Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP) has announced that Jayson Smart will join the organization in early April 2018 as Program Director, Arts & Cultures. In this position, Jayson will oversee the organization’s Arts & Cultures team, which includes grantmaking in Native Arts & Cultures, Folk Arts & Cultures, and Music Education.
Jayson spent the past eight years at Rasmuson Foundation, a private family foundation based in Anchorage, Alaska. During his tenure, he served in various roles, including Program Officer, Acting Vice President, and Senior Program Officer. At Rasmuson, Jayson provided oversight of several programs in the arts including artist residencies, arts in education, cultural heritage grants, museums’ collections, performing arts touring, and direct support of artists. As Acting Vice President, Jayson also oversaw all administrative aspects of Foundation operations.
Prior to Rasmuson Foundation, Jayson worked at the Municipality of Anchorage, Department of Health and Human Services. As Deputy Director, he oversaw all administrative aspects of the department including emergency preparedness and animal care and control. Jayson also served in various roles with the state arts council, a concert association, and the University of Alaska Anchorage, all with a focus on presenting and touring in support of music and other performing arts.
“Jayson’s background in the arts, administrative experience with large-scale programs, work across various sectors, and knowledge of Alaska will bring valuable skills to our Arts & Cultures team,” said Robyn Hollingshead, Managing Program Director at MACP. “His values align with our organization, and he will be a respected addition to our program leadership team.” In addition to the Arts & Cultures role, Jayson will provide interim support for work in MACP’s Teachers domain.
Jayson holds two degrees from the University of Alaska Anchorage, including a master’s of public administration with an emphasis on public management and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. He is currently a board member of the Anchorage Concert Association.
