Savannah Penven, a 2024 graduate of Virginia Tech, has returned to the Center for the Arts as exhibitions program manager, a decade after her own artwork was featured in the center's first "Young Artists" exhibition in 2014. She now coordinates the current "Young Artists: dreamscapes" show, featuring 39 students from Craig County High School, and works to create validating, professional-level exhibition experiences for young creatives.
This full-circle story matters because it highlights how early, meaningful exposure to professional art spaces can shape careers and foster community engagement. Penven's role demonstrates the lasting impact of youth arts programming and the importance of investing in emerging talent, both as participants and future arts professionals.