Helena Chung

Staff Spotlight

Oct 17

This month’s installment of Beam’s Staff Spotlight series features our Manager of Institutional Giving, Helena Chung. As the Manager of Institutional Giving, Helena maintains relationships with Beam’s institutional funders, writes grants, organizes volunteer opportunities, and assists with fundraising events like our Annual Gala. In addition to being a full time employee at Beam, Helena is a Korean-American poet currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. She received a BA in Writing Seminars and Film and Media Studies from Johns Hopkins and an MFA in poetry from the University of Virginia.

Helena joined Beam Center 6 months ago after she connected to Beam’s mission and wanted to work in a non-profit organization. She adds, “I was looking for a job specifically in grant writing because as a writer it’s something that I can do but doesn’t feel creative in the same way that poetry does. I can’t be creative in my day to day job, because I find it takes a lot of energy out of me and I am unable to write the poems that I want to write. I also know that I like to work with creative people, so I love being around the Project Designers.” Reflecting on her favorite moment of working at Beam Center thus far, the spring 2022 brunch gala, Helena says, “I loved being able to meet all of our lovely members of our community. Even though I was relatively new at the time, I felt like I contributed to the outcome of that event, and it was really nice to see it come to fruition. Also, I really like having lunch with everyone [each day at Beam]. It's such a communal atmosphere.”

When asked what she thinks is unique about Beam Center, Helena says, “I think it’s the people. What makes something special is the people you do it with, and there are so many thoughtful, genuinely kind, and fun people who work at Beam Center.” Another thing that she feels makes Beam unique is the fact that youth participate in our programs because they want to participate - and not only because they are either receiving school credits or monetary compensation. Helena states, “I enjoy that our programs that are oriented towards youth feel like everybody who’s here is because they really want to be here. Every time I hang out with Apprentices, Project Leaders, or Project Production team, it feels like everyone involved is here because they want to be here. They’re not just here because they are being paid, but because they feel like this is worth their time and they enjoy their experience.”

In her writing practice, Helena is currently participating in the 4heads 2022 Artist in Residence program on Governors Island with our Director of Project Design, Kyle Luntz. Together at 4heads, Kyle and Helena are building an interactive sound installation that combines mechanically operated orchestral bells, speakers, and poetry. The audio coming from the bells and speakers is dictated by the audience's movements and position in the room. For example, if someone walks clockwise through the installation, one of Helena’s poems will be heard; if they walk counter clockwise, another poem will be heard. Inspired by the residency’s theme “At Rest & In Motion,” the installation allows viewers to connect how one interacts with the world with how their movements affect the environment. Speaking about the invitation to collaborate with Kyle at 4heads, Helena says, “I was really excited by this opportunity, because it feels like I am the composer and the person interacting with the installation is like a conductor. I think that’s a very unique way to experience poems.” She also states that she is thrilled to work with a “really cool and talented” sound artist like Kyle.The collaborative piece will be on view during the final exhibition on October 22nd and 23rd.

Reflecting on what this residency is doing for her practice, Helena states, “I am excited to work on these new poems. I struggled for a while with what these poems should sound like, because I never really had to write in this kind of circumstance before. I am excited about what it is producing and what it will eventually become.” In addition to 4heads residency, Helena also participated in Beam Center’s summer 2022 Artist in Residence program where she worked on her poetry and performed an assortment at one of our Open Studio events. To learn more about Helena and her work, visit her website.