Installation view, “Nhớ” by Phượng-Duyên Hải Nguyễn, Welcome Gallery, 2024

Shape a Future Arts Council for the Charlottesville Area

Charlottesville, Albemarle, and the surrounding counties have a robust arts and culture sector but lack a centralized, coordinated structure to support its creative communities. A collaborative, community-led effort is now underway to explore the creation of a future Arts Council for the Charlottesville area—one that is equitable, accessible, and focused on making it possible for artists to live, work, and thrive here.

This process is being facilitated by an independent consultant, Ruby Lopez Harper, who was responsible for supporting 4,500 local arts agencies with tools, training, and resources during her time at Americans for the Arts prior to her current role as the Executive Director of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+).

New City Arts Initiative is the administrative home for this 7-month Arts Council Feasibility Study, which is supported by UVA Arts, the City of Charlottesville, The FUNd at CACF, the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB), and the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation.

Participate

To join a listening sessions, contribute ideas, lend your support for this planning process publicly, receive updates, and/or offer your space for an arts council planning process event, complete an interest form here. You do not need to be affiliated with an organization or institution.

COMMUNITY INTEREST & SUPPORT FORM

Upcoming Public Events

  • Kick-Off & Steering Committee Welcome

    Oct 15 4:30-6:00PM
    at McGuffey Art Center

    Join us for a celebratory launch event!

    Learn More

  • Community Conversation: Shaping a Future Arts Council

    Oct 16 9:00AM-3:00PM
    at JSAAHC

    Free, lunch provided. RSVP required.

    Learn More

Steering Committee

To ensure this work is shaped by the people the Arts Council would serve, a Steering Committee is guiding the planning process, reviewing findings, and co-creating recommendations.

  • Dr. Andrea Douglas is the founding executive director of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in art history from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. in arts management and finance from Binghamton University, and completed the Getty Leadership Institute program.

    From 2004 to 2010, she served as curator of collections, exhibitions, and contemporary art at the University of Virginia Art Museum. She has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in African American and contemporary art and published scholarly works. At the Heritage Center, she has curated exhibitions of local and regional African American artists.

    Douglas’s leadership extends widely: she has served on commissions addressing slavery, segregation, and lynching in Virginia; advisory committees at UVA and Monticello; and numerous local boards including the Emily Couric Leadership Forum and the Miller School. She also chaired Charlottesville’s PLACE Design Task Force and the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Race and Monuments.

  • Brittany Fan is a painter, photographer, illustrator, and designer based in Charlottesville, Virginia.

    A graduate of UVA, she holds an interdisciplinary degree in studio art, art history, and arts administration, as well as a masters in education. While studying at the University, she began to investigate the intersection of the arts and community, exploring the significance and potential impact that creative practices can have in forming the maker, the audience, as well as society at large. Her work across various disciplines converges with the common thread of capturing and illuminating stories, with the belief that storytelling and meaning-making are crucial to our understanding of and experience of the world we live in.

    Brittany is a senior designer at Journey Group, where she specializes in print design, photography, and editorial illustration. She is a former board member of New City Arts, and is involved with several other local non-profits.


  • Jeremy Stern has been a Charlottesville resident for over twenty years, originally moving here for school before choosing to make the city his permanent home.

    He’s worked in marketing and data analytics for two local digital agencies, while occasionally moonlighting as a substitute bar trivia host.

    Outside of work, Jeremy stays engaged with the local arts community, having served five years on the board of the Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative and currently in his second year of hosting CreativeMornings Charlottesville. His favorite Charlottesville art events are a tie between the Virginia Film Festival, CLAW, and Techno Bingo at the Bridge.

  • Ann E. Wall began serving as Deputy County Manager for Albemarle County in December 2023. In this role, she provides leadership to Community Development, Facilities and Environmental Services, Parks and Recreation and Community and Public Engagement departments.

