For Immediate Release
Contact: Amy Day
Tel: 515.271.0344 (o)
515.612.0775 (m)
E-mail: aday@desmoinesartcenter.org
DES MOINES, IA (April 2025) – The Des Moines Art Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelsey Burr as Manager of Community Access Programs. Burr brings a wealth of experience in the fields of art and arts education, nonprofit management, disability advocacy, career development for youth, and social and physical well-being to her role at the Art Center. In her capacity as Manager of Community Access Programs, Burr will serve as a key member of the Art Center’s team and a strategic partner to Jill Featherstone, Senior Director of Museum Learning, Engagement, and Community Access, who oversees the Art Center’s robust, dynamic educational programs. Under Burr’s leadership, the Art Center’s Community Access Programs will continue to thrive, partnering with nonprofit and social service organizations across the Des Moines area metro, bringing the Art Center’s mission and vision to life every day.
“My past experience has enabled me to bring art to a wide variety of people, including those with challenging circumstances. My hope is to extend our reach to be progressive and inclusive to all. I’m excited to join the incredible team at the Des Moines Art Center and continue this important work.” says Burr.
Since 2020, Burr has served as the Program Coordinator for Momentum, a nonprofit art studio serving individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions. Prior to this, she worked as a Career Planner at Connect 2 Careers at Children and Families of Iowa, a Program Specialist at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Iowa, and a Family Consultant at Mid Iowa Family Therapy Clinic in Des Moines. Burr holds a B.A. in Studio Arts and Psychology from the University of Iowa and is certified in Peer Support Specialist Training, Mandatory Reporting, and Trauma-Informed Care.
As an experienced, collaborative, and engaging educator, Burr joins the Art Center at a pivotal moment in its history, as it launches a new five-year strategic plan that prioritizes audience engagement, service to its surrounding communities, and the creative development of its visitors, reducing as many barriers to participation, from financial to physical, as possible.
“Collaboration is one the Art Center’s five core values, and Kelsey’s role as Manager of Community Access Programs is all about building relationships with community partners using art making as a tool to pursue personal growth and well-being. Her varied professional experience in human services, coupled with her belief in the transformative power of art, are qualities she brings to the role on day one. We are thrilled to have her join our team!,” says Senior Director of Museum Learning, Engagement, and Community Access, Jill Featherstone.
Burr will begin her new role on April 24, 2025.
For more information, contact Senior Director of Communications and Marketing Amy Day at 515.271.0344 or aday@desmoinesartcenter.org.
About the Des Moines Art Center
The Des Moines Art Center is a vibrant, AAM-accredited institution located in the capital city of Iowa that welcomes over 270,000 visitors annually from across the country and around the globe. Its historic campus consists of three buildings designed by major architects of the 20th century—Eliel Saarinen, I. M. Pei, and Richard Meier—incorporated into the natural landscape of Greenwood Park. The Art Center is home to one of the strongest collections of 20th and 21st century art in the region, and it hosts a series of ground-breaking exhibitions and lectures each year featuring artists known regionally, nationally, and internationally. The experimental spirit of the art for which the Art Center cares for is reflected in its creative offerings, including a celebrated education program that prioritizes access and collaboration, an art school with studio classes for all ages, and the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, situated on 4.4 acres in downtown Des Moines. The Art Center is committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which are incorporated into every facet of its mission and identity.
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