Our Mission

Our mission is to use the arts to present a positive message about the LGBTQ community and provide opportunities for artist to contribute fully and openly to the cultural, social, and economic success of South Florida.

We produce programs and events that feature our member artists and promote the development of culturally diverse arts. We collaborate with other organizations in South Florida to maximize the cultural opportunities for our members and offerings for the general public.

Our Leadership

Chuck Williams

Board President

Chuck Williams is a small business owner and avid photographer. He was one of the founding members of ArtsUnited back in 1999 and served as Treasurer and then President for more than 10 years.

Chuck stepped away from the Board of Directors several years ago, so others would step up and contribute their energies and ideas. He returned last year and is currently active as a director, focusing on collaborations, exhibitions and expanding programming.

Denis Dean

Dennis Dean

Board Vice President

Dennis Dean, has been an ArtsUnited member since 1999 and currently serving as Vice President on the Board of the organization. He is an award-winning and internationally known photographer.

With over 30 published books of his works, he has had countless exhibitions from across the U.S. to the U.K. His photography is a staple of the Florida gay press and has been spotlighted in international magazines. Dennis brings over twenty years experience in creative direction, and fine art brand identity, strategy and development.

Richard Viola

Richard Viola

Board Director

Viola’s photography career has spanned more than 4 decades. While in college he worked part-time photographing children & families. After graduation he shot for several NY studios before opening his own successful portrait & wedding studio in 1987, which he had for 20 years.

Originally from Brooklyn, NY, he has been a Fort Lauderdale resident for 12 years. Most noted for his portrait work, Richard has always had a passion for landscape photography and has won numerous awards for his exquisite photographs. In the two years that Viola has been on the board of ArtsUnited he has helped grow its membership by over 150%.

Robert Figueroa-Peggs

Board Director

Born in Cuba, Robert grew up in 1970s Miami. In 1982 he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of working in the film industry. After the 1991 AIDS-related death of his domestic partner, he switched careers from the film industry to full time photography. His passions were documenting gay pride events and photographing the nude male body. A few years later he returned to Miami. Being a self-taught photographer presented some challenges, especially after the digital revolution. Robert returned to school, receiving a Photographic Technology degree from Miami Dade College and a B.F.A. in Art from Florida International University in 2014.

Robert now lives in Fort Lauderdale after meeting and falling in love with his husband, Anthony Peggs of Peggs Designs, a home remodeling company.

Jose Silva

Board Director

Jose Silva grew up in Venezuela and after graduating high school, he moved to the United States looking to make a career and find better opportunities. He attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and got his degree in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics in 2006. In 2010 he started his own company, New Visual Spectrum, to provide video editing and motion graphics services. He’s been in the film industry since, working with different clients and a wide range of projects like event production, tv commercials, online videos, corporate events, award shows, and more.

He also has a passion for visual arts. He creates different kinds of art forms, but generally he likes to create art representative of Florida, gay art, as well as art that focuses on emotions.  He also enjoys making Fan Art for his movies and popular TV shows. One of his Fan Art pieces was featured on The Talking Dead as Fan Art of the Week. Jose Silva’s been part of the South Florida community since 2000 and he makes sure his art is representative of this vibrant and diverse community. In recent years he’s been working on perfecting his craft, presenting art in local galleries, doing commission work, and selling his art in festivals and art walks in Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale area predominantly.

He currently is working on combining his skills in video and graphic design, with his extensive knowledge of business and marketing, to expand his company further and provide brand developing and marketing services. He hopes to continue to provide service to the South Florida community and businesses, and to contribute through his own art creations, as well as supporting and inspiring other local artists.

Natalie Tyler

Board Director

Natalie Tyler has 30 years of experience working in the non-profit sector. Her non-profit career started in New Jersey, where she was born and raised. There she spent 12 years serving as an Executive Director in various non-profits, 10 of which leading the East Orange YMCA. She earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a Non-Profit Management concentration from Seton Hall University. Since moving to Florida, she has served twice as Executive Director, a Grants Specialist for a large multi-unit non-profit, and most recently as the Development Manager for a non-profit organization that serves veterans and their families.

Natalie discovered early in her career that she was a natural at fundraising. Natalie’s motto is “keep the FUN-in Fundraising,” which fits her upbeat, happy, funny, and positive personality. Natalie believes in living a conscious life while putting positive vibes and good energy out into the Universe. Natalie has a passion for helping others, sharing her zest for life with them, and believes you create the life you desire; “Change your thinking, change your life” is her mantra.

Jonathan Davis

Board Director

Jonathan Davis was born in Tuba City, Arizona, in 1990. Growing up, he spent most of his childhood in Colorado, where he developed a passion for the arts. Even at a young age, Jonathan showed a natural talent for music and acting, which he would later pursue as a career.

After graduating from high school, Jonathan left Colorado to attend college in Los Angeles. He was determined to make it as an actor and musician, and LA seemed like the perfect place to start. He took acting classes and appeared in small film and television roles, but he soon realized that his true calling was music.

In 2013, when he was 23 years old, Jonathan decided to move to New York to pursue his musical ambitions. He landed a job running an event venue, where he hosted large events and honed his business and marketing skills. He also worked in advertising and business development, gaining valuable experience that he would later apply to his music career.

In 2017, at the age of 27, Jonathan signed a publishing deal and went into music full-time. He was thrilled to finally be able to focus on his true passion and to share his unique perspective with the world. He poured his heart and soul into his music, drawing inspiration from his experiences in LA and New York, as well as his childhood in Colorado.

Jonathan’s music is a reflection of his diverse background and his love of the arts. He blends elements of R&B, contemporary, and pop to create a sound that is uniquely his own. He is known for his catchy hooks, soulful lyrics, and electrifying performances.

Outside of his music career, Jonathan remains passionate about the arts and small business. He enjoys the challenge of problem-solving and using his creativity to make a difference in the world. He is dedicated to bringing his perspective to those who can benefit from it, and he is always looking for new ways to make a positive impact in his community.

Heather Renee

Board Director