Norfolk Arts Commission

The Norfolk Art Commission provides support for arts and cultural programming in the City.
The Commission is responsible for establishing evaluation criteria for funding grant requests, artist selection and review processes.
Members do not realize any financial gain from Norfolk Arts programming, projects, or grant funding.

For Commissioners

Derek Eley

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Derek Eley, is the Assistant Professor of Art at Virginia Wesleyan College. Derek Eley is a photographer and designer that currently resides in Norfolk, Virginia. Derek received a B.F.A. in photography from Virginia Commonwealth University and then went on to earn a M.F.A. in photography from Savannah College of Art and Design. He has taught photography for several colleges including Old Dominion University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Art Institute of Virginia Beach. In addition to his role as an educator, Derek has worked as a digital photo re-toucher and designer. He is an active artist that exhibits and makes personal work when not teaching.

Ariyail Banks

Lady with blond hair smiles at the camera standing in a black dress and silver necklace

Diana Blanchard-Gross

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Diana Blanchard-Gross, is an Independent Art Curator. Diana is the Visual Arts Manager at the Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center.

Smiling man with balding head and a jolly expression as if laughing wears a bright blue shirt under his gray suit jacket

Jeff Corriveau

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Jeff Corriveau is a theatre director & producer & is a recruiter with ADP.

Norfolk Arts Commission Chair, Sarah Clarkson

Norfolk Arts Commission Chair, “Sally” Clarkson, is a Virginia Stage Company board member, & a Rheumatologist (retired).

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Wilma Gerald

An avid quilter and former Norfolk Virginia gallery owner, Wilma Gerald is a member of the Tidewater Quilters’ Guild.

Young man with short brown hair and a brown moustache and beard

B. Taylor Gould

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, B. Taylor Gould, is a Landscape Architect, & member of the Norfolk Architectural Review Board.

Devon Lawrence

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Devon Lawrence, is a Freelance Artist & Coordinator of the Norfolk Drawing Group.

Peter has short gray hair and looks directly at the camera with a stare no smile

Peter Eudenbach

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Peter Eudenbach, is the Fine Arts Chair at Old Dominion University.

Tim Seibels

Tim Seibles is an American poet, professor and the former Poet Laureate of Virginia. He is the author of seven collections of poetry, most recently, Voodoo Libretto: New and Selected Poems.

Joseph “Trey” Godette

Trey is a native of Greensboro, where he attended The Academy at James B. Dudley Senior High School. He is graduate of Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Health and NC A&T State University with a Master’s degree in Sports Administration.

Virginia Thumm

Norfolk Arts Commission Vice-Chair, Virginia Thumm is a dancer and works with Virginia Fundraising Consultants.

Jeff Wells

Jeffrey Wells., an architect with Coastal Design Group who also heads a non-profit targeting literacy.

Download the Ordinance – norfolk final funding ordinance