Our Board

Although not a direct artist besides home decor, Karl has a large appreciation for those that can produce and express emotions through art. He is a supporter of local art and tries a participate when time allows. Karl has a passion for encouraging others for creative outlets and feels there is a need and place for all to have this ability. He looks forward to having that ability through the Kamloops Arts Council and having many community connections to help grow the awareness and need.

Kirsten Atkins is not just a professional seamstress but an incredibly talented and imaginative designer. It’s easy to see why, her grandfather was a Master Tailor and she quickly picked up the interest at the age of six. Shortly after high school Kirsten opened her first sewing shop; after that she started her own label of KLA Originals. Kirsten’s first love is costuming and that led her to making and renting costumes for 20 years. Prior to settling in Kamloops, Kirsten spent 8years living in the Yukon Klondike studying the clothing styles of the late 1800’s and working with numerous theater companies and organizations such as parks Canada in the reconstructions of period costumes. With this experience today, she has designed many different beautiful body shaping corsets and her love of colour has led her to the design and production of many different styles of award winning up cycled sweater jackets and dresses. In 2013, 2017 and 2019 Kirsten has won awards for her wearable art Sweater designs giving her great recognition as an artist. Kirsten currently works out of her home and attends many Art and Music Festivals year round. Watch for a schedule and see more of her work on her Facebook page: KLA Originals or her website: klaoriginals.com

Nolan McAllister is an Indigenous entrepreneur and filmmaker from Kamloops, BC. His ancestry comes from his great grandfather, Arthur Charette, a French-Cree-Assiniboine Metis man born in Saskatchewan. Nolan has been working as a cinematographer, director and editor for over nine (9) years. He has participated in various filmmaking programs, worked on major film/TV productions, and received specialized training from the American Society of Cinematography. Nolan is also a drone operator for the Province of British Columbia – Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Bailey Finley is musician, educator and administrator with a passion for creative music making. She values the sense of community and belonging that music can create and is working to help share this with as many people as possible. Her mission as a teacher is to help her students to find playfulness and joy in music making. Outside of teaching, she has contributed to the creative community by helping develop and run programs such as the Kamloops New Music Festival and Women’s Night at the Kamloops Makerspace.

Clement Yeh is a Chinese-Canadian artist, parent, husband, art educator, community advocate, and student of life. Born in London, England, he grew up in Calgary on Treaty 7 land, the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, and the Métis Nation. Comics were a huge influence in his youth that inspired him to pursue fine art as a vocation, leading to a BFA at the Alberta College of Art and Design (now AU Arts) and an MFA at Concordia University. He is passionate about supporting the role that art plays in personal growth, confronting social issues, and uplifting the quality of life in society. He currently teaches in the Communication and Visual Arts dept at Thompson Rivers University, on traditional and unceded Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Territory.

Kimberely Steadman is a skillful marketing & communications professional, strategist, community builder & activator. Kimberely has worked extensively in the technology and education sectors and is currently a principal at Steadwood Communications. She has been an active member of the Kamloops arts community since 2012, when she served as the Chair of the Kamloops Arts Commission, and later as a Director at the Kamloops Arts Council. Since then, she has hosted many art workshops and events through the non-profit organizations she started and ran, and most recently with the Powerline Gallery. When not helping others achieve their artistic goals, she spends time on her own art including oil painting, watercolours, pottery, writing and photography. 

Rebecca Owens, first and foremost, is a mother to four wonderful children, who bring her immense pride and joy. As a mother, she holds a specific desire to help open doors for youth interested in various forms of art. Born and raised in the scenic city of Kamloops, British Columbia, Rebecca finds solace in spending her leisure time at home with her children and dogs or embracing the beauty of the great outdoors. Throughout her entire life, she has harboured a profound love for the arts, with her recent focus being pottery, a passion she wholeheartedly explores.

Rebecca aspires to utilize her creativity and ideas by actively participating in the art council, where she can contribute to the flourishing artistic community of Kamloops. She endeavours to foster inclusivity, arts, culture, and community by creating opportunities that enable artists to thrive and ignite new passions in individuals. Rebecca hopes to facilitate the growth and artistic expression of the Kamloops community.

Jessica has been a long-time member of the arts group in Ashcroft and hopes to bring that experience to a broader community. She has a life-long love of the arts, especially theatre. The arts enriches the lives of everyone, through the creation of it or the appreciation of it.

Madeline Adams is a creative professional with a background in graphic design and photography. She moved to Kamloops in 2021 and loves her new home. In her spare time, she is doing pottery, baking bread or creating mix-media collage. Madeline likes to support and celebrate her local creative community.