August 2025

Dear Emerging Arts Professionals Community,

We are excited to share an important update in leadership for our organization!

After 9 years of dedicated service, our beloved Co-Director, Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen, will be transitioning from their current role and joining our Advisory Board. This planned transition marks a meaningful evolution in our leadership and reflects Rhiannon’s continued commitment to supporting our community of arts administrators and culture bearers.

“I cannot express the amount of gratitude I have for EAP and what an honor it has been to steward the organization these last nine years. The work begun by Adam Fong and Ebony McKinney seventeen years ago has been held and fed by an incredible network of arts & culture workers who embody the generosity and change-making that makes it possible for us to thrive. I have learned so much from this work, and I am excited to transition to a space of mentorship and support as an EAP Advisory Board member and active champion of this abundant network. Healthy, planned, thoughtful transitions like this make way for different perspectives and fresh energy and creativity, and I can’t wait to see what’s generated in the coming years with Reyna and Natalia’s equitable leadership.” 

— Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen

Under Rhiannon’s leadership, EAP has grown and our impact has expanded across the sector. From independently stewarding EAP through funding cuts and the pandemic, to launching groundbreaking initiatives including Artist Adaptability Circles (AAC) and the EAP Award of Recognition, to building strong relationships within our community, Rhannon has guided us with passion, vision, and integrity. While we will miss their day-to-day presence, we are thrilled to retain their wisdom and heart as a member of our Board.

We also warmly welcome Natalia Neira as our new Co-Director. Natalia brings a wealth of experience in arts leadership, cultural equity, community-building and a deep belief in our mission. We are confident that she will lead EAP with strength, compassion, and an unwavering focus on impact.

I’m filled with joy and excitement as I step into the role of Co-Director at Emerging Arts Professionals. I look forward to getting to know all of you—the EAP network, a vibrant community of powerhouses—and to learn from your insights as we work together to advance EAP’s mission of uplifting and resourcing the next generation of arts and culture leaders.

I am profoundly grateful to transitioning Co-Director Rhiannon Evans MacFadyen for their leadership, care and guidance throughout this transition process; and I look forward to continuing to work alongside them as they bring their wisdom to EAP’s Advisory Board.

I’m thrilled to join forces with my Co-Director, Reyna Brown, whose commitment to embodying EAP’s mission and equity framework inspires me. I’m honored to help steward this powerful legacy alongside the EAP team, Advisory Board and this powerful network.

— Natalia Neira

Our new Co-Director duo, Natalia and Reyna, are excited to continue the legacy of Emerging Arts Professionals by responding directly to the needs of our communities through professional development, community building, and innovative programming to meet the challenges presented to us with fierce and unwavering devotion to our field.

Rhiannon’s leadership model and mentorship is something I will remember and admire for years to come. Being able to learn from their devotion to service and soak in their skills has greatly impacted my approach to leadership and my  understanding of how EAP spreads its impact throughout the Bay Area. I am grateful that our relationship is transforming as they step onto our Advisory Board as we will still be able to receive their guidance and support. I am excited to welcome Natalia to our EAP community and discover a new rhythm as we blend our leadership styles together in our Co-Directorship! Please stay connected with us as we continue finding creative ways to serve our network of arts and culture workers.

— Reyna Brown

This transition is a testament to the thoughtful planning and strong foundation that our community has helped build. Together, we step into this next chapter with gratitude, optimism, and a shared commitment to the work ahead.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support!

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For more about EAP’s programs and history, visit emergingsf.org 

To keep up with Rhiannon’s work in the art field, visit linktr.ee/pushingart 

For more about Natalia’s history, visit here