    Ms. Wall has more than 30 years of experience in public service in North Carolina and Florida working in budget and community development as well as six years as Assistant City Manager and six years as City Manager. Ms. Wall’s most recent position was a City Manager of Greenville North Carolina. She has a Bachelor of City Planning from the University of Virginia and a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


  • Courtney has led the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau (CACVB) as the Executive Director since August 2019. Under her leadership, the CACVB has become a national leader in creating welcoming environments through destination stewardship and has crafted Destination 2045, Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s first tourism master plan, including support for the Arts.

    Through her team’s efforts, Charlottesville was recognized in 2023 by Wine Enthusiast with a Wine Star award as the Wine Region of the Year. Her work has been recognized with a U.S. Travel Association’s Destiny Award and HSMAI Adrian Award for Discover Black Cville and as a Destiny Award finalist for the Monticello Wine Trail. She received the George Washington University Master’s of Tourism Administration Alumni Award for Social Impact. She is the author of The Future of Destination Organizations: A Guide to a Community-based Welcome.


  • My name is Jalia Dillard, and I’m a multidisciplinary creative from Martinsville, VA.

    I have a BA from the University of Virginia in Interdisciplinary Studies. With a concentration in Arts Administration, Marketing, and New Media, I am passionate about the research and impact of influencer marketing on Gen Z.

    In 2023, I became part of the Charlottesville arts community. I supported creative programming and community engagement as an educator and marketing intern with The Bridge PAI, Light House Studio, and the Charlottesville Mural Project. I also served as Creative Programs and Engagement Coordinator for Ridgeway, VA, consulting on their website and installing a mural.

    I currently work as Graphic Designer and Content Creator for Light House Studio, where I focus on expanding social media and reaching Gen Z audiences. In the future, I aim to continue building accessible creative spaces and advancing creative direction that connects communities through art.


  • James Freas is Deputy City Manager for Operations for the City of Charlottesville, overseeing the Public Works, Planning, Housing, Utilities, and Transit departments. Prior to this role he led the Neighborhood Development Services Department, the planning and development department of the City.

    James has worked in planning in both Virginia and Massachusetts leading many different planning and zoning projects tackling issues of housing, transportation, economic development, downtown revitalization and environmental quality.

    James holds master's degrees in planning from the University of Rhode Island and in environmental law from Vermont Law School.


  • Natasha is an artist and filmmaker based in Charlottesville, VA, where she is the assistant director of Visible Records.

    Committed to using filmmaking as a tool for inquiry, collective organizing, and worldmaking, she has organized a number of screenings and workshops at DIY and artist-forward spaces across the country.


  • Jessica Harris is an interdisciplinary theatre artist who seeks to uplift undertold stories and vitalize the human spirit.

    She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Empowered Players, a 501(c)3 arts education nonprofit based in Fluvanna and Charlottesville. Through EP, she directs and provides yearlong accessible arts programs for K-12 students, and her TEDx Talk titled “The Transformative Power of Theater in Rural Communities” highlights her work.

    Jessica Harris is also the Assistant Director of Community Research at the Center for Community Partnerships at UVA. She is a descendant of enslaved communities in Central Virginia, including those at Monticello and UVA, and she currently serves as board president for the Descendants of Enslaved Communities of Virginia.

    She is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Out of School Learning, and her work is situated at the intersection of community engagement, education, and arts and place-based praxis. 


  • Olivia is a gamer and local political organizer who’s called Charlottesville home since 2011.

    She loves being part of the city’s vibrant community and can often be found at local arts events, neighborhood gatherings, or cheering on friends’ creative projects.

  • Annie is an artist and educator focused on material, psychology, and movement. Through costume, creatures, painting, and performance, Annie tells stories of deeply embodied, inner legends. Much of her inspiration stems from research on a Watson Fellowship in traditional textile design around the globe.

    Annie is the Associate Technical Director at Live Arts where she guides collective world-building and creative process.

    As an educator, she co-teaches the Art of the Moving Creature at UVA- focused on building and bringing-to-life giant creatures the size of a bus.

    Elsewhere in Virginia, she can be found teaching through the VMFA , where she invites students to cultivate individual paths into the unknown, to bring awareness to the embodied process of making, and to practice meaningful collaboration.

