Governor Ralph Northam Announces Commission Appointment

August 9, 2018

On behalf of the Commissioners, I am pleased to share with you Governor Northam’s appointment of Janet Starke to serve as Executive Director of the Agency. We are very fortunate to continue to have experienced and enthusiastic leadership to support the work of the Commission and our grantee organizations. We look forward to working with Janet and the Commission staff, as well as each of Virginia's arts organizations dedicated to bringing outstanding arts experiences and educational programs to children and adults across the Commonwealth. –  John V. Raneiro, Chair, Virginia Commission for the Arts
About Janet Starke

Prior to her appointment, Janet served as Executive Director of Richmond Performing Arts Alliance since November 2015, having served as the organization’s Director of Education for six years prior. A native of Chesterfield County, Janet has worked in arts education and performing arts institutions for 22 years, in Richmond, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte and Cincinnati. Janet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts Administration from Shenandoah University, and a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory. She has served as a grants panelist for Virginia Commission for the Arts, Montalvo Teaching Artist Fellowship, The Kennedy Center and US Department of Education. She has presented nationally at conferences and symposia, including those of Arts Education Partnership, Southeast Center for Education and the Arts, Arts Schools Network, U.S. Department of Education, Americans for the Arts, and National Arts Marketing Project.

The Virginia Commission for the Arts is the state agency that supports the arts through funding from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Commission distributes grants to arts and other not-for-profit arts organizations, educational institutions, educators, artists, and local governments. For more information about the Virginia Commission for the Arts, visit www.arts.virginia.gov or call (804) 225-3132.