Our Team
Experiance & Our Professionals Team
Sarah Kinsley, Executive Director
Sarah Kinsley is the foundational administrative force and passionate visionary behind the Counterbalance Arts Collective, bringing nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit management, arts advocacy, and strategic development to her role as Executive Director. Holding a Master’s degree in Cultural Policy from the University of Washington, Sarah has dedicated her professional life to dismantling barriers to arts access and creating sustainable models for artist support. Her approach is characterized by a remarkable balance of fiscal acumen and deep emotional intelligence, allowing her to steer the organization with both credibility and warmth. Before co-founding CBAC, she served as the Development Director for a major regional orchestra, where she successfully spearheaded a campaign that doubled the organization’s educational outreach footprint. Sarah firmly believes that the health of a community is directly proportional to the vibrancy of its artistic life, and she is committed daily to ensuring that the Counterbalance mission resonates with every stakeholder, from major donors to the newest student, fostering an environment where every person feels seen, valued, and creatively empowered.
Julian Chen, Lead Visual Arts Mentor
Julian Chen is an internationally exhibited painter and sculptor whose dynamic and deeply philosophical work explores themes of urban ecology and human connection to the natural world. Julian earned his MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and spent a formative decade working in gallery spaces across New York and Berlin before returning to his native Seattle to contribute to the local scene. As the Lead Visual Arts Mentor, Julian combines a rigorous technical teaching style with a profoundly supportive and non-judgmental approach, believing that technical mastery should always serve the artist’s unique emotional and conceptual voice. His extensive qualifications include numerous fellowships and artist-in-residence positions, and he brings this wealth of practical experience directly into the studio, preparing emerging artists not just to create, but to navigate the complex professional world of exhibitions, commissions, and grants. Students consistently praise Julian for his ability to distill complex artistic theories into actionable, inspiring feedback, and his caring commitment to the long-term professional success and personal fulfillment of his mentees is a hallmark of the CBAC educational experience.
Dr. Lena Sharma, Creative Writing and Literary Program Coordinator
Dr. Lena Sharma is a highly respected academic and award-winning poet, managing and developing all literary and creative writing programs at the Collective, bringing an incisive intellectual rigor balanced with an encouraging, gentle spirit. Lena holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University and has published two collections of poetry that explore the concept of memory and counter-narratives in contemporary culture. Her pedagogical approach emphasizes the writer’s voice as a powerful tool for self-discovery and social commentary, and she is particularly skilled at guiding students through the challenging processes of revision and self-critique with profound empathy. Beyond her academic credentials, Lena’s caring approach is evident in her creation of specialized narrative therapy workshops designed to use creative writing as a tool for emotional healing and processing trauma, demonstrating her deep commitment to the counterbalance mission. She ensures that the literary programs are accessible to all, designing courses that range from basic prose structure for beginners to advanced manuscript development for professional writers, fostering a vibrant literary community where words become instruments of clarity and transformation.
Mateo Rodriguez, Community Engagement Manager
Mateo Rodriguez is the passionate connective tissue between the Counterbalance Arts Collective and the broader Seattle community, managing all outreach initiatives, public partnerships, and volunteer coordination efforts. With a background in community organizing and public relations, Mateo possesses a natural ability to connect people and resources, ensuring that the Collective’s programming directly addresses the needs and interests of local residents. His qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and significant prior experience in developing youth programs for underserved neighborhoods, giving him a grounded, practical understanding of community dynamics and equitable resource distribution. Mateo’s role is critical in fulfilling the Collective’s mission of making art accessible to everyone; he is the driving force behind our efforts to secure grants for reduced-tuition scholarships and organize free, accessible events in public spaces. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his deeply caring nature manifests in his tireless efforts to build authentic, reciprocal relationships with families, schools, and cultural organizations, ensuring that CBAC remains a true community asset that reflects the diversity of the city it serves.
Art as a Catalyst for Empathy and Self-Awareness
Our work in Social and Emotional Development harnesses the inherently therapeutic and communicative nature of art to cultivate deeper empathy, enhance self-awareness, and provide constructive outlets for complex emotions. We recognize that the creative process—the act of externalizing internal feelings, constructing narratives, and interpreting symbols—is a powerful mechanism for understanding oneself and others, acting as a crucial counterbalance to the isolating effects of modern life. In specialized workshops, participants use abstract painting to explore feelings that are difficult to articulate verbally, or engage in collaborative movement exercises to practice non-verbal communication and trust. The group critique process, guided by empathetic mentors, is carefully structured to teach respectful disagreement and deep listening, transforming feedback sessions into powerful lessons in social emotional learning. By engaging in art as a form of dialogue, our participants develop the emotional vocabulary to navigate personal challenges, build stronger community bonds, and cultivate the kind of deep, compassionate understanding necessary for active, engaged citizenship in an increasingly diverse world.
Curated Creative Pathways for Every Stage of Life
Counterbalance Arts Collective provides specialized, developmentally appropriate programs tailored to serve a comprehensive range of age groups, ensuring that artistic growth is a continuous, lifelong journey from early childhood through professional adulthood. Our offerings begin with Toddler and Preschool Sensory Play, targeting children aged 2-5, focusing primarily on tactile exploration and basic fine motor skill development within a playful, supportive environment that lays a foundation for future creative confidence. We then transition to our Elementary and Middle School Art Labs, ages 6-13, where structured lessons in foundational techniques like perspective, figure drawing, and digital storytelling are introduced, encouraging greater skill mastery alongside imaginative project work. The High School Pre-Professional Track, ages 14-18, is a rigorous program designed for students building college portfolios or pursuing professional creative careers, offering advanced studio access and mentorship opportunities. Finally, our Adult and Continuing Education programs encompass everything from evening community classes for beginners to Master Artist Residencies, providing flexible options for both avocational enthusiasts and professional artists seeking sustained development and community engagement.
Work with us
Be a Part of the Creative Counterbalance
The Counterbalance Arts Collective periodically seeks passionate, qualified professionals to join our administrative team and expand our roster of collective artists and mentors, offering stimulating career opportunities where your professional skills directly contribute to a mission of cultural and social importance. Open positions range from administrative support roles, such as Program Coordinators and Development Specialists, which require strong organizational and communication skills, to direct creative roles like Lead Studio Mentors and Resident Artists, requiring advanced degrees or significant professional experience in a specific artistic discipline. We are dedicated to maintaining a staff and collective that mirrors the rich diversity of the community we serve, and we actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. All available positions are posted transparently on our website’s career page, along with detailed job descriptions that outline the necessary qualifications, compensation structure, and the vital role each position plays in sustaining our commitment to artistic excellence and community access.