FAIRHOPE, Ala. — One glance at the barren walls inside Marty Albritton’s office would make you wonder if he has even a remote interest in art. But the freshly remodeled workspace that was once a storage room at the Eastern Shore Art Center is still a work in progress, and the New Orleans native plans to soon transform the office so it resembles the galleries just outside his door.

Albritton has been on the job as the center’s development director for just two weeks. He hopes to put the newly created position to good use as a catalyst to help the nonprofit group expand its services.

“The community, from what I’m hearing, is already very supportive of the Art Center,” Albritton said. “The board would like to step up fund-raising and increase support.”

He said the Eastern Shore Art Association’s board of directors is exploring the possibility of a strategic plan that would include expanding its range of services, such as classes and workshops, from Spanish Fort to Point Clear. Albritton added, “That’s where additional resources would enable us to have more of an outreach. The board would also like to bring in more national and international artists for these workshops, as well as reach out to other areas where people have an interest in art — from Mobile to Pensacola.”

The Art Center is already going through a renaissance of sorts, he said, from its new Courtyard Gallery to the upcoming publication of the coffee table book, Fairhope & the Eastern Shore — A Painter’s Paradise.

Also standing out in his mind is the project from Nancy Raia, ABC director, called Delta Denim. The display of decorated jeans is again going to be displayed in Dallas, Albritton said. Another is Calling All Angels, a fund-raiser for both ESAC and Mercy Medical that promotes the artistic interpretation of angels and pays tribute to those angels among us. Artists are invited to tell the story of angels in whatever medium inspires them.

“It’s going to knock people’s socks off to see the quality of these works,” Albritton said. “The board would like to develop more partnerships like this. As we bring in more resources, we can add more stuff and increase services.”

He noted the board would also like his help in establishing an endowment so the Art Center has the ongoing ability to grow while maintaining the level of art it is known for.

“I’m amazed at the people coming in the gallery from all over the country,” Albritton said. “They’re impressed with the quality of the work here.”

Albritton spent all but 10 years of his life in the Crescent City. A Vietnam veteran who worked in Army intelligence, he has an early background in counseling, and worked as assistant director of a counseling center.

The University of New Orleans came calling, however, and Albritton became a lobbyist there before heading up the Alumni Association.

“I was foolish to think that would be the best job — just throw parties and golf tournaments,” he said. “It actually involved fund-raising, and I established chapters across the country. Every group I had been in, I had been social chairman so that was sort of my forte.”

He later moved to Shreveport, where he went to work at UNO’s parent institution, Louisiana State University. He served as LSU’s vice president of development, and oversaw the external aspects of the college, including athletics, fund-raising, the alumni association and the public radio station. Albritton grew the endowment there during his tenure.

He also turned around the operation of the Shreveport Symphony, and was asked to help Loyola University set up a capital campaign, which they later decided not to undertake.

After teaching graduate level fund-raising in Shreveport for a while and serving as president of the North Louisiana chapter of Fundraising Professionals, Albritton retired after more than 25 years in the development profession. He heard about the opening at ESAC through a friend.

“I had vacationed in Gulf Shores growing up,” he said. “It made sense to move to an area I have a passion for. I wasn’t looking for a job, but it seemed like an ideal situation.”

ESAC Executive Director Robin Fitzhugh believes Albritton is ideal for the position, in which he will be responsible for not only fund-raising, but also donor development, grant writing and special event planning.

“The time was right to bring on board someone whose full-time job is just that,” she said. “We had over 60 applications for the job — many very experienced. Marty came to us with 27 years of university development and the Shreveport Symphony. He has not only technical knowledge, but a huge love of the arts, which made him a perfect fit for the job.”

Albritton said, “The Eastern Shore Art Center is a real gem here. I’m excited to be here and help them grow and expand their vision. Hopefully the experience I have will be an asset here.”