Sharlene Cline, President

Sharlene has been passionately a part of the Homer art community for 25 years as a visual artist, teacher, curator, facilitator, and volunteer with almost all local art businesses, organizations and schools including Homer Council on the Arts. She has extensive business experience as the former owner of the Homestead Restaurant. Sharlene joined the board to be a part of the reenergizing of HCOA, its programs and community collaboration.

Sherry Robinson, Vice President

Sherry recently relocated to Homer after visiting for several years. She has done drawing and painting and fiber arts for many years. She has volunteered extensively in promoting the arts and fundraising for her (now grown) children’s schools in Dallas, Texas. She is excited to continue volunteering in these areas through HCOA. Sherry particularly likes being involved in an organization that promotes accessibility and inclusivity in the arts!

Kiki Abrahamson, Secretary

After retiring from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Kiki is crazy busy traveling, working with her horses, and still finding time to work with kids in the schools. Art has always been a wonderful avenue to reach children and teach them self reliance, creativity, and collaboration. A forty year resident of the peninsula, she is committed to nurturing a creative, compassionate community.

Mannfried Funk, Treasurer

Born in San Francisco, Mr. Funk began musical studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music when he was five. Beyond earning his BA, BAed and MA, he pursued studies in Israel. He entered the professional world as the Co-Principal cellist of the Sinfonica National de Colombia in Bogota. In Bogota he also played for commercial recordings and toured europe with the Orquesta Pro Musica de Bogota. Returning to the US, he was hired by the Seattle Symphony, the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. He also was a fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute playing under conductors Leonard Bernstein, Daniel Lewis, Eiji Oue and others. Later Mr. Funk built a 35 student cello studio, was an adjunct teacher at North Seattle Community College, performed chamber music and recorded for the movie industry. His piano trio was engaged by the state department to play for Boris Yeltsin’s visit to Seattle and eventually toured Japan. Later, he was engaged to be on the US tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, Music of the Night. After the tour ended, he was recruited as principal cello and personnel manager for The Federal Way Symphony and later also the Bellevue Symphony. In 2014 he and his wife took a vacation to Homer, Alaska. The B&B where they were staying, now called Juneberry Lodge, was for sale and within two days they decided to buy it and move to Homer. Their B&B is operating successfully since 2015. Meanwhile he maintains his Personnel Manager position and flies to Seattle for performances. In Homer he has worked collaboratively with the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra, the Homer Council on the Arts, the Homer Youth Orchestra and Opus program, and the Pratt Museum. He also performed in a collaborative project with composer Larry Moss, poet Wendy Erd, dancer Mariah Maloney, and violinist Daniel Perry at the Bunnell Street Arts Center.

Diane Borgman

Diane Borgman is a retired teacher and school administrator. She has been involved in arts advocacy for forty years. She has served on the Alaska state council on the arts board, the Alaska arts education board and the Alaska state writing consortium board.

She has also been involved in the development of arts curriculum on the state wide level. She has written and administered grants for arts education, developed teaching materials to support classroom teachers and led training workshops for teachers at all grade levels. Diane has been on the board and involved with the homer council on the arts for decades.

Melanie Dufour

Melanie has lived in Homer since 1993 and has experienced first-hand and so appreciates what the Homer Council on the Arts can do for each of us and our community at large. She sees opportunities for increased partnerships with Homer’s small businesses and non-profit organizations: promoting the value of the arts and membership to both current and potential members and working to increase participation in HCOA activities and support of programs.

Heather Kallevig

Heather Kallevig has lived in Alaska on and off for 15 years in Kenai, Anchorage, Eagle River, and now Homer. She has worked as a teacher and environmental educator and is passionate about nature, conservation, and learning. If you don’t find her on the beach, you’ll probably catch her in the forest. Whether creating her own music and art or enjoying the work of others, she loves the beauty it adds to our world. Being a part of HCOA has been a wonderful opportunity to spread the joy of creativity with others.

Emily Sloth

Emily was born and raised in Alaska, having lived in Homer for 28 years. She has a strong passion for the arts and outdoors. A mother of 3 she keeps busy adventuring all seasons. Emily  and family have benefited from HCOA’s art programs, and community concerts/events over the years. Emily loves raising a family in a town with so many art opportunities for all ages. Her art interests can be found in photography, painting, and writing. She received a BA in communications and mass media as well as her 200 hour RYT (registered yoga teacher) training. Emily joined the board because she believes art unites people, can bring healing, creativity and hope.