MRAC’s Board is Growing!

Specifically, we are looking for board members that reside in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott and Washington counties.

Individuals who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, People with Disabilities, and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+) are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities of board members are listed below.

For more information, contact Kathy Mouacheupao: kathy@mrac.org

Or, if you are interested, please tell us more about yourself by filling out this form.

Board Member Accommodations

• No monetary contribution requirements
• Virtual meetings
  • Zoom with automated captioning options
  • CART captioning as requested
  • ASL interpretation as requested
  • Meetings are recorded
• Care reimbursement
  • Childcare reimbursement
  • Personal Care Attendant (PCA) reimbursement
• Board documents
  • Documents will be screen-reader friendly and can be reformatted as requested
  • Votes and comments can be submitted in alternative methods

Board Member Feature: Kate Walker

Kate Walker recently completed her first year on the MRAC Board, and she currently serves on the Executive Committee. Kate has been an active and dynamic member, fostering the evolution of the board.

Kate lives in Hennepin County near downtown Minneapolis. She is passionate about music of all kinds and attends performances whenever she can, both virtually and in person. Kate is a long-time member of the Valley Chamber Chorale (Stillwater, MN) and enjoys “singing with my friends’ “oldies” band from time to time.” She says about the MRAC:

As a Board member and arts enthusiast, I’m very excited about MRAC’s commitment to narrowing the funding gap, making grant support for the arts more accessible to individuals and organizations that may have been overlooked in the past.  MRAC’s funding priorities encourage diversity in the arts and recognize the many noteworthy contributions these underserved voices are making to the metropolitan area arts scene.  In addition, MRAC’s quick action at the start of the pandemic resulted in revamped funding programs to help metropolitan area arts groups weather the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic.

More Board Members Features:

Amanda Cortés
Alejandra Iannone
Lauren White
Alejandra Pelinka

Board Responsibilities

• Board members are elected for a three-year term and may be elected to a second term for a total of 6 years of service. We seek a balance of representation on the board – geographic, artistic discipline, constituent/non-constituent, age, racial/cultural background, gender, and organizational experience.
• Each board member adds value to the organization by bringing their experiences as a resident of the region, a member of their community, an artist in their discipline, and many other circumstances that influence their whole being. The role of the board member is to bring those experiences to inform decisions made about the entire 7-county Metropolitan area.
• It is appreciated when members share information/insight about arts activities in their county and/or community.
• The MRAC Board is responsible for setting and overseeing policy and broad direction of the organization. The staff is responsible for taking policy and board direction and putting it into action. The board does not get involved in program planning or management of the day-to-day operations of the organization.
• The MRAC Board has 11 meetings per fiscal year, which is July 1 through June 30. Currently, they are on the third Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. There is no meeting in August.
• Prior to each board meeting, board members receive important materials related to decisions and discussions for the meeting- this can include financials, staff reports, funding recommendations, etc.
• MRAC uses a committee system to do more in depth and additional work outside of the monthly board meetings. Current active committees include the Executive Committee, the Policy Committee, the Nominating and Engagement Committee, and the Board and Staff Engagement Committee – all committees are made up for board and staff members.
• Board members are sometimes called upon by staff for counsel and particular expertise. Staff also relies on board members to make referrals of future panelists from their community and colleagues.
• MRAC Board members are expected to be advocates of the arts and to understand the importance of the legislative process to MRAC’s funding. Including the relationships with the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of MN, the MN State Arts Board, and MN Citizens for the Arts.
• MRAC Board members may be reimbursed for parking, mileage, or public transportation related to attendance to meetings and events where they are officially representing MRAC.  Board members will be reimbursed at the same rate as grant review panel members. Requests for reimbursement shall be made using MRAC’s Volunteer Expense Reimbursement Form.