Barbara Chirinos, a dynamic force in the arts and cultural sectors, recently joined Spelman College as the inaugural artistic director of the Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation and the Arts (CI&A) and the LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Center for the Performing Arts.
With a career spanning over three decades, Chirinos has made her mark through groundbreaking programs, cultural preservation, and advocacy for underrepresented voices. From stage managing U.S. national theatrical tours of iconic Black plays by James Baldwin, George C. Wolfe and August Wilson, etc., working with New York City’s New Federal Theatre, to founding and curating Vancouver’s longest-running Black History Month film series to curating films for the "Drum is Calling," a vibrant, interactive festival of traditional and contemporary Indigenous and cross-cultural films and performances, celebrating Indigenous artists, to producing and managing one of Canada’s largest international music festivals to managing four theatres consecutively, she has championed authentic storytelling across North America.
Chirinos credits her Afro-Latina roots and Brooklyn upbringing for successfully shaping her belief in the transformative power of storytelling. "My parents always emphasized the importance of travel, not just to explore new places, but to acknowledge and understand where we come from and to connect with our roots. We were taught that learning about the world isn’t only about discovering new landscapes, but also about acknowledging cultural traditions, histories, and experiences that exist beyond our own," Chirinos said.
"Through these travels, I’ve discovered a common thread that unites all people: the need for connection through authentic storytelling."
“Stories have the power to transform us and connect us. At Spelman, we have the unique opportunity to make those connections resonate across the world.”
Chirinos' programs resonate with audiences, bridging gaps and fostering understanding through stories that remind us of our shared humanity. This philosophy drives her work, whether producing cultural experiences that merge art, food and film or spotlighting diverse voices when she served as the executive director of the Granville Island Cultural Society. She also co-founded and produced Vancouver's first International Day of the Dead Exhibit and Tour, collaborating with Mexican artist Ari De La Mora to highlight the cultural importance of Día de los Muertos in Latino culture.
A multi-talented collaborator, Chirinos has also partnered with local chefs and the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts to create dining experiences that integrate food and film. Her advocacy for social justice is evident through her leadership as Curating Producer for the 40th anniversary of the Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS), an advocacy agency which aims to assist all women towards the elimination of violence from a feminist perspective and that promotes equality for all women. The commemorative presentation featured the founder of the #METOO movement, Tarana Burke and powerful performances by Black and Indigenous women artists.
At Spelman, Chirinos brings a bold vision to the new 84,000-square-foot Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation and the Arts. "Billed as the College’s “front porch,” I rely on Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell’s vision to inspire me. In her words, 'This new facility will be a dynamic state-of-the-art learning environment that encourages disciplinary mastery in the arts and helps spur investments and foster growth in the local economy. The space will also open up opportunities for the community to experience arts and innovation on our campus'." It will also feature the renowned Spelman College Museum of Fine Art and the Arthur M. Blank Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship -- a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration. In the video below, Dr. Campbell shares her vision and excitement for the Center.
Chirinos plans to introduce signature programs that showcase the arts across disciplines, foster dialogues with Black artistic leaders, and engage the community through salons and Q&A sessions. "Engaging with diverse leaders ensures that underrepresented stories remain at the forefront," she said. In the video below, Dr. Campbell shares her vision and excitement for the Center.
Chirinos also envisions an intergenerational volunteer corps and moderators’ pool comprising Spelman students, students from West End high schools, alumnae, and Atlanta-based arts enthusiasts. This initiative aims to deepen community ties and create behind-the-scenes opportunities for budding creatives. “My goal is to spotlight Black women leaders and ensure the arts remain central to their narratives,” Chirinos emphasized.
Peers describe Chirinos as an “architect of connection,” blending storytelling with cultural preservation to enrich the arts. Through her leadership, the Center for Innovation and the Arts is poised to augment the current exceptional arts program at Spelman and to increase opportunities for collaboration on a global stage.
Pictured: Barbara Chirinos with Spelman alumna LaTanya Richardson Jackson, C'71, and Samuel L. Jackson, Morehouse, C'72, at newly-renovated LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center dedication in October 2024.
"I’m excited to showcase artistic works in film, theatre, dance and music, and to provide a platform featuring the voices of Black artistic leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs, with a keen focus on Black women leaders. This includes Spelman faculty from the Division of the Arts, which is made up of brilliant practicing artists," Chirinos added. She looks forward to making her mark in Atlanta by achieving the following:
True to her community-focused ethos, Chirinos has already immersed herself in Atlanta’s cultural scene by becoming a member of both the Hammonds House Museum and the High Museum of Art. She also attended stellar performances led by Spelman faculty members, including Instructor Omelika Kuumba’s ‘Soaring High’ at the ArtsXchange in East Point, two end-of-semester performances presented in the newly unveiled LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Center for the Performing Arts: ‘Sankofunktopia’, directed by Lecturer Aku Kadogo, ‘aunTEA’, choreographed by Sr. Lecturer Cicely A. Kelley and Movement Invention + Live Experimental Music Spelman × Emory Arts and Social Justice Fellowship partnership performed at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art in the Olivia Hanks Cosby, Ed.D. Academic building, inspired by the Museum’s recent exhibition of work by trailblazing photographer Ming Smith, choreographed by Professor T Lang.
Her local engagements mirror her global approach — connecting with communities to create impactful cultural narratives. She is currently researching where to lay her volunteer hat. “What has worked for me when moving to a new city is visiting local museums, landmarks, attending events, and volunteering,” Chirinois said. “It’s a wonderful way to contribute, serve and learn about the local environment.”
Pictured: Barbara Chirinos with Spelman alumna LaTanya Richardson Jackson, C'72, at newly-renovated LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Samuel L. Jackson Performing Arts Center dedication in October 2024.