Ongoing Call for Board Nominations
SK Arts is seeking nominations for our Board of Directors on an ongoing basis. We will keep applications on file to fill openings as they become available.
SK Arts is a Crown Agency that provides grants, programs, and services to individuals and groups whose activities have an impact on the arts in Saskatchewan and ensures that opportunities exist for Saskatchewan residents to experience all art forms.
We are seeking two types of nominees:
- Professional artists or arts professionals who would serve as representatives from the arts community.
- General members, particularly arts supporters and volunteers as well as business professionals, who may have skills beneficial to the board.
Under The Arts Board Act, 1997, four positions on the board are for representatives from the arts community; these are traditionally filled by professional artists and/or arts professionals. Since SK Arts does not always receive much advance notice before the government requires name submissions, it is helpful to have an ongoing, open list of potential nominees to make this process more effective.
SK Arts has no direct control over nominations for general members, but the Minister often asks what particular skills are needed on the board prior to making the appointment, and we may have opportunity to suggest specific people.
Board appointments happen on an irregular basis, so you may not receive an immediate follow-up, though we will send an email acknowledging your nomination. We will also contact everyone annually to confirm that you want to remain on the list and to provide you an opportunity to update your contact information or resumé.
Board members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council for a two-year term. In accordance with The Arts Board Act, 1997, one-third the members of the board shall be appointed from a list of nominees provided by the arts community.
You may nominate yourself or be nominated by others. Short-listed candidates must agree to a criminal record check. Please note that having a criminal record does not necessarily exclude someone from serving on the board. An expression of interest form is below. Please contact us with any questions at (306) 787-4056 (Regina), 800-667-7526 (Toll-Free), or
- Board of Directors Expression of Interest Form - Arts Community Members
- Board of Directors Expression of Interest Form - General Members
- Board of Directors Governance Materials
Please send completed applications to
Board Members
Ian Rea (Chair), Regina
Chartered Professional Accountant and Retired Financial Service Industry Executive
Ian's career spanned 34 years as a finance, management and governance professional serving credit unions, cooperatives and government in Saskatchewan. Current board roles include Board Member, SaskWater, Board Chair, Community Initiatives Fund in Saskatchewan and Public Appointee – Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals Complaints Committee and has served as the Board Chair of both the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan and Canada, Chair of CPA Saskatchewan’s Professional Conduct Committee, Board Chair of CMA Saskatchewan among others. Ian and his spouse have two daughters and two granddaughters.
Michael Afenfia, Saskatoon
Lawyer and Writer
Michael Afenfia is a lawyer and writer with several award-winning published novels. He immigrated to Canada in 2019 and has served on several committees and boards supporting the community, including Word on the Street Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan and the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS). His novel The Mechanics of Yenagoa, published in 2021, is being adapted into a TV series. Leave My Bones in Saskatoon, a novel about the immigration experience, is now a recommended text at the University of Calgary. He also contributes to conversations about race relations and equity and mentors young creatives in Nigeria and Canada.
Derek Davidson, Regina
Lawyer
Derek Davidson is a Crown Prosecutor with the Province of Saskatchewan in Regina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario and his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Manitoba. Derek has been practicing law for seven years and has also been involved with the Mentorship program at Mother Theresa Middle School in Regina. He is a regular patron of the Globe Theatre and the Regina International Fringe Theatre Festival.
Diana Domm Smythe (Vice-Chair), Martensville
Strategy and Customer Experience Leader
Diana Domm Smythe began her career in theatre and arts management and has brought that passion for creativity and innovation to her work in business strategy, marketing, and management. She holds a BFA from the University of British Columbia and an MBA from the University of Saskatchewan. Diana is an advocate for the arts and the impact it makes in our communities.
Carole Epp, Saskatoon
Ceramicist, Curator and Writer
Carole Epp (she/her/they) is a ceramic artist, curator, writer, and community organizer. She holds an MFA from the Australian National University and a BFA from the University of Regina. Epp’s illustrative work, characterized by innocence, nostalgia, and hope themes, tackles complex subjects through everyday objects. Epp edited the blog Musing About Mud for 17 years, co-founded the Canadian ceramics collective Make and Do and co-authored The Encyclopedia of Inspiration: Ceramics. With support from the Canada Council for the Arts, she curated an exhibition for the Ceramics Congress featuring 88 Canadian ceramic artists.
Barbara Meneley, Val Marie
Visual Artist
Barbara Meneley is a prairie-based visual artist whose site-responsive work critically engages with colonial structures and contemporary settler relationships to the site. Her works are shaped through intermedia art – video, cartography, drawing, performance, sculpture, installation, writing and dialogic practice. Barbara also works as a researcher, mentor, and university instructor, teaching art history and studio art, most recently at the University of Regina and First Nations University of Canada.
Judy McCuskee, Regina
Insurance Consultant and Arts Consumer
Judy McCuskee established a consulting firm specializing in risk assessment, management training, and insurance expert work 20 years ago after owning an insurance brokerage for the previous 20 years. Serving on professional regulatory boards such as the Law Society of Saskatchewan and the General Insurance Council allowed Judy to promote the public’s interest for many years. She is equally passionate about the role of the Arts in developing healthy children, improving lives and building communities. She has served the Regina Symphony Orchestra for many years, including as Board Chair and Past Chair from 2018 to 2024.
Darcy Sander, Prince Albert
Retired Educator
Darcy Sander is a retired school principal who has served as Faculty Advisor for several universities subsequent to retirement. He sits on the Prince Albert Board of Police Commissioners and the Board of Directors for the Prince Albert Community Service Centre. Darcy has performed with numerous groups and musicians throughout the years. In 2015, he received the Western Canadian "Principals of Music Award" conferred by the Canadian Coalition for Music Education and in 2017, he received the "Outstanding Administrator Award" conferred by the Saskatchewan Band Association. Darcy has written, directed, and recorded several school musicals and performs in several musical groups including "Mike and Darcy" and "The Goodfellas."
Lyndon Tootoosis, Battleford
Sculptor
Lyndon Tootoosis, of the Battle River Cree tribal group, has been a sculptor for 25 years. As a youth, he was traditionally guided and learned to make ceremonial objects. With permission from his Elders, he shares their stories, legends, and beliefs through sculpture. His artwork is found in collections across Canada, including that of the Saskatchewan Arts Board. Lyndon has worked with the Allen Sapp Gallery and the Living Sky and Chinook School Districts. In 2014, he was on the artistic team for the North American Indigenous Games, where he served as a mentor and ensured that cultural protocols were followed.