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Join us for the monthly luncheon.

Leslie Forrester is the Executive Director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council, an organization that aims to transform lives and enrich the community through the arts. Her work focuses on arts advocacy, education, and collaboration. She serves as the Board President of Missouri Citizens for the Arts, advocating for arts and culture across the state. She was named 40 Under 40 in 2015 and Most Influential Women in 2025 by the Springfield Business Journal. Leslie also teaches courses in Art History and Art Appreciation at Ozarks Tech. In her spare time, she enjoys snuggling her wonderfully independent daughters, Evelyn and Charlotte.

Prior to her appointment to the SRAC in 2013, Leslie served for two years as a Program Specialist for the Missouri Arts Council in St. Louis. Her responsibilities included managing the programs for community arts and touring as well as traveling around the state to support arts organizations both large and small.  Leslie holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Arts Administration from Southern Utah University, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Arts Management from Culver-Stockton College.

Lunch is $24 per person (3% credit card recovery fee added for CC payments).