A force behind Minnesota's Legacy Fund, arts advocate Sheila Smith retires after a quarter-century
Sheila Smith championed state funding for cultural programs.
December 29, 2020 — 2:47pm
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Sheila Smith has spent 25 years in small towns and at the State Capitol, transforming how Minnesota funds the arts.
A force behind the Legacy Amendment, Smith announced Tuesday that she'll retire at the end of February as executive director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA), a post she has held since 1996.
"I really, really love the arts," Smith said by phone. "And I really love arts people. Working with them has always been a joy." But she's ready to step aside for new leadership. "It was a tough decision, but I think it's time."