Studio Channel Islands is dedicated to bringing together artists and community for extraordinary artistic encounters that enrich, educate, and entertain.
Studio Channel Islands (SCIART) includes two art galleries, 40 artists studios, an outdoor exhibition and event space. Our ongoing programs include:
Board of Directors
Don Harper
Chair of the Board of Directors
Board Member since 2018
I’ve always had a passion for the arts of all stripes. As a composer I’ve had the unbelievable good fortune of spending my time among artists, actors, writers and creators. SCIART is a unique assemblage of people whose goal is to connect our community through art, music, poetry, film and educational programs. I’m honored to be able to contribute to this goal through our work at SCIART. The arts are an important part of what connects us humans.
Robin Wallace
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
Board Member since 2023
The more I discover at SCIART, the more I want to be a part of it. The artists, volunteers and staff expand my own beliefs of what I am capable of, which I know is also true for the many students and guests who benefit from our programs. Through music, dance, film, poetry, and the visual arts, we find our commonalities, cultivate innovative thinking, confront difficult issues, and contemplate our future. Having SCIART in our community as a place for all of those art forms and conversations to flourish is an ever evolving gift.
Daniel Bednar
Treasurer
Board Member since 2018
Joining the board of Studio Channel Islands is a profound opportunity to support the role of art in enriching our society through diverse perspectives and cultures. Art’s unique ability to open pathways of understanding and connection is what draws me to SCIART. As a beacon for creativity, SCIART fosters an environment where every expression and innovation can flourish, creating a vibrant community fabric.
Stephenie Benigno
Secretary
Board Member since 2020
I volunteer for and serve on the board of SCIART because I want to bring world class art to our local community and provide professional art opportunities for our kids. I believe in the value and power of art, and I love seeing the diversity and quality of the artwork, the kids’ creativity and expression, and the community’s fun and appreciation of the movies, concerts and exhibitions at SCIART. Volunteering for SCIART is rewarding, fulfilling, and enjoyable, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of SCIART’s mission and vision.
Linda Dullam
Board Member since 2017
I have been deeply involved in SCIART since its inception at CSUCI, and have enjoyed watching it become the center of excellence that it is today. For many people in our community, SCIART provides their first visit to an art gallery, working artist’s studio or live musical performance. SCIART enriches Camarillo and has made it a cultural destination for our entire region.
Helen Dziadulewicz
Board Member since 2019
SCIART is a vibrant arts center that benefits our community in numerous ways. As a dedicated arts education professional, I’m honored to play a role in expanding our reach and services, especially to children in our community.
Irv Hilf
Board Member since 2020
Having grown up in NYC, I was surrounded by art of all kinds, so I was elated to find such a vibrant and dynamic hub of creativity at Studio Channel Islands when I moved to Camarillo. The arts allow us to grow as human beings. It stirs emotion within us, is thought provoking and ultimately brings us closer to one another. It has been an honor to volunteer and support a community of caring, passionate, talented artists and the programs that SCIART brings to our community.
Jennifer Jones
Board Member since 2024
When I attend a SCIART event, I feel energized, inspired, and deeply reconnected to my home town of Camarillo. SCIART exemplifies three of my core values: creativity, collaboration, and community, so serving on the board of this organization feels right and true for my path. As an artist, art educator, and licensed psychotherapist, I’ve experienced the healing and transformative power of creative expression. Therefore, I’m honored to further SCIART’s efforts to thrive as a vibrant hub for creative professionals and their families.
Edan Portaro
Board Member since 2024
I am a passionate advocate for the transformative power of art. Whether it is an expression of cultural tradition, a child’s simple crayon drawing, an exhibit created by an artist with whimsical eye, or images created from a billion-year-old light, art is a visual conversation unique to each piece and viewer. As with any form of communication, a lot of meaning is lost when the users aren’t familiar with the language. At SCIART, I am privileged to help bridge this gap by developing initiatives to educate and engage the public, helping kids and adults discover their own expressive power as creative people and the vast diversity of stories that art can tell.
Georgianna Regnier
Board Member since 2017
Cultivating culture, educating educators, children, and the community about the power, beauty, and joy art brings to those whose lives we touch. These are among the many reasons I wholeheartedly support Studio Channel Islands Art Center.
