Contact Us

Louise Kerr
Executive Director
lkerr@saratoga-arts.org

“As the new Executive Director of Saratoga Arts, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to return to what I love best – connecting and nurturing artists across all genres, at all points of their careers and working collaboratively on a local and regional level to promote and sustain the meaningful impact a public arts center can have serving the community. It is with great enthusiasm, a fresh perspective, and with the belief in a dedicated team of staff and volunteers at Saratoga Arts, that I look forward to forging new relationships, partnerships and connections that will continue to build upon Saratoga Arts successful history with a focus on the mission of making the arts accessible to all.”

Louise comes to Saratoga Arts from The Olana Partnership, The Historic New York State Park and home of Frederic Church, the famed Hudson River School painter, where she served as the Director of Engagement and Visitor Operations. Prior, she was the Operations Manager for The Betty Cuningham Gallery in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. She brings more than 20 years of diverse business management experience, both in New York and California, to her new post.

Born and raised in Scotland, her undergraduate studies were in Architecture and Design at The Glasgow College of Building and Printing (now part of Glasgow University) and she obtained her Master’s degree in Fine Art from the prestigious New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture. Having spent many years at a weekend home near Sacandaga Lake over a decade ago, moving to Saratoga Springs to put down permanent roots feels like coming home.

Katharine Hayes

Operations Manager

khayes@saratoga-arts.org

Born and raised in Texas, Katharine has called New York home since 2017. She grew up in her parent’s frame shop and gallery, surrounded by her mother’s watercolor paintings and an art studio. This childhood upbringing helped foster her love and appreciation for artists and artisans. Katharine has a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and spent 12 years as a speech therapist, a rewarding opportunity to impact individuals and families. Katharine’s love of textiles and color inspired her to teach herself how to sew and knit, and she spends most of her evenings working on or planning new projects. She is thrilled to be a part of Saratoga Arts, an ideal place to pursue her passion for people and the arts, sharing and connecting individuals to familiar and new art experiences. In her spare time, you can find Katharine and her husband spending time with their two dogs or out on a long run.

Charlie Owens

Grants and Community Relations Manager

cowens@saratoga-arts.org

Kerry Connolly

Education Coordinator

kconnolly@saratoga-arts.org

Kerry comes to Saratoga Arts after 12 years with Girl Scouts most recently as VP, Business Consulting at GSUSA in Manhattan and, prior to that, CEO, Girl Scouts of Northeastern NY based in Albany.  Before serving in the non-profit world, Kerry held senior management positions in the industries of financial services, technology, management consulting and higher education. 

A Saratoga resident, Kerry spends her time loving the arts: classical and jazz music, museum browsing, nature and historical talks and experiences, and cinema and theatre shows.   She travels when she can, spends every day dabbling in her kitchen with new recipes, and is learning to watercolor. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Anthropology from SUNY Plattsburgh and her MBA from Bryant University.  To work within the arts arena is a dream fulfilled for Kerry. Promoting a culture of arts within the Saratoga region is the vison for Saratoga Arts and she is excited to be part of this endeavor.

Mae Hailu

Administrative Coordinator

mhailu@saratoga-arts.org

Christian Wechgelaer

Programs Coordinator

cwechgelaer@saratoga-arts.org

Christian Wechgelaer was born and raised in Saratoga Springs and has a deep love and commitment to bettering this community. In 2021, Christian graduated from the Center for Art & Design at The College of Saint Rose with his BFA in Studio Art with concentrations in Printmaking and Photography and a minor in Art History. Having studied in such a strong and tightly knit department, in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, further solidified the importance of community for Christian.

In 2020-21, Christian completed a remote internship at IPCNY (International Print Center New York) which provided a critical exhibitions background. In summer 2021, Christian was an instructor for Teen Summer Art Camp at Saratoga Arts which was an experience that blossomed into a part-time position at Saratoga Arts as Program Coordinator. Christian looks forward to continuing to serve his community, and to work toward providing new and exciting programs at Saratoga Arts.

Olivia Walton

Membership Coordinator

owalton@saratoga-arts.org

Raised by two artists-turned-project managers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Olivia pairs a passion for creativity with a love of logistics. She grew up in the theater and has over a decade of acting and improv experience. Olivia graduated with a degree in English and double-minored in Business Administration and Writing, Critical Reasoning, and Public Speaking from the University of Oregon. After college, she moved north to Portland, Oregon working as a content manager, copy editor, and account coordinator for multiple international technology and standards organizations.

Olivia and her husband moved to the Capital Region in 2021 and feel very fortunate to call Saratoga “home.” Her work is rooted in the belief that everyone is an artist in their own ways, whether it’s with pastels, textiles, lumber, bread flour, or spreadsheets. She is thrilled to work within a community that seeks to make art accessible by encouraging the discovery, growth, and broadcasting of such talents.