    Annie has a soft spot in her heart for math and she loves to dance! Find her at: www.annietemmink.com


  • Dutch Senft is a visual artist, gallerist, and current Aunspaugh Fellow at the University of Virginia from Baltimore, MD.

    He began painting in his teens after his older brother, artist Archer Senft, became a quadriplegic in 2015 and could no longer physically paint. Acting as Archer's hands, they collaborated on large-scale acrylic works which inspired Dutch to pursue his own practice.

    Today, Dutch's paintings explore the absurdities and contradictions of contemporary life through figurative scenes that warp everyday experiences into satirical and theatrical narratives, capturing both humor and instability in the modern day.

    Alongside his studio practice, he serves as Assistant Director of Archer Hawkins Gallery in Baltimore, an artist-run and accessible exhibition space recently founded by his brother and dedicated to supporting emerging painters, printmakers, and illustrators.

    Dutch graduated from the University of Virginia and the McIntire School of Commerce in 2025 with degrees in Painting and Marketing and a minor in Art History.


  • Jordan Perry is a Charlottesville based musician and educator. He has been involved with the Music Resource Center (MRC) for several years and joined its staff as Program Director in 2022. He was formerly the Education Director for MIMA Music in Charlottesville.

    Jordan is active as a solo performer and collaborator in area groups including New Boss, Night Teacher, Ned Oldham, Ear Infection, and Uncle Pen. Additionally, Jordan has curated numerous performances at area venues such as Visible Records, The MRC, The Bridge PAI, and others.

    Jordan has been a music educator for 15+ years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance from the Boyer College of Music at Temple University in Philadelphia. His teaching life took him to Ramallah, Palestine between 2012-2014 where he was a faculty member of the Al Kamandjati School, a Palestinian founded and facilitated music education organization active in the occupied West Bank.


  • Tobiah Mundt is a sculptural fiber artist from Houston, Texas.

    She started her career as an Architect after attending Howard University in Washington, DC and made the move from the practice of architecture to a full time art practice in 2004.

    She currently resides in Charlottesville, VA where she is a founding member of the Charlottesville Black Arts Collective, a Resident Artist at McGuffey Art Center, and a teacher for the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts.

What Does the Steering Committee Do?

The Steering Committee serves as a core advisory group for a community-driven effort to explore and establish a future Arts Council for the Charlottesville area. The Steering Committee:

  • Offers insights and feedback throughout the planning process

  • Helps shape the vision, values, and proposed structure of a future Arts Council

  • Elevates community needs and ideas through collaborative discussion

Steering Committee’s Guiding Principles

The Steering Committee include artists, arts workers, cultural organizers, community members, arts supporters, and arts grantmakers who live or work in the Charlottesville area region including the surrounding counties; are involved in or deeply care about the arts, culture, and creative communities; represent a range of disciplines, identities, and experiences; and believe in and practice equity, collaboration, and community-centered leadership.

View the Steering Committee Charter here.

Meet the Team

Ruby Lopez Harper
Facilitator

Maureen Brondyke
Project Lead

Activities & Timeline

This planning process will include a review of available documentation of existing infrastructure, peer city benchmarking, funding models, operational models and asset mapping. We will host 4-6 community listening sessions focused on arts and culture visioning and a needs assessment. Our goal is to create a plan to activate a local arts coalition to support our region, after identifying potential growth opportunities for the purpose of supporting the arts and developing useful tools to aid our region in agency implementation and organization.

Arts Council Feasibility Study Funding Partners

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Anne _ Gene Worrell Foundation - Primary Logo.png
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Community Support

In addition to the Arts Council Feasibility Study Funders, the following individuals and organizations support this community-led, professional, and facilitated process for creating a Charlottesville area arts coalition based on best practices, benchmarking, and robust community input. Add your name and/or org to this list here!

