Staff
Kelly Hart, Executive Director

In September of 2008, Kelly Hart relocated from Idaho to Bellingham to become the Executive Director for Allied Arts of Whatcom County. She brings over 20 years of experience working in for-profit and non-profit arts organizations. Her wealth of knowledge and abilities are related to the incorporation of the arts into cultural tourism and in community development through programs such as promotion of the public arts. Kelly has served as a member at large for the Idaho Commission on the Arts, Bellingham Tourism Commission and Washington State Arts Alliance.
Email Kelly
Photo by Thor Ofteness
Judy Taylor, Bookkeeper

We have lost count of how many years Judy has been involved with bookkeeping for the organization. She has been a vital component in the coordination of our Holiday Festival of the Arts and Chalk Art Fest.
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Janis Conn – Arts Education Coordinator
Janis started out as a volunteer and was hired on when we realized what a great asset she was to the organization. She oversees the Arts Education Program which provides intensive arts lessons by our 16 teaching artists in the local schools and also art sessions through Dementia Support Northwest.
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Deanna Lane – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator
We are thrilled to have Deanna on board as our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator. She has a wealth of experience working in the arts including the National Museum of the American Indian- Smithsonian Institution, Sculpture Northwest and Native Arts Collective.
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Liz Smyth – Program Assistant
Liz volunteered for over a year before she became Program Assistant. She works with the artists on the festival and events and assists with marketing. She is also currently attending WWU for her masters in Anthropology.
Email Liz
Xandra S. Blackburn – Gallery Assistant
Xandra Blackburn is our new (as of this year) gallery assistant and coordinator, though she’s volunteered in various capacities for a couple years now. She is a lifelong artist, art evangelist, and a human in love with the universe. She’s done a small variety of work, including tutoring college writing students, framing art, and slinging burritos, but working at Allied Arts is definitely the best entry in the list!
Email Xan