Kelsey Ford

Kelsey Ford (she/her) is the Executive Director of Handmade Arcade, a nonprofit based in Southwest Pennsylvania providing craft-based artists, designers, and makers of all ages with opportunities to sell products, build community, network, and share their artistic practice. An experienced arts administrator and project manager, Ford has worked in artistic programming, marketing, fundraising, and event planning for several Pittsburgh arts and culture nonprofits, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, City of Asylum, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. She has contributed to many beloved Pittsburgh events, including the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Children’s Theater Festival and City of Asylum’s Jazz Poetry Month. While at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, she also created Bookish in the ‘Burgh, Pittsburgh’s Teen Book Festival. Kelsey has a special passion for mentorship and collaboration with young people. She is an alumna of the Arts Education Collaborative's Leadership Academy and has presented on the topic of serving and empowering teen leaders at several conferences, including the American Library Association Annual Conference, the International Performing Arts for Youth Showcase, and the teen-led Southwest PA Education Diversity Symposium. Kelsey is especially interested in connecting with Remake Learning network members to support youth makers and entrepreneurs through Handmade Arcade’s annual Youth Maker Accelerator program.