Life & Work with Herb Stratford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Herb Stratford.

Hi Herb, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I attended high school in Phoenix (Phoenix Country Day, and Saguaro High School) and then went south to go to the University of Arizona where I received a BFA & MFA in Art. While an undergraduate in school I co-founded an annual art magazine (Chromophobia) that highlighted student art, and as a graduate student, I started a monthly performance art showcase called Cabaret Magritte. My wife and I then started a non-profit (Stratford Art Works, Inc.) that has incubated a wide variety of arts projects in Southern Arizona. These projects included; starting the Fox Theatre restoration (a 1929 art deco movie palace that was restored and reopened after a $14M multi-year project, Film Fest Tucson, which is an annual film fest every October in downtown Tucson, and most recently the restoration of the 1915 Teatro Carmen in Barrio Viejo.

I also have a national historic theatre consulting company that has worked in over 20 different states over the past 15+ years. I taught Arts Management at the University of Arizona for 20 years, and have been a film and television critic appearing weekly on several Southern Arizona television and radio stations.

And finally, I’m a musician (cello), writer, and filmmaker. Our most recent film, “Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman” is a feature documentary about the iconic turn-of-the-century furniture maker and design icon Gustav Stickley. It was released by First Run Features in 2022. We are currently developing multiple film and television projects under the Stratford Productions banner.

StratfordArtworks.org
FilmFestTucson.org
StratfordProductions.com

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everything that has value involves some form of struggle or sacrifice to achieve. Being stubborn and dedicated is just as important as having good ideas. I have had the good fortune of having remarkable partners in everything that I do start with my wife Kerry who makes everything look better and run better.

Her marketing & PR company The Caliber Group is one of the best in the West and her work makes all of our projects shine. Other collaborators in the arts, business, government and preservation communities are what help get things across the finish line. It truly takes a number of people to make significant progress and I’m fortunate to have great people around whom I can rely on every time.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think what most excites me is the work I do to connect artists and audiences. Growing up I was surrounded by art thanks to my mother who took me to museums, symphony performances, and other cultural activities. I was a voracious reader and that instilled in me a love of the arts.

Wanting to connect artists with audiences has been a central theme in everything I do from creating a magazine or ongoing performance event to restoring historic venues to curating film festivals and reviewing film and television for the news as I believe in the power of art to open eyes, foster understanding between cultures and to invoke compassion. Worked for years in the arts, and I think that is what I’m best known for.

I don’t really compare myself to other people as I just try to create projects that will outlast me and make our community a better place.

How do you define success?
I think for me success is less about financial or personal acclaim. I think it’s about making an impact on your community that outlasts you.

Your name may be forgotten as the person who restored a building or began a long-running arts series, but the impact your work had on people’s lives is the legacy I’m after. Recognition by peers or the public is nice, but being able to look back on a career of impactful results and creative, fulfilling collaborations is the best.

Contact Info:

• Website: StratfordArtWorks.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historic_theatre
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herbstratford
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArtsAndCultureGuy

Image Credits
Exterior Fox Theatre, William Lesch, and Stratford Art Works