The Longview arts organizations and their directors should receive a standing ovation for the work that they do. In this series, we?ve spotlighted Trey Smith of Opera East Texas, Renee Hawkins of Longview Museum of Fine Arts, Pat George Mitchell of Longview Ballet Theatre and Pamela Bump of ArtsView Children?s Theatre. We?ll now turn our attention to Carol Mullikin and the work she does for the Longview Symphony.
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Carol Mullikin, director of Longview Symphony
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A piano sits on the stage at the Belcher Center in Longview.
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Question: To what extent were you involved in the arts as a child, and how has that shaped your approach to the organization you work for?
Answer: I was active in drama and took piano lessons for many years, but eventually dropped out. I know my mom loves to hear me say it, but she was right about the piano and I regret not continuing. Also, when I was in elementary school, the PTA had an art appreciation project where volunteers brought prints of famous paintings to the classrooms and discussed the paintings and the artists. I loved that and fell in love with the Impressionists. These experiences gave me a broad appreciation for all of the arts and made me realize the connective tissue that runs through them — from an orchestra to a ballet to an opera to a museum to a theater — and how important (and fun) it is to work together.
Q: What "least-known" fact about your organization would surprise most people, and why?
A: I think people are surprised at how wonderful the orchestra sounds. Many people don't expect to hear a fully professional orchestra in a city the size of Longview , but I believe the Longview Symphony can hold its own with other orchestras from larger cities. The musicians are very, very good and our conductor is top notch. They work really well together.
Q: What is the most difficult part of your job?
A: Raising money.
Q: What is the easiest part of your job?
A: Attending a live, orchestral concert.
Q: What will the arts look like in Longview, TX in five or 10 years from now?
A: Longview is so fortunate to have the caliber and quantity of arts groups that are here. We share many of the same individual patrons and they have been very supportive over the years. I think as the Longview area grows, the arts also have the potential to grow. This is especially true if our area is able to capitalize on being a retirement destination.
Q: If you weren't the executive director of your organization, you would be...
A: A travel writer, or I'd be taking cooking classes in Tuscany.
Q: What's the primary mission of your organization?
A: Our mission is to provide the people of Northeast Texas the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate live classical music performances and to help provide students in the region with quality musical education experiences that may not otherwise be available to them.
Q: Who is your audience?
A: We have a wide range. Many of our patrons are over 50. And we have a growing group of high school and college students. It's the in-between that we, like most orchestras, are working to pull in.
Q: What do you find most fulfilling about your job?
A: I really believe that the Longview Symphony makes such a difference in the quality of many people's lives. In 2007, we performed Beethoven's 9th Symphony. To be present at a live performance like that and to see how it affected not only the audience, but the musicians and the chorus was amazing. Knowing that I get to play a small part in making moments like that happen is the most fulfilling part of my job.
Q: How do the ups and downs of the economy affect your ability to raise funds?
A: Just like any non-profit group that depends heavily on patron support, the economy affects us a great deal. Unfortunately, when funds are tight, many businesses and individuals cut their donations to us. Government cutbacks also affect grant monies. So we make reductions and try to adjust and then work that much harder to raise the necessary funds.
Q: What aspect of the arts do you believe is lacking in our area? What would you like to see added or expanded to improve the artistic environment?
A: I think the awareness and appreciation of how our lives and our community are enhanced by the arts is lacking. The arts — just like schools, parks, recreation facilities and city services — are a major factor in attracting businesses to our area and should be supported in a similar manner.
I would love to see more arts education added to our schools' curriculum and for the local arts groups to be able to be a part of it. If we start early, then our children grow up with an awareness of how richer their lives are when the arts are readily available to them. Because of that, they become patrons of the arts and it becomes a positive cycle that benefits everyone in the long run.
Q: In your spare time, what is your artistic or creative outlet?
A: I love to read and work in my flower garden.
