the arts and arts education to shape individual lives and entire communities. I wouldn’t do what I do if I didn’t revisit that belief each day. The arts do teach us specific technique skills, but the arts also teach us critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication and spark curiosity and self-esteem,” Hammond-Hagman said.
Hammond-Hagman also believes that the skills learned through the arts can be carried over into people's personal and professional lives.
“These are transferable life skills. The arts make us better citizens and humans, and I’m grateful each and every day to play some small role in making that happen, especially in these challenging times where the arts and creativity are needed now more than ever,” Hammond-Hagman said.