About Us

Our History

The Kennedy Heights Arts Center is housed in the former home of Lewis Kennedy, built in 1875. The historic, wood-frame building sits on 2.5 acres in the heart of Kennedy Heights, a diverse neighborhood in the City of Cincinnati.

Founded in 2004, Kennedy Heights Arts Center is an example of community action at its finest. When developers threatened to demolish the historic Kennedy Mansion, a group of local residents organized to save it. The City of Cincinnati contributed a grant for a down payment, and 40 neighborhood residents contributed money in personal certificates of deposit as collateral to secure the loan – and the Arts Center was born.

A few people’s dream has become the inspiration of many – literally hundreds of people helped to transform the distressed property into a thriving community arts center. Initially all volunteer-run, the Arts Center hired its first executive director in 2008.

A decade later, Kennedy Heights Arts Center partnered with other nonprofits to revitalize another blighted property: a vacant, former grocery store adjacent to our main facility. After 5+ years of work, we completed a $2.4 million renovation transforming an eyesore into a multi-use cultural campus including KHAC’s Carl, Robert, Richard and Dorothy Lindner Annex. The 10,300 square foot satellite facility includes a multi-purpose performance and event venue, digital media lab and artist studios.

Our Mission

The mission of Kennedy Heights Arts Center is to enhance the life of the surrounding community through arts and cultural experiences that embrace diversity, foster creativity and build community.

Through a wide range of arts and cultural programs, the Arts Center strives to:

Promote community interaction across generations and all cultural and economic groups
Spark community dialogue
Provide a venue where artists are nurtured and connect with each other and the community
Create opportunities for joyful discovery and collaboration, and
Make the arts affordable and accessible to everyone.
We’re proud that 100% of our programs are accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay.

Our Sponsors

Kennedy Heights Arts Center is grateful for the generous support of our donors.

Annual operating support provided by:

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The Staff The Board

ellen-muse-lindeman-copyrightnataliejeannephotography-2 Ellen Muse
Executive Director
ellen@kennedyarts.org

Ellen Muse became Kennedy Heights Arts Center’s first Executive Director in January, 2008. To Ellen, the position at Kennedy Heights Arts Center was her dream job, bringing together her love of the arts and her passion for building community. In partnership with the Board of Directors, Ellen is responsible for the organization’s achievement of its mission and financial objectives through strategic planning, fundraising, effective programs, and community relations. With more than 20 years experience in nonprofit leadership, Ellen previously served as the Program Director and Director of Development for the Center for Great Neighborhoods in Covington, Kentucky. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre from the College of Wooster (Ohio) and a Master’s of Social Work Administration from the University of Cincinnati.

Mallory Feltz
Director of Exhibitions and Public Art
mallory@kennedyarts.org

Mallory Feltz joined the staff at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center in January 2015. Mallory’s love of all art forms and the desire to make art available to all people is what drew her to the organization. As a resident of the area, she is passionate about building a strong community and providing opportunities to its residents. Her own 2-D and 3-D artwork consists of a wide range of materials, mainly textiles, and explores applications of new techniques. Mallory held the position of Arts Education Coordinator at KHAC for four years. In January 2019, Mallory became the new Director of Exhibitions and Public Art for Kennedy Heights Arts Center. Mallory earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Sculpture from the University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning in 2006, and her MFA in Sculpture from Louisiana State University in 2009. Prior to working at KHAC, Mallory worked in custom framing and the commercial art world coordinating projects for a variety of clientele, including international companies.

Asha White
Director of Education
asha@kennedyarts.org

Asha White is an artist, entrepreneur, and arts educator. She obtained her Master’s in Art Education from the University of Cincinnati in 2023, studying at the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning. With this degree, she is dedicated to community arts education, focusing on nurturing creativity and engagement. Asha’s educational philosophy emphasizes the importance of addressing social issues through critical thinking, problem-solving, and research to build creative and caring communities.

Shawndale Thomas
After School Program Coordinator
shawndale@kennedyarts.org

With more than 15 years of dedicated service as an advocate and champion for the advancement and social wellbeing of youth, and as a professional photographer and arts educator, Shawndale Thomas joined our team in August 2022 to develop and run The Cr8 Club, an after-school arts and social learning program at John P. Parker School. He earned an Associate Degree in Interactive Media Design from the Art Institute of Ohio-Cincinnati.

Carolyn Youngquist
After-School Enrichment Manager
carolyn@kennedyarts.org

Joi Sears
Director of Marketing and Communications
joi@kennedyarts.org

Quentin Coleman
Assistant to the Director, Cincinnati Jazz Academy
quentin@kennedyarts.org

A jazz guitarist and proud graduate of Cincinnati Public Schools, Quentin Coleman pays it forward by helping CPS student musicians develop their craft as assistant to Cincinnati Jazz Academy Director Dr. Isidore Rudnick.

Mairi Huizinga
Bookkeeper

Mairi Huizinga has served in this part-time position since 2016. She has a three year business college degree specializing in computer programming. Mairi worked for IBM for 22 years before coming to Kennedy Heights Arts Center—first as a volunteer, then joining our staff.

President
Ramsey Ford
TiER 1 Performance

Vice President
Kristy High
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Treasurer
Robert Ramsay
Barnes Dennig

Secretary
Amber Hurak
Accenture

Lisa Andrews
Sound Bites Nutrition

Nakia Coleman-Smith
Nyla’s Perspective Therapeutic Services

Jacqueline Goldman
ProKids

Robin Hartmann
Artist

William Jones
Will Jones Photo

Hannah Lohr-Pearson
FEG Investment Advisors

Lise Sigward
Retired, Procter and Gamble

Alexa Teare
Kukua Consulting LLC