Staff
Felicia W. Shaw
Felicia W. Shaw is Executive Director of San Diego ART Matters, an organization she has been involved with since its inception in 1990. An experienced nonprofit arts management executive with a career spanning over three decades, Felicia served in executive and director-level leadership positions, including the Women’s Museum of California, the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, the San Diego Foundation, and the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, where she launched a variety of programs and initiatives early in its history that still continues today.
Felicia’s commitment to the arts extends to leadership within various organizations and committees, including an appointment to the San Diego County Commission for Arts and Culture representing District 4, and board service with Californians for the Arts and California Arts Advocates, the Mingei International Museum, and Moxie Theatre. She is also a member of the San Diego Art Prize selection committee. Previously, she served on national boards, including the Americans for the Arts - United States United Arts Federation, Grantmakers in the Arts, and CERF+, a nonprofit serving the needs of craft artists throughout the United States.
A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Communications, Felicia completed additional undergraduate study at UC San Diego with a focus on art history, theory, and criticism and the two-year Museum Studies certificate program at Palomar College. She has received numerous arts and civic leadership awards, most recently recognized by the San Diego Business Journal in 2022 as a Black Leader of Influence Honoree and the San Diego Metro 2022 “Woman of Accomplishment.” Felicia supports many civic causes and is a member of the Southeast San Diego Rotary Club and the Democratic Woman’s Club of San Diego.
Matt Carney
Matt Carney is the San Diego ART Matters Managing Director. In his role, he ensures that the organization’s internal operations run smoothly with proper systems and procedures in place with a work culture that is inviting and welcoming to all. When not engaged with San Diego ART Matters, he also serves as executive director of the San Diego Ballet. He was drawn into the world of dance as another way to convey his interests in equality, social activism, and the simple joy of moving. After the recession in 2008, something shifted in Matt’s perspective, and he began to dig deeper into dance on a systemic level. Questions on how to sustain this art form and preserve its legacy filled his head and led to greater synergy between his artistic and pragmatic sides, plus his passion for arts advocacy. His community commitments include being the immediate past chair of San Diego ART Matters, a member of the Port of San Diego’s Art, Culture, and Design Committee, and guest teaching at schools throughout the County. He has his BFA in Dance from the University of Missouri - Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance and a master’s degree in public administration from San Diego State University School of Public Affairs.
Michael Angelo Camacho
Michael Angelo Camacho is the Director of Government and Field Engagement. Before joining San Diego ART Matters, he served as Board Treasurer and was Executive Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Foundation. He earned an M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego's School of Leadership and Education Sciences. He is a nonprofit professional with solid experience in finance, fundraising, and philanthropy. With top-tier relationships across various sectors in San Diego, Michael has been involved in evidence-based program design, financial analysis, resource development, and civic engagement. His portfolio of past client organizations includes Dreams for Change, the YMCA, and Kids Included Together. The arts have a special place in Michael’s heart. A dancer, he has done demonstrations at the San Diego Fair and has been invited to perform at the Spanish Village Art Center. Michael also contributes his talents as part of an up-and-coming theater company, where he helped produce a play, which he is proud to say shed light on immigrant issues in the community.
Ines Nefzi
Ines Nefzi is San Diego ART Matters Marketing and Social Media Manager. A Transfronteriza Chicana and Arab artist, Ines is rooted in the dynamic borderlands of San Diego and Tijuana. Immersed in the local art scene for over 15 years, she has actively contributed to art collectives, movements and galleries throughout San Diego. In her journey as a self-taught artist, Ines primarily utilizes acrylic paint and her artistic repertoire spans from traditional portraiture to vibrant floral expressions.
Beyond her artistic pursuits, Ines serves as a teaching artist, imparting creative techniques and expressive methods to youth at various non-profit organizations throughout the San Diego region, at community centers and afterschool programs. These experiences have provided her real-life experience in the value, impact, and necessity of the arts on the individual, community, and society as a whole. Emerging into her role as an arts advocate, Ines dedicates her efforts at San Diego ART Matters to ensure that the people of San Diego benefit from a strong creative sector.
