As director of the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames , Iowa , Kathy Stevens supports creative expression on multiple fronts.

“The Octagon gives people the chance to experience art from whichever direction they wish. They may take classes, no matter how young or old they are, no matter how skilled or unskilled they are,” she said, adding that people also can sell and purchase art at the Octagon Art Shop as well as visit exhibits from local and national artists.

Fall Workshops at the Octagon this year include everything from graffiti art to juggling.

The Octagon has been a landmark in Ames since 1966. Some 800 people—an even mix of kids and grownups—participate in classes, and 175 artists display their works in the Octagon Art Shop.

Stevens, who describes her role as making sure “everything operates smoothly and there’s enough money to do so,” came to the not-for-profit Octagon in January 2003. Prior to her current post, she was an English teacher at the secondary level and served as an administrator at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar and Peosta for more than 20 years.

In a word, Stevens says her work at the Octagon is a thrill.

“I love seeing little ones getting their first taste of the joys of color or movement,” she said. “I also enjoy seeing older folks getting excited about a creative expression no matter what it is.”

But there are challenges.

“The major challenge is keeping the cash flow on the positive side,” Stevens said. “The community has provided wonderful support for this art center since 1966, but as a nonprofit organization, the funding side is always a challenge.”

Mark Engelbrecht, dean of the College of Design at Iowa State University and a five-year member of the Octagon’s board of trustees, said Stevens has given a “real voice” to the Octagon in the Ames community and beyond.

“Kathy has a warm and engaging personality and is so articulate. She’s been a terrific spokesperson for the Octagon and a wonderful addition to the Ames community,” Engelbrecht said.

Stevens said it’s been a delight to see how the Octagon makes a difference in Ames .

“People want to live in communities where there are creative opportunities. The Octagon contributes to the community on a broad scale in terms of economic development and on a smaller scope through individual development where the chance to exercise the creative side of your person is invaluable,” she said.

And, thanks in part to Stevens’ leadership, the Octagon will soon take on an even more visible role in Ames through her efforts to enhance the building just off Main Street in Ames .

“The Octagon is in a serviceable building, but it looks like the bank that it once was,” Engelbrecht said. “We want to find a way to architecturally open it up and make it from the interior and exterior as alive as it in fact is. Kathy understands that.”

Cheryl Schloerke, an art teacher in the Gilbert Community School District and former Octagon Board President, agrees that Stevens has the vision the Octagon needs to remain a strong force in Ames and the region.

“Kathy is an optimist and yet a realist,” Schloerke said. “She knows the importance of having the arts and is constantly trying to make the Octagon as visible as possible.”