The Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council is the voluntary, governing body of MRAC, working primarily to safeguard financial health and provide strategic direction. The MRAC Board works in partnership with staff to ensure that the organization’s culture, practices, and relationships align with our mission, vision, and guiding principles.
The Board of Directors includes artists, former applicants and panelists, professionals, and community members, representing a diversity of disciplines, backgrounds, and all seven metro counties.
Officers
- Ross Anderson, Dakota County, Chair
- Lauren White, Hennepin County, Vice Chair
- Allison Wagstrom, Washington County, Treasurer
- Sofie Netteberg, Ramsey County, Secretary
- Ryan-Olivia Lundy, Hennepin County, At Large
Members
- James Curry, Hennepin County
- Christy Dickinson, Dakota County
- Nina Graham, Washington County
- Andrew Leshovsky, Ramsey County
- Cara Madsen, Carver County
- Cyndy Milda, Scott County
- Sara Watts, Carver County
Board Meetings
All board meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month, 4:30–6:30 pm, usually via Zoom, with quarterly in-person meetings. The business meetings are conducted in the spirit of the Open Meeting Law. At this time, MRAC does not have the capacity to stream our in-person meetings, but members of the public can attend. Individuals who would like to observe a meeting can email info@mrac.org for more information.
Fiscal Year 2026 Meeting Dates
- June 24, 2025
- July 22, 2025
- No meeting held in August
- September 23, 2025
- October 28, 2025
- November 25, 2025
- No meeting held in December
- January 27, 2026
- February 24, 2026
- March 24, 2026
- April 28, 2026
- May 26, 2026
- June 23, 2026
About the Board
Board Responsibilities
The MRAC Board is responsible for setting and overseeing policy as well as the broad direction of the organization. Staff are responsible for taking policy and putting it into action. The board is not involved in program planning or management of day-to-day operations.
It is important for members to share information and insights about arts activities, community needs, and experiences in their county and/or community, while making decisions that consider the impact of the entire seven-county metropolitan region.
MRAC Board members are expected to be advocates of the arts and to understand the importance of the legislative process to MRAC’s funding. This includes maintaining relationships with the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and MN Citizens for the Arts.
MRAC uses a committee system to do more in-depth work outside of the monthly board meetings. Current active committees include the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Policy Committee, and the Nominating and Engagement Committee.
Commitments
The MRAC Board has 10 meetings per fiscal year, which is July 1 through June 30. Prior to each board meeting, members receive materials related to decisions and discussions. This can include financials, staff reports, funding recommendations, or other information. It is the responsibility of the board member to review materials before the meeting. 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.