Our staff at the ARts council
Executive Director
Joey Toler
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Joey Toler's first brush with BCAC happened in the summer of 1978 when, fresh from Appalachian State University with a BS in Theatre, he was asked to direct a play of his choosing. Rehearsals for Kurt Vonnegut's "Happy Birthday, Wanda June" were well underway when, after reading the script, the Arts Council board of directors decided that the play was too risque at the time for a Beaufort County audience.
So began his journey into arts administration.
Joey directed a string of children's plays for BCAC beginning in 1981, and joined the staff in 1982 under then director Judy Meier Jennette. After spending some time in the Charlotte area from 1984-1989, he returned to Beaufort County. He led the Washington Community Theater Association for many years directing a number of productions including "Steel Magnolias", "Crimes of the Heart", "On Golden Pond", and "Godspell". In the meantime, he also performed as a solo keyboard player and singer in various venues. He was the director of the Beaufort County Schools "Steppin' Out" production for 14 years.
Before rejoining the BCAC staff in 2001 as Program Director, he served on several BCAC grant panels and as a Board Member. After a short break from BCAC in 2006 when he served as Interim Director for Downtown Washington On The Waterfront, Inc., he returned as Executive Director after Wanda Johnson's retirement in July 2007.
Most recently, he has served as a panelist for the North Carolina Arts Council's Arts In Communities Grassroots Grant and represented Beaufort County as a presenter and panel member for Arts NC, Inc. in Raleigh during their annual Arts Advocacy Day.
Joey is a committed advocate for the arts in Beaufort County.
Administrative Assistant - Clerical
Catherine Partick
Catherine Partrick came to the Arts Council as a new bride and Administrative Assistant in 1985 during the "Judy years". She is married to Neal Partrick, Jr., a native of Washington. She has been with the Arts Council on and off for 30 years, with "sabbaticals" during their two children's early years. She is an avid lover of the arts, especially fine arts, performing arts, and music. Catherine enjoys all aspects of Arts Council life, especially her ability to interact with local artists, craftsmen, BCAC volunteers, and patrons. She claims "every day at the Arts Council is different, which makes life a lot more fun."
Catherine is an active member of her church and enjoys volunteer work, travel, and tennis in her spare time.
Administrative Assistant - Finance
Eleanor Rollins
Eleanor developed her love of the arts when she was a young girl and her New York mom and her Little Washington dad would take her to the theatre and museums in New York City. She was "a Rockette wannabe" before Karaoke was ever heard of! Her special talent was the checks and balances of finance - so that became a way to participate in the world of art, music, and literature. In the late 1970's, she began volunteering with the Beaufort County Arts Council, Beaufort County Community Concert Association, Friends of the Brown Library, and Washington Jr. Woman's Club. Beginning in the early 1980's, she served on the BCAC Board of Directors as treasurer. Eleanor officially joined the BCAC staff in 2002 and quickly became the 'go to' person for all things financial. She is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and currently serves as President of the Beaufort County Concert Association.
Eleanor is usually the first person people see when they visit the Arts Council. She counts being a native Washingtonian as a big plus since it enables her to tell newcomers all about the cultural doings of her hometown. For Eleanor, BCAC is the perfect place to work because she can be around the beauty and creativity of the arts that she loves. She espouses the motto of the National Endowment for the Arts - "A Great Nation Deserves Great Art" - and believes Beaufort County does, too.
Maybe one day she'll get the nerve to sing out-loud all those show tunes she knows by heart!