Twenty-three commissioners make up ArtsWA’s Board of Commissioners. Nineteen are appointed to three-year terms by the Governor. Four commissioners are appointed by the Legislature (two from the House, two from the Senate). Terms generally begin with the first meeting of the fiscal year, which takes place in August.
Each new commissioner receives orientation training that introduces them to ArtsWA programs and policies. This training includes a series of webinars and an in-depth information toolkit.
We encourage board participation that reflects Washington’s artistic, geographic, and culture diversity. If you are interested in joining the ArtsWA board, please apply online at the Governor’s Boards and Commission website.
Meet Our Board
Robin Avni is a creative strategist engaged in the development of collaborative education projects as well as community cultural programs. She’s had an extensive career in the design and high-tech industries. Robin has served on several national and local boards and commissions including the 4Culture Board of King County, the Bellevue Arts Commission, and is currently a member of the Gig Harbor Arts Commission. In her spare time, she is a novice printmaker. Robin lives in Gig Harbor with her husband, has three grown children and one amazing granddaughter. (Appointed August 2019)
Matt Boehnke represents the 8th Legislative District (Tri-Cities) in the State Senate. He previously served two terms in the Washington House of Representatives. Since 2015, Matt has served as the director and lead professor of the cybersecurity division at Columbia Basin College. He also owns a cybersecurity consulting business. Before joining the Legislature, he served for three years on the Kennewick City Council. Matt currently serves on the following committees: Senate Human Services; Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade; Environment, Energy & Technology; and Ways & Means. (Appointed January 2023)
Andre Bouchard (of Kootenai/Ojibwe descent) is Executive Creative Producer of Indigenous Performance Productions and Principal of Walrus Arts Management. He has been internationally recognized for elevating Indigenous performing arts. He has a Masters in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University, a BFA in Dance and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Montana and was an Arts Leadership Fellow with the University of Southern California/Association of Performing Arts Professionals. He currently serves as Resident Curator for the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College and on the board of Arts Northwest. (Appointed July 2017)
Lou Oma Durand recently completed 16 years as Executive Director of WA State Services for the Blind. In that role, and as a Cabinet member, she worked with citizens of all ages with a range of disabilities, assisting them to gain skills, develop careers , get jobs, start small businesses, and become active members of their communities. She worked statewide with local businesses, K-12 schools, higher ed institutions, large and small employers, the Tribes, and many community organizations. Lou Oma has long been active in the arts community producing literary and music events, both live and for public radio, and serving on a variety of arts boards. (Appointed July 2022)
Dr. Kelvin Frank (Chippewa Cree) has been involved with numerous Tribal Governments as a Community Development & Planning Specialist in the PNW over the past 25 years. Dr. Frank’s work includes 17 years as a professor and researcher at Eastern Washington University, specializing in Tribal Government and Decision-making. Dr. Frank develops and implements Community Development & Planning processes that sustain Native American traditions and culture in urban environments. Dr. Frank has experience in non-profit development, advocacy for tribal government programs and working in intergovernmental affairs. (Appointed July 2020)
Ryan Hardesty joined WSU’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art curatorial team in 2014 as Curator of Art and Exhibitions. Prior to coming to WSU, Hardesty held a twelve-year tenure at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture (MAC), Spokane where he helped plan for over 80 exhibitions as an exhibition designer and manager. Additional museum experience includes work with the Institute of Contemporary Art (Boston, MA), Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University (Waltham, MA) and Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA). (Appointed July 2022)
Claudia Castro Luna is an Academy of American Poets Poet Laureate fellow (2019), WA State Poet Laureate (2018 – 2021) and Seattle’s inaugural Civic Poet (2015-2018), the author of One River, A Thousand Voices (Chin Music Press), the Pushcart nominated Killing Marías (Two Sylvias Press) also shortlisted for WA State 2018 Book Award in poetry, and the chapbook This City (Floating Bridge Press). Her most recent non-fiction can be found in There’s a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis (Vintage). Born in El Salvador, she came to the United States in 1981. Living in English and Spanish, Claudia writes and teaches in Seattle on unceded Duwamish lands where she gardens and keeps chickens with her husband and their three children. (Appointed July 2021)
