The two-year honorary position was created in 1997, as a way to recognize and enhance achievements in the arts.
“I have always believed that theatre, and indeed all the arts, are much more than just entertainment,” he said. “They are important pieces of our lives and feed our souls.”
Over the decades he has been making art in New Hampshire, he has used theater to address some of the pressing social issues facing the state.
She interviewed refugees and immigrants from across the state to create a play based on their stories called “Dreaming Again” that toured four times across the state. And she is working on another project called “The Elephant in the Room” to help people talk about topics they would otherwise avoid, such as addiction and suicide.
“Theater in particular is an incredibly powerful art form, which has the ability to build connections with people and promote conversation and help us understand stories of people that we may not necessarily know,” he said.
Aichele described working from interviews he conducts with people and then weaving their words together to interpret them.
“I like creating tapestries of people’s words and also finding poetry in everyday stories,” she said.
She found the title “Dreaming Again” in the story of a woman who had been a doctor in her home country, but could no longer practice when she arrived in New Hampshire because of the language barrier and her credentials were not accepted here. “She said, ‘I have to learn to dream again,’” Aichele said.
His advice to young or aspiring artists: “Don’t let people tell you it’s not a worthwhile endeavor,” he said. But, she added, artists should also strive to be good businesspeople, and you don’t have to be a starving artist to be a good artist.
“It’s about following your passion, but also keeping your feet on the ground and learning what techniques and crafts you need to turn it into a good business,” he said.
There are no specific duties for the artist laureate, although he has typically served as an ambassador for artists and the arts, promoting their visibility and value in the state.
This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter, focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from elsewhere. If you would like to receive it by email Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
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You can contact Amanda Gokee at amanda.gokee@globe.com. follow her @amanda_gokee.
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