Since opening its doors to writers some 22 years ago, the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow has made a lasting impact on the arts and literary communities by hosting more than 1,800 writers from 48 states and 13 countries.
When its now-retiring Executive Director, Michelle Hannon came on board in 2019, WCDH was financially supported in part by donations from generous board members. One of Hannon’s first goals was to make the Colony fiscally sustainable and improve residency occupancy by getting the word out to the literary community. Since then, WCDH has grown rapidly in many directions.
“My plan was to offer and widely promote increased programming and more fellowships,” Hannon said. “It was also important that we enhance our virtual presence as well as our involvement in the Eureka Springs and NWA communities. We achieved that during the past three years and are now kind of a victim of our own success in that the number of writers who stay every year has nearly doubled, and old processes and procedures no longer make sense and need to be optimized.”
With primary goals met and expanded, and retirement on the calendar for the end of July, Hannon now had to consider the Colony’s future in the care of a new director; one with a heart for the work who could keep a foot on the accelerator while continuing to provide the exquisite care and services resident writers have come to expect as part of the WCDH experience.
The Board of Directors searched far and wide, but the right candidate didn’t materialize. UntilTara Cloud Clark, a new board member, was encouraged to add her application to the mix – and turned out to be a perfect fit.
Tara had recently been working freelance, providing marketing services in publishing and entertainment industries. Last year she scoped out The Writers’ Colony for a group retreat and was impressed by the writing fellowships that provide funds to disenfranchised peoples.
“When I stepped foot in the door of The Writers’ Colony, I felt it was a place I should be,” Tara later commented.
Tara’s enthusiasm did not go unnoticed, and she was soon recruited to apply to be on the board of directors.
“Applying for the Board was easy because it was so in line with my values and experience. I was thrilled when I was accepted, and for the last few months I’ve been honored to serve alongside so many brilliant and passionate members.”
Meanwhile, Clark had hopes to be an even larger part of WCDH but didn’t apply for the executive director position because she lives in Bella Vista. She and her husband were already looking at moving to Eureka Springs when their youngest graduated from high school, so her plan was to do what she could to serve The Colony in the meantime.
But when she told fellow board member Laura Matson Hahn her aspirations, Hahn enthusiastically encouraged her to apply for the director position now.
WCDH Board President Allyn Lord, said, “The Writers’ Colony board of directors knew it would be difficult to find an executive director to replace Michelle Hannon. No one has more positively affected The Colony. However, in hiring Tara Cloud Clark we welcome her dedication, raw enthusiasm, and knowledge of The Colony which assures us that we have the right person.”
“The Board has been incredibly supportive of me and enthusiastic about me serving in the Executive Director position,” Clark said. “I am so thankful to have had the experience on the Board first and to have Michelle here to usher me into the position. She has done so much to move The Colony to a new era, and I am utterly thankful for the foundation upon which we will continue to build.”
Hannon and Clark have been spending Hannon’s last couple of weeks at WCDH reviewing the present and planning for the future.
If she had to choose one accomplishment as her ongoing legacy, Hannon is most proud of establishing a scholarship fund in December 2019 which has raised nearly $25,000 and provided financial aid for WCDH residencies to 52 emerging writers and those from marginalized communities.
“It has allowed us to increase the diversity of writers-in-residence Dairy Hollow and to support and encourage younger writers at the beginning of their writing journey,” Hannon said.
“When Michelle speaks of the emerging writers who have been able to come to The Colony because of the Scholarship Fund, you see the passion she has for this aspect of our organization,” Clark said. “I love that we have such a concrete way to show we value the work she has done here. Michelle has left quite the legacy, and I hope to honor her and the great people who have made WCDH what it is today.”
“We only have so many rooms and our occupancy has been increasing steadily, so when I consider ‘growth’ for WCDH, it isn’t necessarily getting more people to come and stay with us. I am considering ways we can further serve the writing community and Eureka Springs and the larger Northwest Arkansas community.”