Rachel Resnik-Miles
Board Member since 2023
Discovering the artist studios in Camarillo was a revelation – I was amazed to find such a thriving and vibrant artist community right here in my own backyard. With a lifelong passion for the arts and a deep personal connection to the artists here at SCIART, I am committed to the goal of making this organization a household name in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and beyond. I truly believe in the power of art to improve mental well-being. Art has the unique ability to foster creativity, connect people, and provide a sense of peace and fulfillment. This is why I am passionate about serving on the board at SCIART and supporting our mission of promoting and preserving the arts in our community.
Michael Rohde
Board Member since 2016
I support SCIART because it has become a premier arts organization over the first twenty-five years, and I wish to see it thrive and grow.
Wendy Spasiano
Board Member since 2024
When I was 19 years old, my interest in art and music led me to one of my very first jobs, at an art gallery in Port Hueneme. Since then, I’ve honed my business skills in real estate, and my fundraising skills through volunteer work. It is a delight to bring my love for art and community organizations full circle by serving on the board of SCIART.
If you would like to…
- Meet other business professionals and community members who share a passion for the arts
- Become part of a county-wide effort to put Ventura County on the map as a haven for creative professionals and their families
- Support and expand cultural enrichment programs by working directly with artists in our community
…we encourage you to consider joining our board!
Board Interest FormStaff
Peter Tyas
Executive Director
With over 25 years of experience managing arts organizations alongside local and national governments, community development, and education specialists, Peter is a strategic thinker and dedicated collaborator who crafts art programs to serve the cultural enrichment needs of families and students as well as academic and creative professionals.
In 2016, Peter moved from the UK to Southern California to begin his work as Executive Director of SCIART. Within this role, he has refocused the organization to fortify its offerings and broaden its reach across California.
Under Peter’s direction, SCIART has developed community engagement programs, arts education programs for K-adults, and built partnerships with agencies and individuals to deliver world class cultural experiences and unique interactions between artists and our communities.
Jamie Dilbeck
Gallery Administrator
Gallery Administrator for Studio Channel Islands since 2018, Jamie is a marketing and web development professional with experience in internet marketing, web design and development strategies. She holds a degree in Art History from the University of California San Diego.
Jamie is responsible for managing the digital content of the organization and its various strands of work, integrating communication channels, and maintaining the social media platforms.
Helen Dziadulewicz
Education Coordinator
Helen has been a professional arts educator for nearly 20 years. She holds a Masters Degree in Education from Nanyang Technical University, Singapore, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages from Coventry University, England. Helen has taught in Krakow, Poland, as well as Singapore, where she held the position of English Department Head before moving to Los Angeles. She has taught art with students from elementary to secondary grades and developed cross curricula programs that place creativity at the heart of learning.
An advocate for the Arts in elementary education, Helen coordinates educational programs with local schools including hosting field trips, bringing professional artists into schools to lead projects, and creating professional development opportunities for teachers.
Sean Colletti
Events Coordinator
Sean Colletti is a poet, producer and educator based in Camarillo. He received his PhD in poetry from the University of Birmingham (UK) and had his first chapbook, Saeculum (2018), published by Bare Fiction. He is a co-founder and the director of the Ventura County Poetry Festival and serves as Events Coordinator for Studio Channel Islands Art Center, where he programs and hosts Poetry in the Gallery.
Previous Board Members 2011-2024
Jeanne Adams
Jeanne Ayers
Kelly Azzarello
Mark Barney
Rich Brimer
David Brown
Peter Cannon
Jerry Clifford
Max Copenhagen
Bob De Yoe
Mary DiCesare
Pat Richards Dodds
David Edsall
Rebecca Elliott
J. Handel Evans
Judy Frazier
Carl Friedlander
Sandy Galin
Susan Gerrard
F. Joseph Halcomb III
Brian P. Hassett
Danette Henthorn
Paige Hibbits
Maggie Kildee
Sean Leonard
Bill Little
Arlene Mead
Patti Morgan
William Paterson
Barbara Pickles
Bob Privitt
Sheila Rakeshaw
Roxie Ray
Joyce Resnik
Bill Robe
Edy Santangelo
Steve Sciallo
Kelly Simon
Margaret Travers
Kathy Waggoner
Barbara Wagner
Richard Wagner
Daggi Wallace
Marion Wood