
Executive Director
Brief info
Executive Director Ann Watts is responsible for the overall management and funding of Starting Arts. She seeks out arts education resources within the San Francisco Bay community, evaluating their quality and suitability for Starting Arts programs. She determines the type and number of classes offered by Starting Arts, locates facilities, acquires materials, and hires artists to instruct. Ms. Watts also solicits public/private funding to sustain and expand the number/size of programs offered by Starting Arts. She oversees and contributes to grant writing, and has begun an aggressive campaign for corporate sponsorship. Ms. Watts has successfully established relationships with local media, keeping Starting Arts in the public eye. Her planning and management skills have created a solid business foundation, but it is Ms. Watts’ energy, enthusiasm and high standards for excellence that assure Starting Arts’ continued success.
Ann Watts earned a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honors, 1982), a Bachelor’s degree in Education (1984), passed the CBEST and holds a California Teaching Credential. She has taught general education for grades preschool through 12 and served as a dance teacher/ choreographer/ production coordinator for numerous extracurricular programs. Ann’s art background includes 18 years of formal dance training, 10 years dancing professionally on stage, and serving as Artistic Director/ Manager of the Lakeshore Dance Studio (Montreal, Canada, 1982-84). Ms. Watts’ recent business experience includes co-founding an internet service company in Mountain View, CA.