Panelists
Arts Advisory PanelThe Arts Advisory Panel is comprised of representatives from each of the five artistic disciplines – Dance, Literature, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts – and generalists who have demonstrated strong involvement in support of arts endeavors. The Panel is responsible for reviewing grant applications and making funding recommendations to the Board of Directors.
SEMAC’s Arts Advisory Panel is assembled through an open nomination process and panelists are selected based on their artistic expertise and critical skills in their respective disciplines.
| Discipline | Panelist | Description |
| Dance | Jane Olive | member of the Mantorville Arts Guild, Opera House, and Theatre Company, a “retired” nurse and passionate costumer, specializing in period costumes, member of the Mantorville Movers & Shakers |
| Dance | open | nominations accepted |
| Generalist | Carolyn Hiller | Executive Director, Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, manages the weekly concert series Harmony for Mayo at Mayo Clinic, and a site visitor/grant panelist for the Minnesota State Arts Board |
| Generalist | Jon Swanson | curator of collections and exhibitions at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, degrees in Fine art and History of Art, member of the Winona Fine Arts Commission and previously served on the board of Midwest Music Festival |
| Generalist | Philip Taylor | proponent of a strong regional visual arts community, this degreed studio artist was instrumental in bringing the Alt window galleries concept to Rochester |
| Generalist | open | nominations accepted |
| Literary Arts | William Hoy | degree in English Writing from Winona State University; self-taught musician/songwriter, selected playwright at 2007 Northfield Play Festival, published poet and two-time editor of the literary publication Satori |
| Literary Arts | Katie Hae Leo | has published poetry, essays, and monologues, holds an MFA from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and currently serves as Cultural Community Liaison for the Minnesota State Arts Board |
| Literary Arts | open | nominations acceepted |
| Music | Scott Anderson | served as SEMAC Board President for six years, accomplished musician and former manager of the Historic Paramount Theatre in Austin |
| Music | Alan Calavano | serves on the boards of the Rochester Male Chorus, Arts Council, and Olmsted County History Center, was General Chairman of the Rochester Sesquicentennial Celebration in 2004 |
| Music | open | nominations accepted |
| Theatre | Judy Hickey | holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Drama and has a stellar track record of teaching, program development, and fund development in theatre arts, music, dance and visual arts. |
| Theatre | Kathy Rush | recently retired from the SEMAC Board of Directors, is a thespian with the Lockwood Theatre Company and serves on the board of Paradise Center for the Arts |
| Theatre | open | nominations accepted |
| Visual Arts | Liz Bucheit | jewelry artist and owner of Crown Trout Jewelers in Lanesboro whose accomplishments include both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts in metalworking and jewelry |
| Visual Arts | Loretta Verbout | Charter Artist Member and co-founder, Mantorville Art Guild; degree in art, photography/graphics; has exhibited extensively and won awards for her designs |
| Visual Arts | Tom Willis | a potter who thoughtfully applies skill and craftsmanship to the unlimited possibilities of clay form, who recently served two three-year terms on the SEMAC Board of Directors |
