Twi McCallum is an art administrator & advocate from Baltimore, MD. She is a former sound designer, with design credits for Broadway, several off-Broadway and regional theaters, as well as television, film, and audiobooks for companies like HBO, Marvel, STARZ, and Audible. While working in audio and simultaneously studying at Yale University’s David Geffen School of Drama, she served several arts nonprofits such as SoundGirls and co-founded/co-chaired Design Action from 2020-2022. While serving Design Action, she developed a monthly workshop series with guest facilitators on topics like understanding contracts for designers and the importance of entertainment unions, as well as fundraised $50k to disburse microgrants to the member community. After retiring from her sound design career, she relocated back to her hometown of Baltimore and worked as Community Engagement Manager at Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, overseeing a vast portfolio of grantmaking programs and workforce development initiatives.
What drew you to the arts?
I’ve been involved in the arts since high school, even unintentionally. My earliest involvement was 9th-12th grade, participating in an after school work-study program at the National Aquarium learning about marine biology and environmental science. Each summer, the cohort wrote a mini musical about ocean conservation, as well as created the costumes, props, and scenery. We would tour the public libraries in Baltimore to perform the musical for children. Through college I studied technical theater, I was fascinated about how particularly sound design & technology was not only creative, but also heavily involved physics, electrical engineering, and math. I am drawn to the “left brain” and “right brain” connections in the arts.
What drew you to Arts Administration?
I was fortunate to have a blossoming career as a sound designer for 4 years, able to work for Broadway, numerous regional theaters like Dallas Theater Center and Baltimore Center Stage, in addition to television, film, commercials, and audiobooks such as HBO, Audible, Marvel, and STARZ. While working as a designer, I became immersed in community service such as teaching workshops and speaking on panels for organizations like SoundGirls, Theatrical Sound Designers & Composers Association, Open Stage Project, and co-founding/chairing Design Action in summer 2020. My work with Design Action changed my perspective on my “purpose” in life—I became more passionate about my co-chair responsibilities of organizing a workshop series and fundraising to disburse microgrants to the artist community, instead of caring about being able to design another show on Broadway. As a result, I “retired” from my sound design career in 2022 and left New York to relocate back to my hometown of Baltimore.
What is your focus within Arts Administration?
The past 2 years, I worked at Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA), which is the designated arts council of Baltimore City, as the Community Engagement Manager. In that role, I was heavily involved with BOPA’s full grantmaking portfolio and workforce development programs, which are areas I want to continue exploring. Additionally, I am curious about how to incorporate sophisticated data science and software building into my arts administration repertoire.
How do you incorporate EDIA into your work life?
As an arts leader, I desire to foster conversations and initiatives surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion from a place of peace. I believe the gaps in DEI topics should be used as a teaching lesson, not a window for fighting or controversy. Through arts administration, DEI is not only about who are the artists creating the work, but also who are the administrators managing the project and who are the audience members who get to enjoy the work– there needs to be expansive representation across the board regarding race, gender identity, religion, class, veteran status, and disability status. Most importantly, I’ve had speech apraxia my entire life and am continuing to challenge my confidence and coping skills in the professional world.
What do you do in your spare time?
I am a mega video game lover, specifically horror and zombie video games! Also, as a Baltimore resident, I love visiting Washington, DC and Northern Virginia especially for restaurants and museum trips. Finally, I am trying to read more entrepreneurial and career books, right now I’m reading: Conscious Capitalism, The Mom Test, and Firms of Endearment.
