Shaun Dingwerth, Executive Director

Shaun Thomas Dingwerth is currently the Executive Director of the Richmond Art Museum (RAM), where he has been since 1998. He has organized and curated numerous art exhibitions, including several historic Indiana artists. Most recently he curated the exhibition, Impressions of Love: J. Ottis and Winifred Brady Adams and provided an essay for the corresponding exhibit catalog for the David Owsley Museum of Art’s 100th Anniversary located on the campus of Ball State University.

Dingwerth is considered an authority about the Richmond Group artists. He wrote, The Richmond Art Group Artists, published by Indiana University Press, selling out of the first printing. He has also written articles in both the Plein Air Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur over the years. Dingwerth has also given numerous lectures throughout the state about the development of the Art Association of Richmond and the Richmond Group.

Lance Crow, George F. & Peggy Rapp Education Director in Honor of Shaun Dingwerth

Lance Crow enjoys serving as the Education Director of the Richmond Art Museum. Crow graduated from St. Joseph’s College with a B.A. in English specializing in creative writing. An appreciator of art since a young age, he has participated as a juror for the Dayton Society of Painters and Sculptors, the Boys and Girls Club of America, the 45th Student Art Exhibit at the Sheldon Swope Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana, the Annual Exhibit of the Midwest Museum of Art in Elkhart, Indiana, and the Annual Juried Art Show at Minnetrista Cultural Center, Muncie, IN.

Since 2008, Crow has overseen all educational programming at RAM including Art Is… a hands on, multicultural exhibit for grades K – 3, the annual All Wayne County High School Art Exhibition, and the Phantoscope High School Film Festival. He created and initiated the popular ceramics-only art fair, Potterypalooza, on the grounds of RAM. Crow implemented RAM’s first summer camp, now one of RAM’s most popular programs.

Lance is an active poet and enjoys dabbling in the visual arts with clay. He lives in Richmond, with his wife Jaimie, and two children, Conner and Boston.

Stephanie Strait, Special Project Coordinator

Stephanie Strait served as RAM’s first Education Director from 2005 – 2008, and is thrilled to be back at RAM after an absence of nine years. She runs the Phantoscope High School Film Festival and assists with RAM’s educational programming, social media, and whatever else is needed. Stephanie earned her MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and worked in arts education for most of her career at institutions such as the Chicago Academy for the Arts and Columbia College Chicago. Stephanie moved back to Richmond in 2017 and lives on the West Side with her husband, Brian, her dog, Moochie, and her cat, Alejandro.

Joseph T. Swanson, Assistant Curator

Joe earned an MFA in Visual Art with a concentration in Painting & Drawing from the Herron School of Art & Design, IU Indianapolis, where he has served as Associate Faculty, teaching courses in drawing, foundations, and painting. He is an award-winning artist known for his mixed media paintings and aerosol murals. Recently he has exhibited his work in solo shows at Indiana University East, and Arts Place in Portland, IN, and Illinois Central. Joe has been involved with RAM for over 10 years in various roles as a member, artist, volunteer, co-curator, and art instructor. He previously worked for RAM in 2015 as Creative Assistant/Staff Artist. Recently he served on the Board of Trustees and is glad to continue his service now as Assistant Curator. Joe, an RHS alum, is excited to be at RAM, which is housed in the same high school where his art teachers encouraged his creativity, and overlooks the Whitewater Valley Gorge, a location that has been an inspiration for his artwork for many years. He is a lifelong skateboarder and lives in Richmond with his wife, Celeste, and their cat, Jane.

 Alison Finley, Visitor Services Associate

 Louise Ronald, Visitor Services Associate