President, Artspace
Kelley Lindquist has been president of Artspace Projects since 1987. Under his leadership, Artspace has grown from a staff of one and an annual budget of $60,000 into the nation’s leading nonprofit developer of space for artists with a staff of 70, a budget of $12 million, and stewardship of properties containing more than two million square feet of residential, studio, office, rehearsal, and performance space. To date, Artspace has completed 35 major projects containing more than 1,500 affordable live/work residences for artists and their families.
During Mr. Lindquist’s tenure, Artspace has received a number of significant awards, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Honor Award for contributing to the revitalization of inner-city communities and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s “Best Practices in Affordable Housing” award.
Mr. Lindquist’s expertise has made him much in demand as a consultant and speaker, and he is frequently invited to speak at national and international conferences on the role of artists and arts facilities in urban revitalization. While he remains actively involved in Artspace’s day-to-day operation, he increasingly focuses his energy on the broader task of restoring national confidence in America’s creative communities and on helping artists reclaim their rightful place in the national discussion about the role of the arts in American society.