Staff

Xavier Blake has spent more than 20 years championing arts, culture, and public media through his work with South Carolina ETV, the Nickelodeon Theater, and WMHT in New York, collaborating with artists to amplify diverse voices and support emerging talent. A native of Bamberg, South Carolina, he is a frequent INPUT Conference participant and holds a B.A. in Communication from Newberry College, a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from the University of South Florida, and fellowships from the BIPOC Leadership Program and WESTAF Leaders of Color.

Pamela Zeljak is an arts leader who has served the public and private sectors for more that 16 years. She has used her knowledge of arts management, strategic planning, project management, and building relationships with artists to carry out over 20 public art projects. Her projects can be found in Oklahoma City and the Florida cities of Ocala, Inverness, and Lauderhill. Her expertise in public art has led to partnerships with CPH Engineering, Edward Jones, Colen Built Development, and the Culture Curators. Pamela’s main focus in her public art practice is representation and accessibility for all.

Valerie Barrineau is a passionate advocate for Columbia’s arts community, empowering artists and businesses through her work as Owner of The Social Company, Marketing Manager at One Columbia for Arts & Culture, and Director of Columbia Open Studios at 701 CCA. She also serves on The Mill District Alliance board and uses her expertise in grant writing to support cultural initiatives, reflecting her deep commitment to creativity, community, and collaboration.