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 & review processes. Members do not realize any financial gain from
Norfolk Arts programming, projects, or grant funding.
Derek Eley holds his glasses with his right hand against his head wearing a cap. He has brown skin and a dark beard and moustache

Norfolk Arts Commission Co-Chair, Derek Eley

Norfolk Arts Commission Co-Chair, Derek Eley, is the Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Norfolk State University.

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Norfolk Arts Commission Vice-Chair, Madeline Nero,

Norfolk Arts Commission Vice-Chair, Madeline Nero, is an Architect.

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Norfolk Arts Commission Co-Chair, Diana Blanchard-Gross

Norfolk Arts Commission Co-Chair, Diana Blanchard-Gross is an Independent Art Curator. Diana worked previously as curator for the Peninsula Fine Arts Center & the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Museum.

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Norfolk Arts Commission Secretary, Virginia Thumm

Norfolk Arts Commission Secretary, Virginia Thumm is a dancer and works with the Virginia Fundraising Consultants.

Dark skinned man with very short cut hair and five oclock shadow of a beard and moustache is dressed in a tuxedo and wears a gold and purple bowtie.

Robert Hewitt

Norfolk Arts Commissioner Robert Hewitt, is a prestigious Art Collector.

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Bess Decker

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Bess Decker is an arts patron & arts advocate who serves on the board for a variety of local organizations.

Short haired dark skinned lady wears pink lipstick and large shell earrings as she tilts her head to the left and looks directly at the camera with a half smile

Yvonne Wagner

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Yvonne Wagner is a former Norfolk & Portsmouth Public Schools Art Educator.

Beautiful lady with her hair pulled up and back wearing a silver necklace with a pendant giving a slight grin a the camera.

Ramona Austin

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Ramona Austin is founder of The Edo Group, a Norfolk Planning Commissioner, & former director of the Baron & Ellin Gordon Galleries at ODU.

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Allan Reynolds

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Allan Reynolds is a lawyer at Reynolds Law & past president of the Virginia Opera.

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Michael Khandelwhal,

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Michael Khandelwhal, is the Executive Director of The Muse Writers Center.

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B. Taylor Gould

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

Barbara Laws wears thin rimmed glasses and smiles looking at the camera. There is artwork on walls in the background.

Barbara Laws

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Barbara Laws was a former Arts Educator with Norfolk Public Schools. Barbara serves on a variety of boards and commissions.

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Peter Eudenbach

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

Devon Lawrence

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

Dark skinned gentlemen with gray hair and moutache and short beard slants head to the right as he smiles directly looking at the camera

Clyde Santana

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Clyde Santana was a part of the Norfolk State University Visual Arts Department for many years & is a member of the Dramatist Guild.

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Jeff Corriveau

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

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Sarah Clarkson

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, “Sally” Clarkson, Virginia Stage Company board member, Rheumatologist (retired).

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Jennifer Blount-Sanford

Norfolk Arts Commissioner, Jennifer Blount-Sanford. is a Board member with the Hermitage Museum & Gardens & various other organizations. Jennifer is also President of Marketing for an AI firm.

Download the Ordinance – norfolk final funding ordinance

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Norfolk Arts seeks to create a rich, diverse, environment that reflects, celebrates and invites all to experience the arts. We seek to give voice to our community and strive to unite, energize, prompt dialogue, and inspire the unique character of Norfolk.

Learn more about Norfolk Arts

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City Hall
810 Union St.
Suite 409
Norfolk, VA 23510
757.664.6854