Kelly Barsdate leads NASAA’s executive education, leadership development and technical assistance services for state arts agency directors. She also provides support for state level advocacy and serves as a senior advisor to state arts agencies, cultural advocates, NASAA’s executive team and the NASAA board.
Kelly began her career at NASAA in 1991 and draws on deep current knowledge of the field to support state arts agencies today. She provides guidance to state arts agency staff and council members on policy issues, strategic messaging, planning, agency structure and responsive grant making. Her portfolio includes onboarding and orientation services for new state arts agency executive directors. She leads NASAA’s Boot Camps for new agency appointees and conducts training on advocacy, best practices and the public purpose of state arts agencies.
Kelly has authored numerous monographs on arts policy, including NASAA’s Practical Advocate series and Why Should Government Support the Arts? She has led collaborations with the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, ArtPlace America, Grantmakers in the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and other policy partners. She is a contributing editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Arts Management, Law and Society. She holds an executive certificate of facilitation from Georgetown University, a Change Leader certification from the state of Utah, and a degree in English from Oberlin College. Her arts background includes studies in clarinet performance, arts education and orchestral conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music as well as community based training in dance and ceramics. Born and raised in Alaska, Kelly is a keen birdwatcher and avid amateur naturalist.
