Carole Rigsby Darst, 1963
B.A., Denison University
M.S., University of Massachusetts-Amherst
M.A., Case Western Reserve University
Retired
Indianapolis
Citation awarded June, 2013
Throughout her life, Carole Darst has made the arts part of everyday life for herself and others with her involvement with arts education, programming, and planning in local and statewide community development in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Indiana.
Initially she worked as a toy designer, graphic artist, exhibit theater set and store interior designer, and then professionally as an assistant education director at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. She was the exhibits and education director at the Indianapolis Arts Center, special projects and exhibits coordinator for the Indiana Arts Commissions as well as the program and theater director at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Carole became the Indiana arts lobbyist on state and national levels from 1992 to 1996 as Executive Director of the 501(c)(3) Indiana Citizens for the Arts and 501(c)(4) Indiana Advocates for the Arts.
From 1999 to 2001, she directed the statewide Millennium Program for the State of Indiana while serving on the staff of the governor’s wife and implementing the revolving exhibit of Indiana artists at the Governor’s residence.
During those years, she served on many local and national arts and arts education boards of directors, programmed with Indiana University, Purdue University, and Indiana-Purdue at Indianapolis. She also taught summer courses at Ball State University on the critical role of arts in education, community development, and sustainability.
One of her main interests has been in African art and culture, and as a collector and educator, she served as President of the Museum of Art-affiliate Ethnographic Society until its absorption by the museum in 2007.
Carole has chaired the Rotary of Indianapolis Downtown’s Gateways Project, Environment & Beautification Committee and World Community Service Committee. She also presented a session at the Peace & Reconciliation Symposium held between Indiana University and MOI University in Eldoret, Kenya in May 2009, and was awarded the Spirit of Rotary Award in 2010.
Carole and her husband Dick have two grown daughters and three grandchildren, and have enjoyed snow skiing, sailing, hiking and biking together. She is thankful for the opportunities, experiences and friends she has enjoyed and for her invaluable years at Denison.
