Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation appoints education director
Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation recently announced the appointment of Melanie Moore to serve as the Foundation’s education director to facilitate “All Kinds of Art,” a children’s educational outreach program designed to bring cultural experiences to children of all ages.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary since MKAF was established on the beliefs of the late Destin Matriarch, Mattie Kelly,” MKAF CEO, Marcia Hull, said. “‘All Kinds of Art’ was inspired by a group of visionary leaders, Barbara Forrester, Jodee Hart, Laura Howard, Beverly McNeil and the late Carol Luedecke. Through a recent grant award from the Windgate Charitable Foundation, and the appointment of Melanie Moore, we will be able to expand our program reach to more children, including a focus on the special needs and disabled population.”
Moore received her Master of Arts degree in Humanities with a focus on “Texts and Images” from the University of Houston — Clear Lake. She also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas, with a major in art history. With over 10 years of experience in arts education, Moore draws on her background as an art educator, artists, and work with cultural institutions and non-profit organizations.
She began her teaching career with the Art School for Children and Young Adults with the University of Houston Clear Lake, where she taught and developed curriculum for ages 4 through high school aged students. She also taught as an adjunct and served as mentor for undergraduate art education methodology students. She more recently taught art at Paxton School in Walton County, teaching students ranging from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grades. Her students received honors in various venues, including Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Picture the Music contest, Cultural Arts Alliance’s Flutterby Children’s Art Festival, Rosemary Beach Foundation’s Music in Pictures, and the Florida Chautauqua Assembly. Under Moore’s direction they also created permanent installations for the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center.
Prior to her career in formal education, Moore was a professional museum exhibit designer for the John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science. In addition, she has served the arts community in various capacities, including managing an art gallery, and doing freelance exhibit design and illustration services. She is a frequent participant and volunteer for local arts events and non profit organizations. Moore is also a practicing artist, exhibiting locally. Her medium of choice is watercolor painting. After winning Best in Show for the Cultural Arts Alliance’s A+ Art Show, her art was featured in a debut solo exhibition in 2014 at the Northwest Florida State College South Walton Campus. She is a native resident of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.