The Seattle Arts Commission supports the City by advocating for arts policy, creating access for equitable participation in the arts, and fostering enriching arts engagement for all residents.
Commission members include artists, arts professionals, and other citizens with diverse backgrounds and strong links to Seattle’s arts community. The mayor appoints seven of the commissioners; the City Council appoints seven, and a 15th member is selected by those 14. An additional commissioner is selected through the YMCA’s “Get Engaged” program.
Learn more about the newest Commission members below!
Ed King
Council-Appointed
Ed King, new to Seattle, is thrilled to be the Executive Director of Pottery Northwest. As a former award-winning visual artist, art director, marketing manager, and arts administrator from Miami, Florida, he began his career in ad agencies honing his skills as a designer and art director of various campaigns focused on political, corporate, and healthcare communication. He later worked as an arts administrator for ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale and as the Chief Operating Officer of Creative Pinellas in St. Petersburg. Ed is passionate about non-profit arts leadership and fiercely advocates for the financial vitality of working and teaching artists, which he considers the foundation of a healthy creative economy. His work is focused on creating opportunities for inclusivity and diversity. Ed is energetic about leveraging the immense power of the arts as a catalyst for transformative personal growth, community building, and social change.
Jo Mikesell
Mayor-Appointed
A compassionate and creative leader with over 20 years of experience in the arts and culture field, Jo Mikesell is the Program Director for Arts Business Services at Shunpike Arts Collective. Her expertise includes arts programming and exhibition management, arts funding, and digital humanities. Jo is dedicated to nurturing social equity by facilitating meaningful and transformative arts experiences for diverse audiences. Jo earned an M.A. in Visual Arts Administration from Columbia University in New York and a B.A. in Art History from the University of Washington. Her diverse professional background includes roles at organizations such as ACA Galleries, Creative Time, Baryshnikov Arts Center, The Northwest School, and Amazon.com. In addition to her professional endeavors, Jo serves on the board of Pratt Fine Art Center as co-vice president, is an independent curator, and a member of the Council of Readers for the College Art Association.
Kate Nagle-Caraluzzo
Council-appointed
Kate Nagle-Caraluzzo is the Executive Director of Town Hall Seattle, where she leads strategic initiatives to expand access to arts and culture across the city. With over seven years at Town Hall Seattle, including six as Director of Development, Kate has been instrumental in fundraising, strategic planning, and community partnerships. A Seattle resident for over ten years, she is a Leadership Tomorrow graduate, holds a Nonprofit Management Certificate from UW, and was recognized as a Puget Sound Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree in 2025 for her impact in the nonprofit sector. Kate also serves on the
Rainier Valley Food Bank Capital Campaign Steering Committee, and is a founding member of the Seattle Chapter of the Chamber of Connection, which focuses on supporting individuals experiencing loneliness.
Jack Nash
YMCA Get Engaged Member
Jack Nash is a software engineer living in Ravenna. While studying computer science at Cornell University, he performed in and led an improv comedy troupe. He loves the shared experience of theater and the joint creation of improv. In addition to the performing arts, he is passionate about public art which he sees as essential to creating a vibrant city that reflects its residents. He looks forward to applying his analytical skills to solve the unique challenges Seattle faces in relation to World Cup 2026 – a great opportunity to activate our city and showcase our creativity. His goal on the commission is to advance community-driven artwork throughout Seattle that make city living richer and more inspiring.