Lee Lyttle has taught ‘arts and public policy’ courses as a faculty member at The Evergreen State College. Over his 28 years there he has also served in various administrative roles as a dean and a director. His involvement in arts support includes past service as the Chair of the Olympia Arts Commission with leadership involvement in Olympia’s Arts Walk Festival, and he has also previously served on the Washington State Arts Commission. Lee holds a BFA degree in Architecture as well as master’s degrees in Urban and Regional Planning, Public Administration, and Information Sciences. (Appointed October 2020)
Jasmine Mahmoud is Assistant Professor in Theatre History and Performance Studies at the University of Washington. A performance historian, her work engages the Pacific Northwest arts sector, racial equity, and cultural policy. Jasmine has worked as a musician, theater artist, arts critic, and as a TeenTix Mentor and Teaching Artist. She serves as Board Vice President of On the Boards. She earned her PhD in Performance Studies from Northwestern University, MA in Arts Politics from NYU, and BA in Government from Harvard College. (Appointed July 2020 to July 2023)
Tisa Matheson is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe and is originally from Lenore, Idaho. She has an MLIS from San Jose State University specializing in cultural records. She has been the American Indian Collection Curator at the NW Museum and Arts Center in Spokane since 2001. Tisa is dynamic and thoughtful, a champion of native arts and heritage. (Appointed July 2022)
Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber was appointed to her 7th District seat in 2017 by county commissioners from five counties and then elected by voters in a November 2017 special election. Her district includes Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties and parts of Okanogan and Spokane counties. Jacquelin earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and spent time as a biomedical research scientist. She is a former law enforcement officer and elected school board member, and has volunteered with her Chamber of Commerce. Maycumber has a passion for rural economic development, common-sense solutions to education funding and state budgeting, and for utilizing Washington’s abundant natural resources. She and her husband Marty live in Republic with their three children. (Appointed June 2021)
Joan is a former State Representative of the 48th Legislative District. Previously, she served as Mayor of Kirkland and was a member of the Kirkland City Council. She has sat on the boards of the Kirkland Performance Center, Friends of Youth, Kirkland Arts Center, Feet First, Together Center, Kirkland Interfaith Network, and Washington Bikes. She has volunteered for several local PTAs. Prior to elected service, she worked in non-profit development and community relations. Joan recently married her partner of 14 years. Together they enjoy a large extended family including their first grandchild. (First appointed August 2015; reappointed January 2019)
Terry Morgan’s Modern Enterprises is one of the most successful minority owned event Production Companies in Washington State. He has been serving clients since 1979 providing talent, production and technical services for cities, corporate clients, and civic occasions. He has a long history of performing arts presenting and performance, as well being immersed in the state’s creative economy as an active participant. (Appointed July 2022)
Catherine brings to ArtsWA her diverse background in dance, theatre, film and architecture and design. Currently the Executive Director at Velocity Dance Center in Seattle, she has supported the arts by serving as a grants’ panelist for ArtsWA and facilitator for the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture. She also serves on the board of Khambatta Dance Company and is a King Street Station Advisor. Previously the Program Manager for Arts and Development at 501 Commons, she consulted with arts and other non-profit organizations to increase their organizational capacity. (Appointed July 2020 to July 2023)
Justin is the Artistic Director of the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers and the Chorusmaster for the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. Justin sings with Male Ensemble Northwest and Chor Anno. He volunteers on the boards of Leadership Tri-Cities, Visit Tri-Cities, and the Northwest Region of the ACDA. He has received the 2014 CBMEA Friend of Music award and the Washington State 2013 Outstanding Emerging Choral Conductor award. Justin has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College, New Jersey, and a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Arizona. (First appointed July 2016; reappointed July 2019)
Charlie Robin is CEO of the Capitol Theatre Committee in Yakima, Washington. A native of St. Louis, he graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, studying both business and vocal music. He served as Executive Director at the Edison Theatre and adjunct faculty teaching arts management at Washington University. He has run an actual circus and a nationally touring a cappella octet. He also co-founded and managed a computer software development company for the healthcare industry. Knitting and singing are his two most obsessive passions. (Appointed July 2019)
Rosanna has 25 years of museum experience, and serves as Director of the REACH Museum in Richland, WA. Rosanna formerly served as the Director of the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle and the Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Rosanna is a board member of the Western Museums Association (WMA) and Visit Tri-Cities. She holds an MFA in museum studies, with a focus on African American studies from Syracuse University. Rosanna is interested in cultivating thriving art communities across our state. (Appointed August 2018)
Krishna Thiagarajan joined the Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall as President & CEO in September 2018. Prior to joining the Seattle Symphony, he was Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), leading the organization through a period of significant growth while defining their international reputation. Krishna is a strong believer in cross-cultural collaborations and diversifying voices in classical music. Krishna brings a very experienced arts voice from one of our state’s flagship arts organizations to the Arts Commission, as well as a voice well versed in equity and inclusion. (Appointed July 2022)
Judy has been Executive Director of the Schack Art Center for over 23 years. In 2014, the Schack received a Governor’s Arts & Heritage Award for Outstanding Arts Organization. Judy has supported the visual arts in Everett for more than 25 years. As a member of the Everett City Council, she works to establish a creative district and grow Everett’s downtown. Judy serves on the Snohomish County Tourism Board of Directors and is a member of the Tourism Marketing Authority for Washington. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. (Appointed August 2018)
Lisa Wellman represents Mercer Island, Newcastle, Beaux Arts, and parts of Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish, and Renton. She was elected in 2016 after a 25-year career in technology and marketing. Lisa served as Vice-President of the creative markets for Apple Computer. Lisa was once a kindergarten teacher. She chairs the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee. She’s a mentor for MBA candidates at the Foster Business School at the University of Washington. She earned a BA degree from Barat College. Lisa is an avid photographer and has exhibited in Washington and California. (Appointed February 2017)
Sheree is the President of UNESCO Washington State Center and serves as the United States National Commissioner to UNESCO. She is a member of the Medina City Council. She sits on the boards of the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle International Film Festival, the University of Washington Library, and the Columbia Tower Club. She is the recipient of the Young Scientist of the Year Award, the AIME Robert Hardy Lansing Gold Medal, and the IBM Invention Achievement Award. Sheree earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. (Appointed August 2017)
Sharon Wylie has served in the State House of Representatives since 2011. She worked in management and government relations for 30 years. She serves as first vice chair on the House Transportation Committee, and holds seats on the Finance, the Rules, and the Technology & Economic Development Committees. Sharon is an enthusiastic painter of oil portraits and values the art and culture of Washington State. She considers art and music to be critical in education and community development and for personal growth and joy. (Appointed June 2019)
Reinaldo Gil Zambrano is a printmaking artist based in Spokane, WA from Caracas, Venezuela. His desire to promote the printmaking practice has guided him to develop the “The Ink Rally”, Spokane Print Fest and the Spokane Print & Publishing Center. Such projects have worked as communal developers and forces of integration between the academic, artistic, and larger communities in the Northwest. Reinaldo is an assistant professor of Printmaking at Gonzaga University as well as an artist member at the Saranac Art Projects and Spanish host of the printmaking podcast HELLO PRINT FRIEND. (Appointed July 2021 to July 2024)
FY 2022 Executive Committee
- Chair: Justin Raffa, Benton County, Eastern Region
- 1st Vice Chair: Rosanna Sharpe, Grant county, Central Region
- 2nd Vice Chair: Catherine Nueva España, King County, Northwest Region
- At Large: Robin Avni, Pierce County, Southwest Region
- Advocacy Chair: Charlie Robin, Yakima County, Central Region
- At Large: Jasmine Mahmoud, King County, Northwest Region
2023 Board Meetings
Thursday, March 23: 10:00 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
Tuesday, May 2: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 1: 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 2: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 9: 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
For more information about upcoming Board meetings, please click here