Bringing people together through the arts is Katie’s passion, and that is just what she tries to do as the Executive Director of the Asheville Area Arts Council. Along with AAAC’s dedicated staff and board, she works to amplify what is happening in Buncombe County’s vibrant arts communities, as well as to ensure the continued sustainability and growth of the areas richly diverse cultural sector. Katie has more than 18 years of experience working in the Asheville arts sector and holds a Master’s degree in Arts Leadership & Cultural Management from Colorado State University and a BA in Drama from UNC Asheville. She also currently serves as the Chair of the City of Asheville’s Public Art & Cultural Commission, on the board of ArtSpace Charter School, and on the Buncombe County School Arts Advisory Council. .

Mamie has had a spirited appreciation for the arts since childhood. Always surrounded by creative educators and art enthusiasts, it was only a matter of time before joining the field herself. She is a graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina and holds a BA in art history with a minor in studio. Before joining the AAAC, she worked as a corporate retail manager specializing in women’s fashion. Mamie joined the team as an eager intern excited to get involved in the community and is now ready to embark on a new adventure as programs manager. She is passionate about serving the council and encouraging a sustainable future for the arts community of Asheville.

Edie Weichert grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and after many years away she’s returned to Asheville. She currently holds a Master’s degree in arts administration from Winthrop University, and is working on a Doctoral degree from the University of Alabama. Prior to that, she has worked at various theatres on the east coast and overseas as a Managing Director, Company/Production Manager, Costumer, and Props Mistress. In her spare time she enjoys a good rosé in the summer and a dry red in the winter as well as some hiking and solid trivia team competition.

Anna enjoys giving money away to strangers who are working to keep our culture creative and curious. As a grants administrator, she has ensured that hundreds of artists and scholars have the resources they need to complete their work. As an artist, curator and educator Anna is interested in the invention of craft, the history of othering, and queerness. She received a BA from Ripon College, as well as an MA and MFA from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She also enjoys watching birds gather in trees, watching her cats watch birds gather in trees, and practicing yoga.

Sara was excited to begin serving as Full-Charge Bookkeeper for Asheville Area Arts Council in 2011. She majored in Accounting at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and has worked with several local organizations as an independent Bookkeeper since 2006. She enjoys not only the nuts and bolts aspects of accounting that some may find boring (and possibly nerdy), but also the ability to make a meaningful contribution to organizations she works with, allowing them to focus on the important work that is their mission. She particularly enjoys the challenge, and reward, of assisting Non-Profit organizations. When she isn’t focusing on the world of finances, Sara enjoys keeping busy with her husband and their three children. She also likes to cook, coupon and bargain hunt, and work on DIY or craft projects.