South beach to city park

It’s telling when a twenty-something from Miami ditches his aspirations for law school to pursue a career in the arts in Baton Rouge. It’s even more revealing when that individual, within three years of moving to the city, is named executive director at Baton Rouge Gallery.

Lured in by the “big city in a small town” feel that Baton Rouge is known for, Andreasen arrived in 2005 and noticed the community was shifting into something special.

“It seemed that the city was on the verge,” he says. “I could feel the transition in the arts and entertainment area.”

A year later Andreasen was writing for Tiger Weekly and navigating the art scene.

“The more I attended events and really thought about it, I realized that I wanted to shift my focus toward helping people feel comfortable in the arts,” he says.

Andreasen maintains his position as entertainment editor at the newspaper and uses it as an avenue to meet artists, musicians and organizations working to grow the city’s cultural community. His first article was on local painter Kelli Scott Kelley, who is among the Baton Rouge Gallery’s artist membership.

But his experience in the arts is personal as well. His wife, Lily Betancourt, an academically trained painter, provides Andreasen with intimate knowledge of the hard work and dedication it takes to be an artist.

“Watching [Lily] be involved with all these organizations and watching her work in her studio shows, and how very dedicated she is, I learned a lot observing the artistic process, opening receptions, seeing her get feedback on the art. It inspired me get into the scene as well.”

Andreasen began working at the Baton Rouge Gallery as their special events coordinator in December 2007 and this August became the executive director. His journalism and public relations background granted him a unique advantage at a gallery that has typically employed those with MFAs. But some challenges still face the ex-law student turned art advocate. There are larger audiences out there for programs like Sundays@4 and Movies & Music on the Lawn to capture, Andreasen says. Now he needs to engage the interest of the community.

“People complain about not getting big names to Baton Rouge in music and visual art, but the interest level also needs be in the local,” Andreasen says. “Everyone is kind of hoping for this revolution in Baton Rouge, where the arts as a whole will rise up, and it will happen. Maybe not as dramatic as it is portrayed, but in the three years I’ve been here, I’ve seen massive steps taken.” batonrougegallery.org