Celtic Junction Arts Center is a Twin Cities-based arts and cultural center formed and organized to provide a central gathering place to educate its audiences about Celtic cultural legacy for the benefit of all ages and for future generations, and to engage in any lawful activity that celebrates, supports, promotes and/or preserves cultural arts and community.
Celtic Junction Arts Center (CJAC) Board of Directors
Cormac is a Dublin native with a 50 year legacy behind him in Irish dance, music and language. An original cast member of Riverdance, The Show, he is the founder of both the Celtic Junction (2009) and O’Shea Irish Dance (2005) and performs around the world on accordion for major Irish Dance championships. He has been the Celtic Junction venue’s concerts and booking manager for ten years, bringing master artists and world-class touring bands to St. Paul. Cormac has twenty years of touring production experience and a decade of managing commercial construction projects. Cormac brings all of his experience to bear when he and his wife purchased and remodeled the building known as The Celtic Junction and continues to do so as CJAC’s Building management and operations. Cormac is also a member of Dublin’s An Coimisiún, serving as the representative to the MidAmerica region.
Jo Ann Vano is a media consultant committed to supporting community organizations. She previously served as president of the board at KFAI radio and is a founding board member and president of the board of the African Development Center of Minnesota. She also serves on the board of the Center for Irish Music and is chair of CIM’s Harvest Home and Minnesota Irish Music Weekend. Jo Ann serves on the Celtic Junction Arts Center Board of Directors as its Vice-President and also provides additional assistance with marketing and print media. Jo Ann is a dedicated student of the Irish button accordion and plays regularly in sessions around the Twin Cities.
Nathan recently joined the Celtic Junction Arts Center Board of Directors as Treasurer. Nathan is currently working as the church administrator for the University Lutheran Church of Hope near the University of Minnesota campus. Nathan previously spent the last 30 years managing stores in the college bookstore industry in the Twin Cities. He has helped transition physical store locations and train management teams in over a dozen locations during his career. He is a guitar enthusiast and has always loved Irish music and culture. He is currently volunteering as a photographer for Irondale Bands and Irondale Nordic Ski Team. He also volunteers as a swim team coach for a local school. Nathan is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys teaching canoeing, kayaking and outdoor/environmental wilderness skills with his family and friends.
Jim brings years of interaction with the Minnesota Irish community. An award-winning journalist, he worked for nearly 30 years at the St. Paul Pioneer Press as both an editor and reporter, among which duties he was an entertainment reporter covering pop, rock and country music, which lead to an appreciation for traditional ethnic music of all types, including Celtic music. He holds both Bachelor and Master of Science Journalism degrees (with an emphasis in popular-arts criticism) from Iowa State University. As a freelancer, he also edited and wrote music and record reviews for the St. Paul-based Irish Gazette newspaper. His other journalistic experience includes being editor of The History Channel Magazine (a licensed publication produced in the Twin Cities area with and for A&E Television; was also executive director of The History Channel Club), and editing a B2B magazine for the Industrial Fabrics Association International. His other volunteer work includes reading for clients of the Minnesota State Services for the Blind. Tarbox also announces shows for various local and regional “pageantry arts” competitions, including the annual Youth in Music marching-band competition, which includes the Minnesota state high-school championships. He also serves as drum major for St. Paul’s Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band, with which he has performed since 1975. His past board experience includes serving with the Minnesota Media and Publishing Association and Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mary McCormick spent her career in international business law. She began with the law firm of Baker & McKenzie. For seventeen years, she was in-house counsel, first as Asia Pacific Group Counsel for Honeywell, Inc. (computer and controls divisions), and eight years later, International Counsel for Cray Research, Inc. (supercomputer manufacturer). Thereafter, she had a private solo practice and served as an international arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. She taught International Contracts for five years at the University of Minnesota Law School, and Legal Aspects of International Business for three years at Metropolitan State University. She has lived in England and toured Ireland three times. She has been taking writing classes for the past ten years.Staff
Natalie is co-owner and founder of The Celtic Junction, a cultural center for traditional arts in 
Brian has been active in the Irish music world for over 20 years and he continues to perform with the Lost Forty, Two Tap Trio and the acclaimed Chicago-based band Bua. He is an authority on the history of Irish music in the Upper Midwest—work that has earned him the Parsons Fund Award from the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and five grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board. He received his Masters of Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Patrick is an Irish-born educator, literary historian, writer, editor, theatre director, and Arts Week producer dedicated to fostering Irish cultural heritage in Minnesota. For twenty years he has been an English faculty member at Normandale Community College. He earned his Ph.D. from University College Dublin in 2010 on “The Irish Roots of the Guthrie Theater,” and subsequently co-edited the eighteen-author anthology 
Carillon is an arts administrator with a variety of web platform and CMS proficiencies which she has used to support local arts nonprofits and their diverse patrons since 2008. She manages the Celtic Junction website and all associated assets since its inception, and also holds primary responsibility for event promotion via media outreach and through CJAC’s own social media and newsletter campaigns. Carillon has served on the board of the Center for Irish Music and is a founding board member of Bollywood Dance Scene where she served as their grant writer. She is a parent to one current OID and CIM student, and two former ones. Carillon holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Art from Kent State University and studied Ceramics and Museum Studies at the University of Minnesota. Financials
Equity and Inclusion Statement
The Celtic Junction Arts Center (CJAC) strives to be an inclusive environment for all community members. CJAC does not tolerate harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, age, ability, or class.
Any person engaged in harassment or discriminatory behavior may not hold any position of responsibility in the organization; these positions include, but are not limited to, teachers, Board members, and/or volunteers. Harassment and/or discriminatory behavior refers to both in-person and online interactions within or outside of CJAC events, including the sharing of disparaging misinformation and intolerant comments targeting marginalized groups.
Anyone who has experienced or observed harassment or discrimination by a person associated with CJAC should report such behavior to any member of CJAC’s Executive Committee (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, or CJAC Executive Director) verbally or in writing. (See contact info in bios above). Those making a report will have their privacy protected. Anonymous reports will be accepted. Reports of harassment and/or discriminatory behavior will be investigated and are grounds for disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
Child Protection Policy
The Celtic Junction Arts Center (CJAC) has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse. We understand that protecting children is our most important responsibility and that our programs serve no positive purpose if we do not ensure their safety. In EVERY case, the report of molestation and any other abuse, or suspected such activity, will be treated with absolute priority, and CJAC will do everything in its power to ensure the successful prosecution of the perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law.
Everyone working with children at CJAC must agree to and sign this document.