Mary Barnett
 

Creative Services Management 

Mary Barnett

 

summary

Over two decades of working with high-profile high-impact teams and projects, ground-level collaborations, national partnerships, and deep media experience. Based in the southeast and producing social impact projects and narratives for arts, media, equitable placemaking, conservation, public lands, and cultural institutions. Public historian and citizen-archivist. Authentic and adaptive creative thinker.


Social Impact Resident Artist


Artist-At-Work , The Office of Performing Arts + Film. 2022-2023

Inspired by the Depression-era Works Progress Administration, AAW is a new program designed to give artists resources to continue to produce work during the immediate health and economic crisis brought by COVID, and to build new structures and partnerships that will help to sustain the creative sector in a post-pandemic America. Through a year-long residency that including 6 months with Sequatchie Cove Farm, a 4-generation family farm in the Tennessee Valley, and 6 with the Southeast Tennessee Young Farmers Coalition, conducting research and engagement concerning the connection between soil-food-climate, land access, and food justice. Projects in development can be found here.



Responsible for managing various communications and outreach projects for nonprofit in support of its mission to champion the conservation of the natural, historic, and cultural resources of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.

Programs & Projects Manager

National Park Partners
12/2018 - 10/2021


Responsible for creating weekly blog and monthly newsletter content for nonprofit focused on community-led artist-driven equitable community development and creative placemaking. Press releases. media relations and photography.

Communications Manager

Glass House Collective
8/2018 - 3/2021


Public Relations Manager

Chattanooga Public Library
10/2012 – 3/2018

Responsible for media and public relations for award winning public library with an emphasis on the institution's innovative 21st century services, partners, spaces and events. Key role in multiple high profile pilot initiatives included project leadership and national partner management. Promotion and program development of the 4th Floor, a first-of-its-kind maker space, public laboratory, and educational facility with a focus on information, design, technology, and the applied arts. Co-founder, event, and community partnership manager for the annual independent publishing festival, Chattanooga Zine Fest. Media and feature writing across multiple platforms. Website content creation, editing and management; social media management, photography and special projects documentation. Editor of library public events calendar. Brand management. Contributing writer to Library Journal and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Blog


Feature Writer, Photographer

Nooga.com
1/2011- 9/2012

Arts features writer for a new online media company and daily news source during the project launch. Focus on arts, entertainment, local food, neighborhoods, human interest, and profiles. Responsible for the daily development of story ideas and sources, research and reporting, interviews, and writing. Web-based content management system, photojournalism, and social media.


Writer, Director, Producer

Independent Productions
2005-2011

Direct, write and produce independent documentaries including commissions. Exhibit preparation and execution. Fundraising, Social Media, Vendor Relations, Scouting, Community Engagement. Commercial work includes direct response television marketing and production. Original projects included gallery and festival premieres: "One Road," which co-premiered at the Nashville Film Festival and the Loeb Place Making Conference at Harvard University; the Allied Arts-funded "Higher Ground- Common Ground"; and "And The Iron Did Swim," the CreateHere MakeWork-funded solo photography exhibition at Tanner Hill Gallery. Commercial work includes direct response television marketing and production. 


Newsroom Assignment Editor

WDSI-TV News
2002-2004

Manage newsroom assignment desk for two live broadcasts. Daily crew assignments, establishing sources and leads. Develop and execute workflow improvements in a fast-paced and changing workplace. News website executive producer. Recipient Fiscal Innovators Award.


Advertising Agency Project Manager
 

The Johnson Group
2000-2002

Client services and project management responsibilities including overseeing efficiencies and timelines for assigned creative teams, workflow management, budget coordination, project and print production management, traffic and proofreading, tracking and scheduling, daily team meetings, and reports. Recipient Professional Excellence Award.


Marketing Director

Bluff View Art District
1996-2000

Marketing and special events management for City’s high-end art district dedicated to the visual, horticultural, and culinary arts. Marketing communications planning, creation, and execution; corporate sponsor development, media buying, public relations. Site liaison with Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau and visiting travel writers including assignments with Turner South and HGTV.


Continuity Director

WDEF-FM/AM
1992-1994

Writer and producer radio advertising. Production management and traffic. Wrote and co-produced the station's award-winning television advertising campaign. On-air special assignments and commercial voice-over talent. Recipient of Bronze Addy Award from Chattanooga Advertising Federation.


National Director, Video Promotion

Virgin Records America
1989-1991

Artist Promotion and representation. Field producer and project coordinator for special projects with MTV News and MTV Networks affiliate networks and original programs including UnPlugged, 120 Minutes, Club MTV, Video Music Awards, and VH1-to-One. New York City and Los Angeles.


Promotion Coordinator

WHTZ FM – Z-100
1984-1989

Media and sales promotions coordination and execution. On-air guest talent with the #1 Arbitron rated Morning Drive Show in NYC - “Z Morning Zoo”. Artists/label liaison. High profile street team for world premiere events in New York metro area top venues.



 


Education

Seton Hall University, South Orange NJ -B.A. Communications Studies
May 2016

Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University, Durham, NC 
Intensive Institute
Summer 2004
 

 

Awards

ART BUILD ARTIST-AT-WORK SOCIAL IMPACT ARTS RESIDENCY, THRIVE REGION 2022-2023

Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga – Individual Artist Grant

Create Here – Make Work Project Grant

Tennessee Arts Commission – Arts Build Communities Grant

Fiscal Innovators Award – Pegasus Communications / WDSI TV61

Professional Excellence Award – The Johnson Group

Bronze Addy Award – Chattanooga Advertising Federation

Contact

Email: maryfrancesbarnett@gmail.com
Phone: 423-822-0289