With the appointment of two new commissioners, the Arizona Commission on the Arts will have a full 15-member board for the first time since 2016 and its richest geographic representation in over a decade.
On Monday, April 8, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona, announced the appointment of Nicole Dahl of Tucson and Simon Tipene Adlam of Mesa to its board of commissioners. Appointed by the Governor of Arizona, arts commissioners serve terms of three years and are chosen for their demonstrated ability, good judgment, and experience in arts-related fields. Commission members attend quarterly board meetings, chair grant review panels, award grants, and formulate policy consistent with the agency’s enabling legislation.
Since 2016, at least one seat on the 15-member board has been vacant. Upon taking office in January 2023, Governor Katie Hobbs made it a priority to fill all vacant seats on the board while also increasing its geographic representation. As of April 2024, the board now includes members from Flagstaff, Tucson, Globe, Camp Verde, and Bisbee.
About the New Commissioners
Nicole Dahl is a writer, creative and advocate for the arts living in Tucson, Arizona. In 2018, Dahl launched Tucson’s first art hotel and developed a commission-free art gallery program that has supported the work of hundreds of local artists. With over 70 murals commissioned and numerous creative projects under her advisory, Dahl has consistently championed art as vital to Arizona’s cultural identity and growth. Presently, she serves as Executive Vice President at the Tucson IDA and Groundswell Capital, Arizona’s inaugural Green Bank, with a focus on community development, affordable housing, pathways to prosperity, and sustainable initiatives.
Simon Tipene Adlam has over 25 years of experience in arts and culture, having worked on major museum projects all over the world, including the State of Qatar, Germany, Cuba, the United Kingdom and here in the United States. As director of the Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZMNH) in Mesa, Simon has worked tirelessly to bring the museum’s extensive collection and scientific contributions to the forefront and support the growth of the arts in underserved communities.
Full biographies for all board members can be found at https://azarts.gov/about-us/who-we-are/commissioners/.
