Community Corner

Main Street Stone Mountain Leader is "SMart" Graduate

Main Street Stone Mountain's new executive director Susan Ryles "graduated" from the innovative arts incubator program Monday night.

Main Street Stone Mountain's new leader is a familiar face in the city's arts community - and the first graduate of the Stone Mountain Artists Microenterprise Program (SMart Inc).

On July 1, Susan Ryles' position as the new Main Street Stone Mountain executive director became effective. The job was last held by Kim Delaney, who left earlier this year.

At the end of Monday night's city council meeting, Ryles, of the , donned a cap and gown during a brief ceremony recognizing her completion of the .

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Through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded program, selected artists can work in low-cost studio and gallery space provided by Stone Mountain city, which pays for the spaces' utilities, according to the SMart Inc. web site.

president and artistic director David Thomas presented Ryles as a graduation candidate before the city council and Mayor Pat Wheeler, who also made a presentation.

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"I feel like...this is my home here," Ryles said.

Ryles will continue to run her studio (which is in the ) with help from studio assistant .


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