Member Spotlight: Thomasa Ross

BY BECKY WOOD, MANAGING EDITOR

No one can ever accuse Thomasa Ross of sitting on the sidelines. As the new Chair of the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center Board of Trustees, Ross continues her longtime work of supporting the arts in Clarksville.

The military brought Ross and her family to town in 2011. After deciding to make the city their permanent home, she was drawn to become active in local arts advocacy and immediately began devoting her time to creative endeavors throughout the community. Her clear passion for the subject started early, which she attributes to her parents and high school art teacher.

“I grew up in a small town in Arkansas, and each summer my parents would plan a big trip for my brother and I to Little Rock,” she explained. “The trip always involved visiting the Little Rock Zoo and the local museum, and that was my favorite place to go. That is really where my passion for art grew. I couldn't wait to return to school in the fall to discuss all the beautiful works of art with my teacher.”

Naturally, that same generational zeal for the museum experience continues to be passed down. “My daughter is 15 now – when we moved here, she was four. I was brand new to the area, and I would take her to the Museum to visit the Bubble Cave on the weekends,” Ross mused. “I could never get her to leave that place! The model trains were and still are a favorite of hers. To continue visiting with her now, that is very special to me as a parent.”

Ross’s holistic view of supporting the arts in Clarksville has been continually reinforced by just how much local creative opportunities have evolved over the last decade.

“As you drive around Clarksville, you can physically see how the arts community has progressed. There are more murals, more galleries, more programming and more art organizations –Clarksville is becoming a place that is recognized for its vibrant arts community.

“I love visiting the Museum and not only seeing beautiful and diverse exhibits, but learning about our regional history. I love attending First Thursday Art Walk and taking a self-guided tour of visual art and live music. I love having places such as DBO Gallery, the Downtown Artists Co-op, HUDUBAM Booktraders, Courtney's Creative Palette and River City Clay downtown. I love being able to attend exhilarating and spectacular performances by the Gateway Chamber Orchestra, the Cumberland Winds and the Roxy Regional Theatre without having to drive out of town. As our arts and culture community evolve, I look forward to Clarksville being identified as an artist hub not only in the state of Tennessee, but across the country.”

Ross has been a member of the Museum Board since 2018, when she was immediately selected as the Chair for the Collections and Exhibits Committee. Since then, she has also served as the Board’s Nominating Committee Chair and Vice Chair, on top of volunteering with the education department and assisting with other community outreach.

Outside of the Museum, Ross has served on the boards of the Clarksville Arts and Heritage Council, the Gateway Chamber Orchestra, the Clarksville Community Concert Association and Austin Peay State University's Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, as well as on the Creative Arts Committee for the APSU Foundation.

Ross is taking the reins from Jamie Durrett, who has served as the Museum’s Board Chair since 2020. “Thomasa is a talented and dedicated leader in our community,” said Durrett. “She is a tremendous asset to the Customs House Museum Board and will be an excellent Board Chair. I look forward to seeing the great things she will accomplish in the future.”

As for the future? Ross is committed to reaching further into the city and the county to ensure that the arts are available to everyone.

“My hope is that we continue inspiring young people to become interested in art and history through community outreach and engaging programs,” Ross stated. “I’m so excited to continue the great work that’s being done at the Museum and to support programming that reaches our entire diverse population. The Museum is for everyone – it belongs to everyone in this city.”