| dan butner | executive director

After years of working in the for-profit arts industry, Dan moved to Elkin in the spring of 2014. Once settled, he leased a small studio space on Court Street and quickly became involved with the Foothills Arts Council by first joining the Board of Directors, then becoming exhibitions manager and board Vice President.

In the fall of 2016, Dan became the FAC's Executive Director, succeeding Leighanne Wright. Since becoming Director, Dan has worked diligently to spearhead program and facility development, leading the Foothills Arts Council to purchase the historic Gilvin Roth YMCA building, a community landmark that now serves as home to the new Foothills Arts Center.

I've found that if you keep moving forward and remain flexible, things seem to work out. I'd have never dreamed that my path would lead me here, but I'm beyond grateful to have landed in a space that facilitates creative practice and exploration for others and myself.

— Dan Butner

| sydney sieviec | assistant director

Sydney was born in Southwest Virginia and spent much of her childhood experiencing art, culture, and history while traveling along the East Coast. She graduated summa cum laude from Radford University in 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Art, and was honored as the outstanding graduate from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Her involvement in the Foothills Arts Council began shortly after moving to Elkin, when she became a member of the Board of Directors. She proceeded to serve as Vice President and then as President.

Prior to becoming the Assistant Director of the Foothills Arts Center in the fall of 2021, Sydney taught visual arts education in Virginia and North Carolina schools for eight years, and was named the Teacher of the Year in 2020. Sydney believes in a holistic approach to art education and is eager to assist in advancing youth and adult art programming at the center over the course of her career. “The center represents an opportunity to simultaneously preserve the local history and cultivate a regional arts destination, and the atmosphere on campus is one of innovation, creativity, and optimism,” says Sydney. “I am proud to be a part of this organization.”

Sydney’s own artistic pursuits include drawing, painting, and mixed media collage, and her focus is always portraiture. After she and her husband welcomed a daughter in the summer of 2021, Sydney has become increasingly interested in children’s literature, the role of imaginative play in the development of creativity and personality, and the importance of time spent in nature throughout each season. She documents her experiences through photography.