THE TEAM
Marieke van der Krabben - Executive Director
Marieke van der Krabben is a photography historian and curator. After receiving a BA in Art History and a MA in Film and Photographic Studies from Leiden University in the Netherlands, she worked as a junior curator at the Museum of Photography in The Hague. Additionally, she was the curator and creative director for the International Photo Festival Leiden for 3 years. Marieke co-authored a book on photography and has written for art-related magazines. In 2017 she moved to Florida and worked as the curator of exhibitions for the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
Águeda Sanfiz - Director of Programming
Águeda Sanfiz is an arts administrator and photographer. During her tenure as a cultural manager for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs she organized multiple cultural events in Africa and the United States, including the first exhibition on Zimbabwean female photographers. She works as a documentary family photographer and has produced two photography exhibitions for the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
Clara ten Berge - Creative Director
Clara has a BA in Cultural Heritage from the Amsterdam University of the Arts, with a Minor in Public & Media. In the Netherlands, she worked at the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam, the National Maritime Museum, the Jewish Museum, and the Kunsthal in Rotterdam. Clara is specialized in museum education, outreach, and communication. In 2022 she relocated to Florida and is happy to be living in such a vibrant arts community. She volunteered for one year at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts as Outreach & Development Manager.
Simone Leal - Financial Director
Simone is a photographer. She started her artistic career at Parquet Lage School of Visual Arts while studying Molecular Biology in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Upon moving to New York City, she attended various classes and workshops at the International Center of Photography and the School of Visual Arts. Currently, Simone works at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.
Katy Simpson - Social Media Manager
Katy Simpson, a South St. Pete native, is a photographer and the owner of Tampa Bay Community Photography LLC. She is currently enrolled in a six-semester-long Commercial Photography certificate program at Pinellas Technical Institute. She has held numerous roles working in her local community at St. Petersburg College, the Arts Conservatory for Teens, the Juvenile Welfare Board, and the St. Pete Chamber of Commerce.
Elisa Pulgarin- Social Media Assistant
Elisa Pulgarin is a St. Petersburg-based Photographer who has received a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from the University of South Florida. Starting her photography journey in high school, she began with film and learned to develop in dark rooms through college. She also specializes in digital photography and has her own photography business. In the past, she has earned awards in The Fair Safari, showed work in local galleries, and was the “USF Favorite” in the USF World Photography Competition.
Beth Reynolds - Outreach
Beth Reynolds, a native of Saint Petersburg, is the founder of the photographic arts program at the Morean Arts Center in St. Petersburg. She was also selected to be the first Photo Laureate for the city of Tampa. Beth earned a Master’s in Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Hartford and has been an arts educator for nearly 20 years. Her work has been included in the Ringling Museum of Art and many private collections.