Norfolk Arts Commission
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.
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
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.
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).
Marcus J. Powell
Marcus Powell was a former Enterprise Architect in the Army. Marcus Powell brings experience from previous roles at Lockheed Martin Information Technology, Scientific Research Corporation and United States Marine Corps.
Wilma Gerald
An avid quilter and former Norfolk Virginia gallery owner, Wilma Gerald is a member of the Tidewater Quilters’ Guild.
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 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.
