Commemorating our Co-Founder, Campbell “Hutch” Hutchinson
Hutch and Allison at Cocktails for KID smART 2022
With great sadness, I'm writing to inform you of the passing of KID smART's co-founder, Campbell "Hutch" Hutchinson. Hutch and his co-founder and love, Allison Stewart, had the spark to create KID smART almost 25 years ago, no doubt partly from knowing what the arts had done for them in their own lives. Hutch called himself a retired lawyer-turned-artist, and art led him to Allison and the life and organization they created together.
In the diary Hutch kept when starting KID smART, he wrote with his signature dry and self-deprecating wit but also with optimism and earnestness.
“We both felt that instruction in the arts not only improves a child’s quality of life but also enhances their skills and learning in other areas. We also realized that New Orleans public schools suffered from the same plague that had spread throughout the nation, eliminating arts programs for the sake of economizing. Could the two of us novices do something to turn this trend around? It seems like a long shot at best, but we figured we wouldn’t know unless we tried.”
Echo Olander, KID smART's founding Director helped them turn their dream into a reality, much bigger than either of them imagined. Immediately, Hutch and Allison brought people together and found fervent support for their mission. When Echo and I visited with Hutch last weekend, he talked about how proud he was of KID smART's growth and accomplishments. Echo aptly replied that it was only possible because Hutch was our North Star.
“I was encouraged by the generosity of spirit of people and their willingness to help. We hear about so much that is wrong with this country, and we are constantly besieged with news of people who abuse others and who have no respect for the lives of others. We don’t hear about the thousands of people out there who care, and who spend a great deal of their time helping others. But the good stuff doesn’t sell newspapers, so it is generally ignored by our press.”
I count myself as one of those passionate supporters. I met Hutch when I was only 25 and first got involved with KID smART. Over the many years I've had the great honor to know him, Hutch has been my mentor, friend, drinking buddy, and advocate. I will miss his thoughtful feedback, sparkling conversation, and unwavering belief in the power of the arts to transform lives. I will forever be grateful for his vision and action; he has changed many lives by creating KID smART. He and Allison realized that KID smART isn't just an arts education program, but a movement that we are all now part of, to create an educational landscape where the arts empower all children to access their full academic, creative, and personal potential. And we will all miss him with all our hearts.
Warmly,
