SA Staff - 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.

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 & Development 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 20 years 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.