About Us
OUR MISSION
Putting Alaskan creativity to work.
OUR HISTORY
Northern Culture Exchange (NCE) was incorporated as a 501c3 in 2012 to work as an umbrella organization for a number of like minded Alaskan and circumpolar creative art and education programs. Through pooling programming and management resources, NCE programs keep costs low and the fun factor high, furthering communication between us, ensuring sustainability and accelerating the growth and impact of each participant program.
OUR BOARD
Anne Thomas Beesley - Chair
Anne has a broad range of experience working for diverse organizations, and is an effective problem solver. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology from Humboldt State University and has worked as a biologist, researcher, and consultant for Educational Institutions, Government Agencies, and Environmental non-profits. Anne attended Alaska Pacific University and Harvard Extension School completing coursework in Strategic Leadership, Organizational Development, and Sustainability with an emphasis on business and organizational metrics. She works as an Environmental Coordinator for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, and has over ten years of experience working alongside the NCE team .Anne is inspired daily by the organization’s work, and its commitment to community, music, and support of Alaskan artists. In her free time, Anne likes to hike, fish, collect berries and wild plants, garden, watch sci-fi movies, and enjoy Alaskan seafood.
Marieke Heatwole - Treasurer, Vice Chair
Marieke is a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She has been an advocate of mental health her entire adult life and served on the Alaska Mental Health Board. Marieke is also a metal sculptor, bike enthusiast and mother of two. She is passionate about helping people find their own path to well-being. Marieke is a founding board member of Northern Culture Exchange.
Yngvil Vatn Guttu - Ex-Officio Board Director (Executive Director)
Yngvil has been living in Alaska since 2002, producing theatre and music events and building community
and networks on the arts scene. She has a Masters Degree in music from New York University and Bachelor Degrees in Theatre (Bruford College, London UK) and Language Teaching ( University in Bergen, Norway). Yngvil has toured extensively to major venues in Europe and North America, with award winning productions. She is a two-times recipient of the Rasmuson Individual Artist Award in 2005 and 2014. She co-founded NCE in 2012 to organize, coordinate and fund likeminded Alaskan creative initiatives. Yngvil teaches how to honor our creative nature in all aspects of our lives.
Yngvil is a popular teacher, coach and keynote speaker. In Alaska her work with exceptional ability learners of all ages has earned her recognition and affection, as has her ongoing mentorship of students and colleagues. Yngvil has been a part of the online learning movement since the beginning. She creates media and educational content through her companies Khione Media and iNorsk, and collaborates with some of the leading global innovators in online learning and music ecology development.
Michael Dickerson - Director
Michael Dickerson is an Alaskan composer, educator, and writer with an interest in the relationships between people and place. Michael co-founded an interdisciplinary arts education program called The Northern Pen, composed a number of new works for soloists in North and South America, and collaborated across disciplines in a handful of multimedia projects in Alaska.
Michael holds a B.A., magna cum laude graduating honors in Music and Philosophy from Middlebury College, VT; an M.M. in Music Composition from University of Northern Iowa; and is currently pursuing an M.A.T. in Elementary Education at University of Alaska Southeast.
Michael's most recent creative projects include a novel, presented at the UAS Power and Privilege Symposium, and a series of compositions for abandoned military structures in rural Alaska, supported by a Rasmuson Individual Artist Award.
OUR STAFF
Yngvil Vatn Guttu - Executive Director
yngvil@northerncultureexchange.org
Cameron Cartland - Administrator- SJF Director
info@northerncultureexchange.org
Lisa Hawkins - Executive Assistant - Social Media
Lauren Peterson - Systems and Office Manager
PROGRAM STAFF
SPENARD JAZZ FEST
Cameron Cartland - Associate Festival Director, Bookings
John S Christensen - Webmaster
Michael Dickerson - Associate Festival Director, Programming, Hospitality
Yngvil Vatn Guttu - Festival Director
Lisa Hawkins - Social Media, Graphic Design
Scott Jensen - Videographer, Live streaming
Lucy Peckham - Audio Support
Lauren Petersen - Logistics, Administrator
Michael Powell - Health and Safety, Volunteer Coordinator
Jill Reese - Hospitality
Emily Tallman/Poetica - Communications, Graphic design
Karl Wilhelmi - Bookkeeping, Membership, Merchandise
ALL AGES OPEN MIC
Lauren Petersen - Program Coordinator
Abi Sparkman, Deven Lind, Philip Giannulis
Advisory Board- Yngvil Vatn Guttu, Lisa Hawkins, Cameron Cartland
PARLOR IN THE ROUND
Kevin James Worrell - Host, Producer
Jamie Whiteman - Front of House Producer
Charles Earnshaw- Photography
Loren Dixon - Media Producer
Bennett Hilsgen - Recording Engineer
ALASKA INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS INITIATIVE
Michael Howard - Program Director
Yngvil Vatn Guttu - Associate Program Director
Marian Call - Communications Manager
John Christensen - Webmaster
NCE PARTNERS
EVENT AUDIO
Both Ears Audio
EVENT VIDEO
Jensen Hall
PRODUCTION
Anchorage International Film Festival
Frostline Studios
Surreal Studios
Visit Anchorage
VENUES
49th State Brewing Co
Anchorage Museum
Bunnell Street Art Center
The Nave
Spenard Farmers' Market
Spenard Roadhouse
The Writers Block Café
COMMUNICATIONS & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Emily Tallman, Poetica
MEDIA PARTNERS
Alaska Public Media-KSKA
KBBI - Homer Public Radio
KNBA - Koanic Broadcast Corp.
KONR - Anchorage
Wick Communications - Anchorage PRESS