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Commissioners
Kansas Arts Commissioners are available to visit and address members of your community about the value of the arts, or to celebrate and honor significant arts events and programs.
If you would like us to speak to members of the public, community leaders or arts supporters in your area, please e-mail the Kansas Arts Commission at
or call 785/296-3335. |
Anita Wolgast, Chair — Topeka
 Anita Wolgast was first appointed chair of the Kansas Arts Commission by Governor Kathleen Sebelius in 2003. As former owner of the Carousel Gift Shop in Topeka, Mrs. Wolgast featured fine and traditional artworks by Kansas artists. Mrs. Wolgast served for 10 years as executive director of Historic Ward-Meade Park, where she promoted Kansas historic tourism and the arts. She serves on the Mid-America Arts Alliance board, the executive committee of the Topeka Symphony League, and Leadership Topeka, and is a Rotary board member at local and district levels. A past president of the American Business Women's Association and former board member of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce and Topeka Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mrs. Wolgast has designed and provided all the ornaments for the Kansas Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., for almost 30 years.
Judy Langley, Vice-Chair — Hutchinson
Judy Langley previously served on the Kansas Arts Commission from 1993 to 1997, acting as secretary-treasurer from 1994 to1995. She has served on many funding advisory panels and on Governor's Arts Awards panels from 1994 to 2000 and in 2004. Mrs. Langley is also on the board of directors of Kansas Citizens for the Arts.
John Divine, Secretary-Treasurer — Salina
John Divine is the owner of The Leadership Firm, a company he formed after spending 25 years with IBM. He has served as a Salina city commissioner and mayor. Mr. Divine is currently a board member of Smokey Hills Public Television, the Greater Salina Community Foundation and the Salina Art Center.
Jennie Becker — Wichita
Jennie Becker is an award-winning artist in ceramics and an experienced arts educator. As a professional artistic consultant, she has advised the designers of street, park, trail and landscape improvements and historic sites. Ms. Becker has also lent her expertise to installation and public art projects. A recipient of a bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramics from the Kansas City Arts Institute and a master of fine arts degree from Wichita State University, Ms. Becker has extensive experience in education as a teacher at the elementary, high school and college levels. She was commissioned to create a world peace sculpture on the Wichita State University campus and murals at two Wichita elementary schools, all of which were completed in 2002. In addition to her work as an artist, Ms. Becker currently serves as the vice-chair of the Wichita Arts Council.
Christine Downey-Schmidt — Inman
Christine Downey-Schmidt retired from the Kansas Senate in 2004 after serving 12 years as a District 31 state senator. Mrs. Downey-Schmidt currently serves as Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents and on the boards of directors for the Dyck Arboretum, the Kansas Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Kansas Leadership Development Commission and the Governor's Book Festival Advisory Council. She was an elementary school teacher for 20 years and taught as an adjunct professor at Bethel College. Mrs. Downey-Schmidt and her husband farm in Northwest Harvey County.
Ann Evans — Lawrence
For almost 30 years, Ann Evans has been a tireless leader and advocate for the arts in Lawrence and across Kansas. She is executive director of the Lawrence Arts Center and has served on the boards of directors of Leadership Lawrence, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence (both as president and board member) and the Association of Community Arts Agencies of Kansas (also as president and board member). Ms. Evans created and led the Lawrence Roundtable for the Arts and Culture, a project which teams more than 30 community arts organizations in implementing celebrated projects such as the Langston Hughes Festival, the Lawrence Indian Art Show and First Friday Gallery Walks.
Lon Frahm — Colby
An avid arts consumer and arts advocate, Lon Frahm has leadership experience working with a variety of different organizations. A graduate of Leadership Kansas and frequent local program chairman, Mr. Frahm also serves on the board of directors for Thomas County Historical Society/Prairie Museum of Art & History, Midwest Energy, the Kansas Water Authority, the Kansas Geologic Survey, and Kansas State University's Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy. In addition, he is a founder and longtime board member of High Plains Public Radio, and a convener for Kansas Dialgoue. A lifetime Colby resident and sixth generation farmer, Mr. Frahm also served in the past on the board of Colby Community College Endowment Association and Colby High School Alumni Association. A member of the Colby Rotary club, he serves on the District 5670 Rotary International Exchange Committee and is a member of Colby Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is an accomplished pianist and tenor soloist. Mr. Frahm holds bachelor's degrees in business and agriculture, and a Masters of Agribusiness degree from K-State.
Grant Glenn — Lawrence
Grant Glenn is a lifetime arts advocate and Kansas native. A partner with the Topeka and Overland Park law firm of Woner, Glenn, Reeder, Girard & iordan, P.A., Mr. Glenn has over 30 years of legal experience. He grew up in Holton and Kansas City; did his undergraduate work at Kansas State University; and, earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas. His mother Dixie Glenn was a member of the University of Kansas Arts Education faculty. He is the author of the Kansas photography book, "Forever KANSAS!" He created and continues to serve as co-chairman of the high school art contest, "Kansas, As Beautiful As You Think" which publishes an annual calendar. He and his wife Donna Reynolds live in Lawrence and each has three adult children.
Novelene Ross — Wichita
Novelene Ross served as chief curator at the Wichita Art Museum from 1990 until her retirement in 2000. She was curator of education for the Wichita Art Museum from 1973 until 1990. In 1991, she received the State of Kansas Governor's Arts Award for outstanding arts educator. She has been a member of the Midwest Art History Society, the Mountain-Plains Museum Association and the Wichita-Area Museum Association. Mrs. Ross has also served on the curatorial committee for the American Association of Museums.
Lemuel Sheppard — Pittsburg
A renowned performer and scholar of American and African-American folk music and blues, Lemuel Sheppard tours nationally and internationally. Mr. Sheppard has presented lectures and performances throughout the country under the auspices of the Kansas Arts Commission, Arts Midwest, Mid-America Arts Alliance UNESCO and the U.S. Embassy. He was recently inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in Oklahoma. Mr. Sheppard composed and performed the soundtrack to the PBS documentary Black,
White & Brown on the 50th anniversary of Brown vs. the Topeka Board of Education, and his CD Urbanfolk was featured on NPR's online contemporary music show Open
Mic. Mr. Sheppard recently completed a tour of his new show I've Seen Rivers, consisting of original music based on the life of York, the slave who traveled with Lewis and Clark
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