Savannah Penven creates a space for young artists to thrive

Susan Bland

10 Dec 2025

Savannah Penven stands with her arms crossed, smiling slightly. She has curly red hair pulled up, wears dangling geometric earrings, and is dressed in a black turtleneck and black jumper. — Savannah Penven M.A. '24 is the exhibitions program manager at the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. Photo courtesy of Baraka Lawuo.

When Savannah Penven M.A. '24 walks through the Center for the Arts galleries, adjusting lights or hanging a painting just so, she remembers what it felt like to see her own artwork there for the first time.

In 2014, Penven was a 10th grade student at Blacksburg High School when her art was selected for the Center for the Arts’ very first “Young Artists” exhibition. At the time, she didn’t realize the project would be featured in a professional art gallery.

“When I visited the ‘Young Artists’ exhibition in 2014, I was overjoyed to see my artwork, a boot painted in the style of Keith Haring, placed on the title wall. This was my first time at the Center for the Arts, and I didn’t understand how big of a deal the show was until that moment,” she said. “It felt great to be included. I felt accomplished, and it was a visual representation that my talent and skill as a young artist was professional enough to showcase.”

Savannah Penven stands in front of a blue “Young Artists” exhibition wall at the Center for the Arts in 2014. She has long, curly reddish-brown hair and is wearing a dark jacket, a black dress with a floral top, and holding a patterned bag. Beside her, two of her artworks—a decorated boot mounted inside a tilted frame and a colorful shoe sculpture on a pedestal—are displayed. — In 2014, Savannah Penven posed with her work in the center's first "Young Artists" exhibition. Photo courtesy of Savannah Penven.

More than a decade later, Penven is now the center’s exhibitions program manager and is helping coordinate the current “Young Artists” exhibition. In this full-circle moment, she’s able to fully appreciate what this sort of opportunity can mean for a budding creative.

“I want to show the students that their work matters and that we put as much effort into the ‘Young Artists’ exhibition as we do for our other exhibitions,” Penven said. “Creating opportunities for students to feel validated in the arts is really important, so we give them a space where their art is championed.”

A role rooted in connection

Penven’s role as exhibitions manager involves lots of project management and administrative work, including managing artist contracts, coordinating installations, organizing events, and archiving artwork in the Virginia Tech collections. But for her, the true highlight is helping people connect with artists and their work.

“That’s my favorite part — relationships and people,” she said. “I love inviting Virginia Tech students to engage with art in a way that's not so prescriptive. If they have strong feelings about the art, positive or negative, I encourage them to investigate that. I believe any time spent in front of art is worthwhile, and the impact that comes from viewing and thinking about art is carried with you long after leaving the gallery. I also really enjoy working with visiting artists, getting them excited to exhibit at the Center for the Arts, and sharing class engagement activities I planned to coincide with their show throughout the semester.”

Savannah Penven stands in the Center for the Arts lobby speaking with three patrons during an exhibition opening reception. She has long, curly red hair and wears glasses, a patterned orange blouse, and black pants. The group is smiling and engaged in conversation, with reception tables and chairs visible in the background near the Fife Theatre entrance. — Savannah Penven M.A. '24 (second from left) talks with patrons during a recent Center for the Art exhibition opening reception. Photo courtesy of Pippi Miller.

Penven frequently reaches out to faculty members to bring classes into the galleries and works closely with the center’s graduate assistants, drawing on her own previous experience in the role. She served as a Center for the Arts exhibitions graduate assistant while studying in the School of Visual Arts’ Material Culture and Public Humanities Program.

“We are a small exhibition team, so we rely heavily on the help of our graduate students, who gain lots of hands-on practice in gallery work during their time at the center. It’s helpful that I know what it’s like working as an exhibitions grad assistant. Now in my professional role, I can create a beneficial learning experience for our current grad students that hopefully builds a foundation for their future career,” she said.

‘Young Artists: dreamscapes’

Penven collaborated with Bethany Costello, Center for the Arts engagement manager, to bring “Young Artists: dreamscapes” to life. Currently on view through Saturday, Dec. 20, the newest exhibition in the center’s “Young Artists” series features work by 39 students from Craig County High School.

Under the guidance of art teacher Sierra Frazier, these students explored the world of dreams through paintings, sketches, block prints, photography, miniature sculptures, and painted vinyl records. The exhibition gives them a chance to see their work displayed professionally, often for the first time.

“When I was a young artist, seeing my artwork showcased at the center felt amazing,” Penven said. “Now I have the opportunity to highlight a new group of young artists and show them that they belong here, their artwork is important, and they deserve to be taken seriously.”

Penven’s experience underscores the Center for the Arts’ mission to connect creativity, education, and community. Contributions to the center help sustain programs that welcome students into the arts, support emerging talent, and strengthen the region’s cultural landscape.

The Center for the Arts’ galleries and all related events are free and open to the public.

Visiting the galleries

Located at 190 Alumni Mall, the Center for the Arts’ galleries are open on Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The center offers many opportunities for students, faculty, and community members to engage with artists and their work.

Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. When not staffed for a special event, visitors may park in the garage by taking a ticket at entry and paying with Visa or Mastercard upon exit. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.