LEADERSHIP
Meet the Board
Petersburg Area Art League
Petersburg Area Art League is guided by a dedicated team of artists, educators, and community leaders who help shape our mission of accessible, community-centered arts programming.
Jenifer Lowery
Board President / Director of Educational Programming
Artist and educator leading PAAL’s programming, education initiatives, and event planning. With 30 years of experience, she brings extensive curriculum development, festival production, and arts education leadership.
Laura Chalfant
Vice President
Artist and educator with nearly 30 years of teaching experience in arts education and creative programming, supporting PAAL’s mission through exhibitions and arts advocacy.
Jackie White
Board Secretary
Designer and educator with a background in advertising and nonprofit marketing, Jackie supports PAAL through organizational coordination and creative leadership.
David Bartlett
Exhibition Committee Chair
Leads exhibition planning and curation, supporting rotating gallery programming and artist coordination.
Catherine Venable
Volunteer Committee Chair
Coordinates volunteer engagement, scheduling, and event support across PAAL programming and exhibitions.
Jeffrey Blaha
Board Advisor / Exhibition Support
Community advocate and longtime volunteer supporting exhibitions, events, and advisory work, including curating RECARAR in 2025.
Ciyani “CC” Smith
Gallery Development Manager
Ciyani Smith serves as the Gallery & Development Manager for the Petersburg Area Art League. She oversees exhibitions, artist relations, gallery operations, and community programming. Her work spans curatorial planning, exhibition installation, outreach, and organizational development. She is committed to expanding access to the arts and strengthening connections throughout Petersburg. Through her role, she supports artists while helping shape a vibrant and welcoming creative community.
Leadership at PAAL
Our board and leadership team work collaboratively across education, exhibitions, volunteer coordination, and community engagement to ensure PAAL remains an accessible and vibrant arts space for the region.