Founded by internationally known Ugandan artist, Fred Mutebi, Let Art Talk© is composed of individuals dedicated to arts advocacy and educational empowerment.

Pictured above: Rebecca Schaefer, Ivan Yakuze (artist), Amanda Batson, Fred Mutebi, Lesli Robertson

Fred Mutebi

Founder and Executive Director
Contact info: mutebifred@gmail.com

Fred Mutebi is an internationally recognized printmaker. Since graduating from Makerere University in 1993, Fred has worked towards advocacy through art. In 2001, Fred was selected as a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at Christian Brothers University in the United States. Shortly after his return to Uganda, Fred founded Let Art Talk©.

In addition to Christian Brothers University, Mutebi has also conducted workshops and lectures at the University of Colorado, Vanderbilt University, Fisk University, Memphis College of Art, Indiana University-Purdue University of Fort Wayne, Manatee Community College, Marian College, Dallas Baptist University, and the University of North Texas. He has also been the featured artist at the World Bank Gallery in Washington DC.

In recognition of Mutebi's efforts to make significant strides toward improving the lives of children living in Uganda and as a true ambassador of the Fulbright program, the Office of Alumni Affairs selected him as the April 2008 State Alumni Member of the Month.

Amanda Batson

Head of Research
U.S. based project development
Contact info: abatson.lat@gmail.com

Amanda Batson received her BFA in Visual Art Studies at The University of North Texas in 2009 and possesses an Early Childhood-12 art education certification. In 2011, Amanda completed her MA in Art Education at The University of Texas at Austin, where she researched and wrote her thesis based on the impact on the participants of the Talking Mural© exchange that took place in 2010. Because of this work, she became the recipient of The John Anson Kittredge Foundation Education Grant. In addition to her work with Let Art Talk© which began in 2008, she currently holds the position as the Student Chapter President for The National Art Education Association (NAEA). She has spent time at The Denver Art Museum as an intern in the education department. Beyond advocating for art education and the work of Let Art Talk© as a presenter at the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) and the NAEA annual conferences, Amanda was awarded the TAEA Outstanding Student of Art Education award. Amanda is also dedicated to visual art through her mixed media studio practice and has been shown in many galleries in Texas.

Lesli Robertson

Head of Development
U.S. based project development
Contact info: lrobertson.lat@gmail.com

Lesli Robertson is a Senior Lecturer of Fibers and Weaving at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. In addition to her teaching, she actively exhibits her artwork nationally while developing community programs and research links to the arts of Uganda. Since her first trip to Uganda in 2005, Lesli has received grants from the Dallas Museum of Art, the Surface Design Association, the Textile Society of America, UNT Fine Arts Series and the Institute for the Advancement of the Arts in support of her research and project work in Uganda. She has authored articles in leading textile journals as well as lectured nationally on Ugandan mat making and bark cloth. In 2011 she curated an exhibition titled Material Evolution: Ugandan Bark Cloth, which highlights the history, culture and contemporary approaches to this unique material. (This exhibition will tour the United States through the Mid-America Arts Alliance).

She first met Fred Mutebi in 2008, and since has actively collaborated with him on numerous projects through Let Art Talk©.

Rebecca Schaefer

Head of Curriculum
U.S. based project development
Contact info: bschaefer.lat@gmail.com

Rebecca Schaefer is an elementary art specialist at Rasor Elementary School in Plano, Texas. Her involvement with Let Art Talk began in 2008 while she was an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas. After graduating with her BFA in Art Education from UNT in 2009 , Rebecca gained experience teaching at both the elementary and high school level. She received her teaching certification for Visual Art Studies levels Early Childhood through 12th Grade. In addition to her teaching, Rebecca continues to present at regional and national art education conferences, highlighting her curriculum and project development with Let Art Talk.

Her passion for arts education and outreach continues into her local community, where she serves as Co-President of the Plano Art Leaders, a group of Plano Art Educators dedicated to Art Education Advocacy, based out of Plano, Texas. Rebecca views Let Art Talk© as the perfect combination of her passions; art, education, and community outreach.

Board Member information coming soon.