Arts Clayton functions as both a gallery and a program engine for the county’s creative community.
The organization hosts approximately twelve exhibitions each year, along with artist support programs, youth classes, and school partnerships.
One major focus has been restoring the artist-in-residence program, which places working artists inside local schools. That pipeline had weakened after the pandemic disrupted school leadership and partnerships.
Rebuilding it required starting over—reestablishing relationships with principals and educators across the district.
“We took the blueprint of what it used to be,” Lazzaro explained. “Then we looked at what still worked, what needed to be paused, and what needed to be rebuilt.”
Another priority is helping local artists understand the professional side of their work.
“We realized many artists were storing their work in attics or spare rooms,” she said. “A lot of it is sentimental. We want them to realize they can keep creating and let the work move into the world.”
Artists can become members of Arts Clayton for $50 annually, which includes at least one exhibition entry and the opportunity to sell work through the gallery.
Keeping the Lights On
Like many nonprofit arts organizations, funding remains the largest challenge.
The building itself must function as more than an exhibition space. Arts Clayton also rents out its venue for events, helping offset operational costs such as utilities, staffing, and maintenance.
“Everyone loves the arts,” Lazzaro said plainly. “Everyone appreciates them. But very few people want to pay for them.”
That reality makes memberships, rentals, donations, and sponsorships essential to sustaining the organization.
Discovering Her Own Artistic Voice
Despite leading a creative institution, Lazzaro didn’t always consider herself an artist.
In fact, she only began using the label recently.
“I technically only consider myself an artist for about four months,” she admitted.
For years she saw herself as the organizer—the person behind the scenes managing logistics and structure. Her background in the film industry reinforced that mindset, where she worked as a production assistant building experience toward the Directors Guild of America track.
Eventually she chose not to pursue directing.
“I wanted to enjoy my family and enjoy my life,” she said.
Her turning point came unexpectedly while building sets for a local Vacation Bible School. The creative work came naturally, and others repeatedly described her as an artist.
Her husband finally pushed the point.
“You help artists find their value,” he told her. “Why don’t you see yours?”
That moment reflects the same philosophy she applies to Arts Clayton—helping people recognize their own creative identity and giving them the structure to pursue it.
Creativity Beyond the Gallery
During the pandemic, Lazzaro and her husband discovered another creative outlet: agriculture and food production.
A rare pepper gift turned into fermentation experiments. Those experiments became homemade hot sauces. Soon the family was producing between 750 and 1,000 pounds of peppers annually.
The project eventually revealed the complex regulations surrounding high-acid food production in Georgia. Cottage-scale food businesses face significant barriers when trying to move toward commercial production.
Rather than abandoning the idea, Lazzaro began thinking about infrastructure—facilities that could support multiple small producers in one place.
For her, culinary work fits naturally into the broader definition of creativity.
“Culinary arts are still arts,” she said.
She often references school programs that teach students practical skills like gardening, food preparation, and product development.
“If kids learn how to create products they can sell,” she explained, “they’re learning how to be self-sufficient.”
Building Community Through Art
Ask Lazzaro what she hopes to build in Clayton County, and the answer returns to community.
Arts Clayton regularly hosts juried shows that bring together artists and residents from different backgrounds, cultures, and generations.
People gather to view the work, discuss ideas, and connect with each other through shared experiences.
She also believes strongly in the power of beautification—public art, murals, and creative spaces that transform how communities feel.
“Just by giving people something beautiful in their environment,” she said, “you change the atmosphere of a place.”
A Legacy That Doesn’t Depend on One Person
When asked about legacy, Lazzaro’s answer is practical rather than personal.
“I want this organization to surpass me and not need me.”
That philosophy reflects a broader commitment to institutional strength rather than personal recognition.
Arts Clayton still relies on community support—memberships, donors, sponsors, and volunteers. But the goal is larger than keeping a nonprofit alive.
It’s about preserving a civic space where creativity functions as public infrastructure for Clayton County.
“It takes a whole crew,” Lazzaro said. “I’m steering the ship, but there are so many people working behind the scenes. Without the people who love this community, none of it would be possible.”