Board of Directors

CONNECT . SHOWCASE . PROMOTE

Meet the Board of Directors

The Manitoba Arts Network operates under the auspices of a Board of Directors, which consists of a four-member executive and eight regional representatives from different areas of the province.

Katharine Kingdon

Chair
Westman Regional Rep,
Minnedosa Performing Arts Committee

Katharine has sat on the MAN board since 2017, working as a rep for the Westman region and now as Board chair. Retiring from a career as a band teacher, she now farms full-time with her husband south of Minnedosa. In her “past” life Katharine sat on the Heritage Coop Board (lead 4-H), and was a founding member of the Minnedosa Performing Arts Committee in 1991 and is still active with this group. Family, quilting, gardening, and supporting live music are her passions.

Rrain Prior

Vice-Chair
Artist, News and Events NACTV

A lifelong participant in the arts, Rrain Prior has been the Director of Programming at ArtsForward, organizing classes, performances, exhibitions and other programs as well as summer camps, festivals, and other arts and cultural experiences. She also serves on the local boards of the Margaret Laurence Home, a Level II museum in Margaret Laurence’s childhood home; NACTV, Neepawa’s local cable access television station; and the Neepawa Public Library advisory committee. She was production editor of the journal Transformative Works and Cultures from 2011 to 2020 and formerly served on the board of the Association of Community Theatres of Manitoba.

Rrain is an avid choral singer with the local community choir as well as Rainbow Harmony Project, and an active participant in the Neepawa visual arts and theatre communities.

Josh Marantz

Treasurer
Interlake Rep,
Arts Management

Has writen and performed in over 40 CBC radio and television presentations, numerous stage productions, and owning and operating Yuk Yuk’s (Winnipeg) and the Ironwood Stage and Grill (Calgary).

With over 40 years in Art management experience, Josh spent 6 years as Director of programming and communications at the Calgary Centre for Performing Arts. He was President of the Calgary International Film Festival, leading the organization from inception through the successful conclusion of its first year. Marantz Productions established in 1997 involved artist management, concert, CD, video, film and event production, graphic arts and performing arts consulting. Josh also owns Tunzen Music, a publishing company with the copyright to over 50 recorded songs. He has served on the boards of numerous festivals and arts service organizations, conducted workshops and strategic planning, was a two-time JUNO judge, and was twice Executive Director of the Manitoba Arts Network covering Rose-Anne Harder’s maternity leave.

Judith Dandridge

Secretary
Parkland Regional Rep,
Wasagaming Community Arts

Nina has sat on the Manitoba Arts Network board for many years starting in the late 1990s. She first sat on the board while she was employed as administrator of the Dauphin and District Allied Arts Center and after a break she returned as a member of their board. She has been involved in the Arts for many years and has proven her worth as a steadfast supporter of arts in rural Manitoba and especially the Manitoba Arts Network.

She is an artist in her own right participating in activities like quilting, other fibre arts, stained glass, and choral singing. She enjoys creating, taking part in and being part of the arts community in Manitoba.

Anthony Kost

Eastman Regional Rep,
Fire and Water Music Festival

Anthony grew up in Lac du Bonnet, and moved back to Lac du Bonnet from Winnipeg three years ago. He works as a Business Analyst for a Winnipeg based consulting company. Previous to that he was with CanWest/Postmedia for 15 years where he worked as a business analyst specifically in newsroom and publishing systems.

He has been the Artistic Director of the Fire and Water Music Festival since 2020, and has been involved in bands and the live music scene in Manitoba his whole life. In his current role with Fire and Water, Anthony books all artists, negotiates contracts, creates the schedules and also helps with some marketing. Fire and Water takes place in Lac du Bonnet on the August Long weekend and attracts locals and cottagers. The organization also hosts other concerts as well as open mic nights through out the fall and winter as well.

Janet Head

Member at Large
Opaskwayak Cree Nation
Health Support Worker

Throughout her career, Janet has specialized in using arts for trauma-informed care, providing support to families in Manitoba First Nation Communities, particularly those affected by grief and loss. She has facilitated sharing circles, offered trauma counseling, and conducted presentations on intergenerational residential school impacts, lateral kindness, and grief.

Her employment history includes roles at Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, Inc., Cree Nation Tribal Health, and Eyaakeen Healing Centre, where she provided emotional support, facilitated workshops, and managed community development activities. Currently residing Opaskwayak Cree Nation (north of 53rd parallel), Manitoba she has also worked for the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and Indian Council of First Nations of Manitoba.

Andria Stephens

NorMan Regional Rep,
Mall of the Arts, Thompson

I was born and raised in Calgary Alberta and a professional singer and performer before I moved to Thompson, MB in 2014. I performed all over Alberta and Saskatchewan, having toured with groups like Toshi Jackson and the Silhouettes, Gary Martin and the Heavenly Blues Brothers and Donald Ray Johnson and the Raylettees. I have many years of experience writing songs and working with Digital Audio Workstations and have recorded music with other producers in different parts of the world since the late 90’s. I graduated from Mount Royal University in 2003 with a diploma in Business Administration and a Computer Science certificate.

I am the Co-Founder of the new Arts Organization in Thompson called Mall of The Arts (MOTA). MOTA exists to “Create a warm space for Northern community members and tourists to enjoy participating in artistic and cultural events together, uplifting social well being through the love and appreciation of the arts”. Having written several business plans in the past, I worked with the Women’s Enterprise Center of Manitoba to pen a business plan for MOTA which has acted as guide as I continue to work on building our board of directors, artist repertoire and acquiring a physical space for the organization. The more I engage in the community the more I see our workshop audience grow, develop new partnerships, and meet more artists in the community. Our recent documentary release “We are the artists of the north” Can be found on YouTube.

Opeyemi Matthew Olukotun

I am Opeyemi Olukotun, born in Ipetu Ijesha, Osun State, Nigeria in 1989. I graduated from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria with a Bachelor of Technology degree in Fine and Applied Arts in 2012. After graduation, I took up employment as a Creative Art teacher in a senior secondary school. In 2016, after spending two years as a teacher, I resigned my appointment to pursue a full-time career in the visual arts. I am fascinated by the human anatomy and passionate about drawing different aspects of it – movements, facial expressions, proportions… I explore the use of harmonious colours and expressionistic techniques to portray the human form. I also enjoy using visible sketchy lines on my subjects to create a steady flow and connectivity around them. I am constantly improving my drawing and painting skills. My body of works over the years have evolved around “Okada ” series (commercial bikers); “Night” series; “Market” series and faces. I have participated in several group exhibitions and competitions in Nigeria, Canada and Abroad.