Adrienne Resha
Amanda Liscouski
Dr. Andrea Douglas
Andrea Hubbell
Andrea Ruedy Trimble
Andrew Betz
Ann E. Wall
Ann Ray
Anna Finan
Anne Hunter
Annie Temmink
Ashley Blazer
Athena Eastwood
Ben Fey
Benita Mayo
Betty Li Simpson
Bill LeSueur
Bobbi Dunn
Boomie Pedersen
Bree Luck
Brenda Patterson
Brittany Fan
Camille Gerrick
Carol Barber
Carolyn Keurajian
Catherine von Storch
ceejay renner-thomas
Charlotte James
Christine Hollins
Christy Baker
Claudia Cappelle
CM Turner
Courtney Cacatian
Courtney Hopkins
Daniel Sender
Danielle Stevens
Dawn Hanson
Deanna Gould
Derrick Waller
Dutch Senft
Eboni Bugg
Eleanore Neumann
Elika Tofigh
Elise Heartwell
Ellen Casey Wagner
Emily Hartka
Erica Goldfarb
Erin Dickey
Ewa Harr
Fenella Belle
Geoffrey Close
Grace Little
Greg Antrim Kelly
Hagan Tampellini
Hannah Foster
Heidi Gilman Bennett
Holly Odom
I.F. Gonzales
Ian Baxter
Irène Mathieu
Jackie Watson
Jalia Dillard
James Freas
Jane Goodman
Janine Dozier
Jenny Mays
Jenny Wales
Jeremy Stern
Jess Walters

Individuals

Jessica Harris
Jo Griffith
Jordan Perry
Julie Montross
Kalynda Beal
Karen Milbourne
Katen Reynolds
Katherine Turner
Kori Price
Kristen Chiacchia
Kyle Ezer
Laura Snyder
Lauren Maupin
Lika Maglakelidze
Lindsay Fitzgerald
Lindsey Leahy
Lisa Capraro
Lisa Draine
Lisa Ryan
Lisa Woolfork
Lotta Helleberg
M. Daniel
MaKshya Tolbert
Martha Smythe
Marysunny Luegering
Maureen Brondyke
Marisa Williamson
Meg Kosefeski
Megan Donovan
Melanie Bentley
Melissa Charles
Mimm Patterson
Miriam Gordon-Stewart
Morgan Ashcom
Nancy Kassam-Adams
Natalie Kohler
Natasha Woods
Nathan Moore
Nici Cumpston
Nicole Wade
Olivia Anderson
Olivia Gabbay
Olivia Hathaway
Paola Christy
Patsy Cooner
Paul Beyer
Phượng-Duyên Hải Nguyễn
Priscilla Whitlock
Rachel Baker
Rebecca Hall
Renee Balfour
Sarah Raffinan
Sarah Sweet
Serena Gruia
Shanti Norris
Sharon Tolczyk
Sheila Yoder
Stacey Lewis
Stephen Haske
Susannah Rubin
Suzanne Loechl
Tami Keaveny
Tara Mawyer
Tiffany Nguyen
Tobiah Mundt
Tori Cherry
Ursula Bell
Wendy Novicoff
Wendy Smith
William Taylor

Organizations & Community Partners

Albemarle Ballet Theatre
American Focus, Inc.
Black Women Stitch
Charlottesville Ballet
Charlottesville Black Arts Collective
Charlottesville Area Community Foundation
CreativeMornings/Charlottesville
Crozet Arts
Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival
Cville Setlist
DMR Adventures
Eastwood Farm and Winery
Empowered Players
greenyellowblue co.
Hello Goodbye Records
IX Arts Foundation
Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of UVA
Les Yeux du Monde
Light House Studio
Live Arts, Inc.
Malleable Studios
McGuffey Art Center
Milk Glass
Milkweed Clay Studio
Nelson County Community Orchestra
Phaeton Gallery
PVCC Art Department
raging buffalo glass
Rapunzel's Coffee and Books
Second Street Gallery
Studio IX
The Arc of the Piedmont Art Studio
The Charlottesville Jazz Society
The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA
The Front Porch
The Paramount Theater
The Scrappy Elephant
Tom Tom Foundation
Victory Hall Opera
Virginia Book Arts
Virginia Discovery Museum
Virginia Film Festival
Virginia Theatre Festival
Visible Records
WriterHouse
WTJU 91.1 FM