Academy Award Winner Ruth E. Carter Joins Boston Arts Academy Foundation Board of Directors
Read about Ruth E. Carter's appointment to BAA Foundation's Board of Directors, including excerpts in Variety, Hampton University's alumni newsletter, 501c3 Buzz and Inside Charity.
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Boston Arts Academy Foundation (BAAF) today announced that Academy Award-winning costume designer and Massachusetts native Ruth E. Carter has joined the BAAF’s Board of Directors.
Carter, a living legend in costume design, got her start working backstage as an intern at StageWest, now City Stage, in her hometown of Springfield, Mass. She graduated from Springfield Technical High School before going on to study at Hampton University in Virginia.
The first Black costume designer awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Carter uses fashion and design to share narratives of culture, race, and politics. Her designs enable actors to fully immerse themselves in the roles of the characters they represent.
An expert storyteller, Carter has worked on more than 50 major films over the course of her career. Her designs can be seen in movies such as ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Malcolm X,’ ‘Selma,’ and ‘Amistad’.
“Ruth is a visionary in her field and a champion for Black representation in the arts,” said Denella J. Clark, President and CEO of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation. “To have her give her time, talent, and energy to support the Foundation speaks volumes about who she is, but also about her shared vision of the importance of equal access to visual and performing arts for our city’s students.”
Carter recently visited Massachusetts to celebrate her mother’s 100th birthday and coordinate the installation of the first sign marking “Amore Village” in Springfield. Originally built in 1949, Amore Village was a neighborhood known for helping low-income Black families achieve home ownership.
“I started out just like the students of Boston Arts Academy,” said Carter. “There is so much talent in these communities and we must ensure equal access to opportunity. I believe in the mission of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, and I am proud to join the Board of Directors to support its vision.”
In addition to Carter, BAAF’s Board elected Jerome Smith, Senior Manager of External Affairs at Amazon, and Maggie Baxter, VP of Programming at NBC Boston, as new members. They will serve alongside other civic leaders including Board Chairman and Avid Technology CEO Jeff Rosica.
Read more about Ruth E. Carter's appointment in:
