Operating Support

Mary Baril: Hayes Baril is a printmaker, book artist, and consultant. She chairs Arts and Entertainment Day for Leadership Saint Paul, an initiative of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. Previously, she served in leadership roles at the University of Minnesota, the International Institute of Minnesota, and with the U. S. State Department, and is a longtime public educator through Global Minnesota's Great Decisions program. She holds a MPA from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, a BA from the University of Notre Dame, and a core certificate in book arts from the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.; Christopher Brown: Brown is a lifelong lover of the arts. He leads customer service operations for an online travel portal. Previously, Brown was digital director at a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ media advocacy, where he was responsible for changing hearts and minds through innovative and engaging campaigns. In his free time, Brown takes in as much art as possible and seeks out volunteer opportunities related to the arts. He holds a BS in liberal arts.; Tanya Gravening: Gravening earned a BFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design and a master's degree from the University of Minnesota. Her graduate thesis was published by LAP Lambert. In her previous role as a public art manager, she secured a $30,000 grant to fill Hennepin Avenue with 27 artworks. Gravening has also worked as a curator, graphic designer, Walker Art Center tour guide, and is a practicing visual artist.; Janet Grove-Irvin: Grove-Irvin worked in the arts and nonprofits as a performer, administrator, and educator. She was the lead musician at the Basilica of Saint Mary for over forty years. Grove-Irvin has performed throughout the United States and Europe as a singer and has been a consultant for various arts organizations during her entire career. She created the Hennepin Theatre Spotlight program and is the recipient of a Minnesota State Arts Board grant and several regional arts council grants. Her family held a backyard musical for ten years, raising over $80,000 for an arts scholarship that helped pay for a summer arts camp. Grove-Irvin studied music and theater at Macalester College. ; Abbey Guggisberg: Guggisberg is an extension educator in leadership and civic engagement for the University of Minnesota. In this role, she most enjoys building connections in rural communities by uniting applications of university research and residents' expertise. She was previously the assistant director for the Southern Minnesota School of Music and worked as a music teacher in private and public settings. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees and has earned the professional credential of Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM). ; Heidi Haaland: Haaland is a screenwriter and film producer with a background in nonprofit fundraising, private and public sector project management, and community relations. She received a BA from Wagner College (Staten Island, NY) and a MA from the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA), both in English. She has been a panelist for the McKnight Producing Fellowships and the Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rachel Joyeux: Joyeux serves as the development director at the Alliance Francaise Mpls/St Paul. This nonprofit French cultural center provides French language courses, Francophone cultural programming, community events, literary resources, and more. Joyeux received her BA in philosophy from Miami University and a MA in comparative literature from San Francisco State University. She has worked in freelance writing and editing, education, and recruiting. In 2016, she graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a PhD in French, specializing in medieval French and Italian literature.; Margaret Kelly: Kelly was born and raised in International Falls. She returned to the community in 2021 after living in Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Minneapolis for over forty-seven years. Kelly is a retired social worker and nonprofit executive. She worked in healthcare, state government, and with the Kansas Head Start Association over her career. She is a vocalist and plays the violin and guitar. Kelly curates and hosts the Open Range Concerts - Up North concert series in International Falls. The series brings professional acoustic performers to the community for intimate, listening room style concerts. ; Brenda Langerud: Langerud worked for North Dakota State University for 35 years and is now retired. She has authored grants for youth, building projects, art projects, medical facilities, and charities. Langerud graduated from North Dakota State University and is happy to have served on several local, regional, state, and national boards for the betterment of her fellow man.; Kameron White, White is a comic artist, illustrator, and designer. He graduated with a BFA in comic art from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2018. As an Afro-Indigenous, queer, and disabled individual, he's been in a place where not seeing yourself represented or represented in a stereotypical light can affect you immensely. Rather than let it discourage him, it powers him to move forward, making sure people see themselves and their stories represented. He is an Ignatz and Visionary Honors Award winning artist. In 2022, he was chosen as one of the participants in the DC Comics Milestone Initiative program.; Erin Wojciechowski, Wojciechowski works at the University of Minnesota Duluth as a faculty member in the social work department, but previously spent ten years in the nonprofit sector, serving in various roles from program coordinator to executive director. Wojciechowski is a current board member of the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival and loves to spend her free time seeing local music and supporting arts initiatives.