BIO

KELLI FOSTER WARDER (she/her) currently serves as the Executive Artistic Director at Artistry Theater & Visual Arts, with the primary responsibility of steering the organization through a major transition and strategic re-visioning process.

Kelli brings a vast array of experience and talent to her new role at Artistry. In the past, she has performed as an artist, taught students in performing arts, and served as an arts administrator in the Twin Cities for over 20 years. Her work as a choreographer and director has been seen on stages across the Twin Cities and the country including Theater Latté Da, The Ordway, Children's Theater Company, The 5th Avenue in Seattle, Washington, Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida and the ZACH Theatre in Austin, Texas. Kelli has worked internationally as a director and choreographer in both La Paz, Bolivia and Panama City, Panama.

Other experience includes working with the Hennepin Theater Trust as Director of Education growing the Spotlight Education program to record levels, producing unique and successful fundraising events and representing the region with the Broadway League. Kelli also worked at the Ordway where she was Director of Education and Producing Associate leading a team that oversaw 40,000 students, and she also worked directly with theatricals on Ordway Originals. As Associate Artistic Director/Director of Impact at Theater Latté Da in Minneapolis, she has been a strong voice in artistic planning, deepening the company’s community engagement, and advancing initiatives in inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA).