08/17/2026
We'd like to introduce you to our newest staff member, Rick Byrd! Please join us in welcoming Rick as he steps into the role of Development Manager at d'Art Center!
Rick has always believed that life is supposed to be lived creatively, and with curiosity, humor, and the willingness to experiment, and a certain comfort with saying, “Well… I’ve never done that before. How hard could it be?”
Rick is an arts professional, educator, writer, creator, and lifelong learner who has spent much of his life bringing people together through the arts. He has produced performances, developed educational programs, supported artists, written children’s stories, cooked for friends, and pursued more creative projects than he probably has any business taking on.
The common thread is simple: Rick likes making things. He also likes helping other people make things happen. Give him an idea, a problem, a pile of interesting materials, or a project that someone says might be “a little complicated,” and there is a pretty good chance he will want to see what happens next.
Rick is excited to explore, experiment, learn new things, meet interesting people, and most importantly, see what he can get himself into next. Most recently, he taught himself the basics of 3D printing. This has involved creativity, determination, problem-solving, occasional confusion, several moments of “Why is it doing THAT?”, and, fortunately, a healthy sense of humor.
Rick believes in kindness, inclusion, friendship, laughter, second chances, and giving people and animals the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. He believes creativity has no expiration date. He believes mistakes are often just lessons wearing an inconvenient disguise. And he firmly believes that when something doesn't work, there is usually another way to look at it, another approach to try, or another possibility waiting around the corner.
He is also still becoming.
There are still things he wants to make, things he wants to learn, stories he wants to tell, people he wants to meet, places he wants to explore, and probably a few completely unnecessary projects he has yet to convince himself are absolutely essential. And that is just fine.
