Our Team
Katy Martin
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Katy first connected with Renew the Arts as a Porchlight host and after a couple of years of supporting the team with marketing, she accepted the position of President and CEO of Renew the Arts in early 2024.
Katy graduated from Roberts Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in communication, and concentrations in marketing and psychology. After an AmeriCorps service term with Rebuilding Together Nashville, Katy worked for several years at Rebuilding Together‘s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
She has a knack for organization and passion for building community through hospitality and art. Katy lives and continues to host Porchlight events in Rochester, NY.
She enjoys performing in a duo called The Local Hang-Ups, which most recently signed with Old Bear Records.
CONTACT: katy@renewthearts.org
Michael Minkoff
CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF ARTIST CARE
In 2007, Michael and his father founded the Nehemiah Foundation for Cultural Renewal, the originating organization of Renew the Arts, which he co-founded with Justus Stout. He has been involved in the promotion and production of under-served Christian art ever since, working variously as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer, editor, typesetter, graphic designer, and cheerleader.
Michael serves as the Director of Artist Care for Renew the Arts, combining his aesthetic judgment and artistic temperament with his heart for community building and collaborative discipleship.
He completed an M.A.B.S. degree at Reformed Theological Seminary in Atlanta in May 2020. He blogs at MichaelMinkoff.com. He lives in the Buford area with his wife, Vanessa, and his five children: Selah, Amity, Miles, Ephrem, and Benedict.
Michael has written numerous articles and reviews featured on Renew the Arts, as well as a compact book on biblical aesthetics called According to His Excellent Greatness.
CONTACT: michael@renewthearts.org
Rusty Hein
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Rusty met Michael, and his now wife Vanessa, at a Blockbuster in suburban Atlanta back in 2005 (ask them the story sometime; it’s a good one), right before moving away to get his BFA from the University of Central Florida. While in school, Rusty made occasional trips back to Atlanta, and would occasionally look Michael up when he was in town.
On these infrequent visits, Rusty caught onto Michael’s vision for liberating Christian creativity, and became passionate about liberating Christian creativity.
After graduating in 2013, Rusty moved back to suburban Atlanta, and began working with us as our Creative Director. In 2015, Rusty moved in with the Minkoff family, and started road-tripping with them, in the summers. On their 2021 roadtrip to Nebraska, Rusty connected with Vanessa’s cousin, Olana, and two years later, they married in Ben Lomond, CA beneath the redwood trees. In 2024, they excitedly welcomed a baby son.
We like to consider Rusty our resident artist who provides drawings, paintings, photos, videos, animations, websites, and friendship to us. You can see some of his other work at rustyhein.com.
CONTACT: rusty@renewthearts.org