Who We Are
Staff
Brian Foote (he/him)
Director of Arts & Culture, City of Northampton | Executive Director, Northampton Arts Inc.
With an expansive background spanning retail, sales, education, banking, business development, marketing, fundraising, venue management, and event production, Brian Foote brings versatile leadership and strategic vision to the arts. He earned a B.A. from Bard College, double-majoring in Political Studies and Latin American–Iberian Studies, followed by an M.A. in Political Science (Comparative Politics) from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A dedicated community advocate, Brian is passionate about activating creativity, fostering inclusive collaboration, and driving positive change through public art and cultural initiatives.
—
Steve Sanderson (he/him)
Arts Events Producer
Steve Sanderson is both a seasoned music-maker and experienced cultural programmer. As frontman and founding member of Northampton’s own Drunk Stuntmen and morning radio host at WRSI 93.9 The River, Steve combines creative ambition with community engagement. The son of Harold and Judith Sanderson, he brings authenticity, energy, and purpose to every event he produces.
“Your time is the most precious thing you have, so how you spend your time is the most important decision you can make.”
—
Peter McQuillan (he/him)
Assistant Producer
A fifth-generation Northampton native, Peter McQuillan holds a B.A. in the Arts from Eugene Lang College at The New School. He is a musician, radio producer, DJ, and promoter dedicated to exploring the intersection of arts and ecology. Active in the Western Massachusetts underground DIY music scene, Peter helps create alternative spaces that bring people together for independent art events and foster meaningful community connections.
—
Northampton Arts Council Members
Kaye Carroll, Chair
Garrett Williams, Clerk / Secretary
Alyona Skripka
Ron Smith
Luke Cavagnac
Kelsey Socha-Bishop
Indë Francis
Jen Polins
Kit Pedraza
Emilia Shaw
Glen Fant
—
Northampton Arts Inc. Board
Arts & Management:
George Myers (President) – George W. Myers graduated from UMass Amherst with a degree in History and a minor in African American Studies. He co-owns The Quarters, a vintage arcade, restaurant, and bar in Hadley, MA. He serves as General Manager and Special Event Programmer at Amherst Cinema, a four-screen non-profit arthouse theater. George also spends time DJing and writing for his music blog, which focuses on soul music.
Printmaking & Exhibitions:
Esther White (Vice President) is an artist and arts organizer based in Northampton, MA. Her practice includes printmaking, textile dyeing and needlework, publishing photocopied artists’ books and zines, and organizing community art events and spaces.
Arts & Community:
Kathy Service (Clerk) – A past co-Chair of the Arts Council, Kathy has long been an avid arts supporter and has worked with nearly every arts organization in Northampton. She co-chaired First Night, organizing over 150 volunteers, and retired from the State Department of Mental Retardation, where she involved many clients as actors, volunteers, and audience members in Arts Council programs.
Arts & Curation:
Danielle Amodeo (she/hers) – Founder and Principal of Arts Equity Group, a strategic consultancy based in Northampton, Massachusetts, dedicated to advancing accessibility, power-sharing, and community-centered practice in the arts and culture sector.
She holds a B.A. in European Studies from Amherst College and an M.A. in Art History from Williams College. Danielle has partnered with organizations including the Clark Institute of Art, Creative Time, Dentsu Aegis Network, the Frick Collection, and the New York City Council—using relational organizing and strategic communications to drive institutional and cultural change.
Danielle currently serves on the National Programs Committee for ArtTable, on the Advisory Board of The Color Collaborative, and as a volunteer with Knock for Democracy. She believes that art is for everyone and is deeply committed to fostering equity and representation across cultural institutions.
Treasurer:
Eamonn Edge
Arts Council Meeting Schedule
Arts Council meetings occur on the second Tuesday of each month on Zoom and in the City Hall Hearing Room at 210 Main Street from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Please visit this page for the agenda and minutes. The agenda will contain the Zoom link to the meetings.