Arts Advisory Panel
The Arts Advisory Panel is comprised of representatives from each of the five artistic disciplines of Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts, as well as generalists who demonstrate strong involvement in support of the arts in the SEMAC region. 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 based on their artistic expertise and critical skills in their respective disciplines. To nominate someone for a term on the Arts Advisory Panel, contact the SEMAC office.
Interested in serving on the panel yourself? Go to your account on the grant interface and complete the form called SEMAC Services Opportunities to tell us a little about your background and how you would prefer to be contacted.
Listed by artistic discipline, the current Arts Advisory Panelists are
| Discipline | Panelist | Background |
| Literary Arts | Annette Nawls | author deeply involved in World Revival Power Ministry of Rochester, providing arts opportunities to abuse victims and the homeless |
| Literary Arts | Taliesin Nyala | woodworker, writer, and artist who designs and builds furniture and decor out of sustainably harvested Minnesota hardwoods |
| Music | David Kassler | professional musician with experience in performance, conducting and composition, recipient of a SEMAC Individual Artist Grant to compose and perform chamber music |
| Music | Ben Downs | Executive and Artistic Director, Fesler-Lampert Performing Arts Series, holds doctorates in Theory and History of Music from Stony Brook, and Piano Performance from Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music |
| Music | Vivian Lark | musician and director, Music Lessons for All, a nonprofit dedicated to teach music to children in underserved communities |
| Theatre | Eileen Moeller | Managing Director, Frozen River Film Festival, co-founder of ArtFarm MN, works to support artist and community collaborations |
| Theatre | Mike Speck | Independent theatre artist having worked with Chatfield Center for the Arts, Theatre du Mississippi, and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota |
| Theatre | Samantha Whipple | Associate Director of Community Relations & Development, Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts |
| Visual Arts | Dave Casey | assistant curator of education and exhibitions at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, freelance musician performing with a variety of groups across multiple genres |
| Visual Arts | Rene Halasy | current RNeighbors Executive Director; background in Communications, Graphic Design, and Photography; working towards a Master’s in Community Engagement and Arts & Cultural Leadership |
| Visual Arts | Ivete Martinez | visual artist, board member, Gallery 24 Artists Collaborative, founder and director, Med City Art Festival, former board member, SEMVA |
| Visual Arts | Kalianne Morrison | visual artist, advancement coordinator, Rochester Art Center, principal of Art on the Ave in Rochester |
| Visual Arts | Samantha Reiter-Johnson | cell biologist, self-taught artist and plant enthusiast who combined her passions for art and nature to form Chlorocreations |
| Generalist | David Schmidt | Wabasha resident, organic farmer, grant writer, WideSpot Performing Arts Center & Community Project |
| Generalist | Kevin Dobbe | composer and new media artist, retired faculty member Rochester Community College |
| Generalist | Gretchen Ramlo | arts enthusiast, boards of Austin Area Commission for the Arts and Riverland Foundation, volunteers for the ArtWorks Festival and Spruce Up Austin |
| Generalist | Scott Roberts | National Cartoonist Society member, MSAB panelist, previous director of Owatonna Arts Center and Waseca Arts Center |
Click below to review past meeting minutes for FY2025.
- Individual Artist Grant Review Meetings
- Organizational Grant Review Meetings