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Arts Advisory Panel

Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council’s (SEMAC’s) Arts Advisory Panel is comprised of individuals from the 11-county region who have demonstrated strong involvement in support of the arts. The Panel is responsible for reviewing grant applications and making funding recommendations to the Board of Directors. See Grant Review for more information on the role of the Arts Advisory Panel.

Assembled through an open nomination process, panelists are appointed by the Board of Directors and may serve up to two three-year terms. To nominate someone for the Arts Advisory Panel, contact the SEMAC office at 507.281.4848 or staff@semac.org.

Are you interested in serving on the panel yourself? Click here to set up an account, or log into your existing account, on the grant interface. Then click the APPLY menu to submit the form called SEMAC Services Opportunities; telling us a little about your background and how you would prefer to be contacted.

The current Arts Advisory Panelists are:

DisciplinePanelistBackground
Literary ArtsAnnette NawlsAuthor deeply involved in World Revival Power Ministry of Rochester, providing arts opportunities to abuse victims and the homeless.
MusicDavid KasslerProfessional musician with experience in performance, conducting and composition, recipient of a SEMAC Individual Artist Grant to compose and perform chamber music.
MusicJacob SmithburgJacob’s work engages stop-motion, 2D/3D animation, video, performance, sound design, projection mapping, and storytelling to present bespoke immersive artistic experiences for audiences.
TheatreEileen MoellerManaging Director, Frozen River Film Festival, co-founder of ArtFarm MN, works to support artist and community collaborations.
TheatreMike SpeckIndependent theatre artist having worked with Chatfield Center for the Arts, Theatre du Mississippi, and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
TheatreSamantha WhippleAssociate Director of Community Relations & Development, Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts.
Visual ArtsSpencer JohannesVisual designer and ceramic artist based in Rochester; background in Illustration, Ceramics, and UX/UI Design, he runs SRJ Ceramics—blending design, craft, and a love of nature into meaningful, functional work.
Visual ArtsRene HalasyCurrent RNeighbors Executive Director; background in Communications, Graphic Design, and Photography; working towards a Master’s in Community Engagement and Arts & Cultural Leadership.
Visual ArtsIvete MartinezVisual artist, founder and director, Med City Art Festival, former board member, SEMVA.
Visual ArtsKalianne MorrisonVisual artist, advancement coordinator, Rochester Art Center, principal of Art on the Ave in Rochester.
Visual ArtsSamantha Reiter-JohnsonCell biologist, self-taught artist and plant enthusiast who combined her passions for art and nature to form Chlorocreations.
Visual ArtsMaggie SatherMasters in Art History and Bachelors in Fine Arts – Painting. Engagement Manager at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, facilitates workshops with today’s contemporary craft artists.
Visual ArtsZoë Allen-WicklerMultimedia animator with over 20 years of experience in traditional, stop-motion, 2D, and 3D animation; volunteer board member of Nice Moves and active in Minnesota’s animation and arts community.
GeneralistDavid SchmidtWabasha resident, organic farmer, grant writer, WideSpot Performing Arts Center & Community Project.
GeneralistKevin DobbeComposer and new media artist, retired faculty member Rochester Community College.
GeneralistGretchen RamloArts enthusiast, boards of Austin Area Commission for the Arts and Riverland Foundation, volunteers for the ArtWorks Festival and Spruce Up Austin.
GeneralistScott RobertsNational Cartoonist Society member, MSAB panelist, previous director of Owatonna Arts Center and Waseca Arts Center.
GeneralistAndy KranzArt history degree from St Olaf; member River Arts Alliance; teaches and coordinates art experiences, currently using his visual arts skills as a mental health practitionner.
GeneralistHope SchwenArtist, musician, and small business owner based in Oak Center; passionate about strengthening rural communities through folk music, traditional arts, and local cultural initiatives.
GeneralistAbdiwali AminCommunity advocate committed to service, inclusion, and family well-being; passionate about supporting resilient communities through access to resources, cultural engagement, and the arts.

Click below to review past meeting minutes for FY2026.