ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 8, 1996 TAG: 9601110018
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM
There's a new executive director at the helm, but it'll be steady as she goes at the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Aletha S. Bolden says she won't be making any radical changes in the museum's current direction, at least not right away.
Bolden replaces Melody Stovall, who retired in September after 10 years in the position to become a Realtor.
``I'd say a reassessing, like an inventory, of what's been accomplished and what we'd like to do will be a big part of the coming year,'' Bolden said.
She has made one small change already, though. The news release announcing her appointment to the executive director position came on letterhead listing her as executive director.
A Freeport, N.Y., native who came to the museum as curator in August 1993, Bolden said her first tasks will be to see projects begun by Stovall to fruition.
One undertaking is the building of the Harrison Annex this year on a lot on nearby Rutherford Avenue. That extra space means Bolden's future likely will include expansion of the museum's permanent collection.
Another project is a pictorial history of Roanoke's black community.
The 195-page book, ``Roanoke's African American Heritage: A Pictorial History,'' was a 10-year project of Stovall's. Bolden will see it through publication later this year.
With the museum in the midst of its 10th year, Bolden says plenty of anniversary events planning also will be on the agenda.
A good chunk of what's to be celebrated already has Bolden's stamp on it.
Since her arrival more than two years ago, she has curated several history and art exhibits and presented tours, lectures and workshops to more than 4,000 school children and community organizations.
Other projects have included ``Summer Art Expressions,'' an art program for children, and ``Voice of a People,'' a poetry performance program by local black writers.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Boldenby CNB