We are a diverse and versatile group of impassioned change makers and artists. Here at the core of the Creative Alliance you will find a dedicated crew with years of experience over a broad range of disciplines including community building, education, music, performance, film and video, and visual arts.
With over two decades of experience, Jason is known for his commitment to community engagement, inclusivity, nurturing talent on and off-stage, strategic program design, and partnership-building. A champion for inclusivity, Jason skillfully employs his creative insights to amplify the voices of those often marginalized, ensuring they are heard, valued, and empowered. His academic background in studio art and sociology underpins his understanding of the complex interplay between art and society, enabling him to effectively engage with culture seekers from all walks of life. At the Apollo, Jason was instrumental in creating a comprehensive arts and entertainment succession pipeline program. His efforts significantly contributed to nurturing emerging talents in the arts while strengthening community ties.
Alec Lawson is a Baltimore native with a lifelong commitment to the arts and entertainment industry. He holds a degree in Theater and Creative Writing from Loyola University and completed advanced training at the National Theatre Institute. Alec began his career at Creative Alliance before spending over a decade at Baltimore Center Stage, where he developed a deep expertise in audience experience and operations.
He later served as the Global Head of Marketing for ThinkFun and Ravensburger, leading international campaigns for one of the world’s most recognized puzzle and game companies. Alec has since returned to Creative Alliance as Deputy Director, where he brings together his passion for performance, community engagement, and strategic leadership.
In addition to his full-time role, Alec is an event management and accessibility consultant, supporting cultural and entertainment projects across the East Coast.
Over the course of her quarter century plus career in the music industry, Tinku Bhattacharyya has engaged in a multitude of unique, groundbreaking roles driven by her enduring passion and creative approaches to artist development and fierce advocacy for artist rights administration and protection. Since launching her career as a club promoter and DJ with Thelonious Junk (Big Beat) and Café Graffiti in Edinburgh in 1995, the UK bred, New York and Baltimore-based visionary has defined what it means to be an innovative Renaissance Woman in the fast-moving, ever-evolving music industry. Tinku has been an international artist development mentor, rights activist, event producer, production and tour manager, label owner, director of talent booking, and label product manager.
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A Baltimore native, Adam Cooke has over 20 years experience as an audio engineer, mixing bands in various recording studios and venues in Baltimore and on tour. He started at Creative Alliance in 2003, and now serves as Technical Director, overseeing audio, lighting and video for the theater and Marquee Lounge, and supervising the technical staff. Adam is a drummer and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Production & Engineering from Berklee College of Music.
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Joy Davis is an experienced curator, curatorial director, and an independent scholar of cultural and fashion history. In her tenure at the Walters Art Museum she, along with her staff, drove the museum forward with digital programming that encompassed some of the most diverse programming in the museum’s history. From 2015 to present she co-hosts and produces Unravel Podcast, a fashion history and culture podcast. Her scholarly projects include subject matter that is underdeveloped in academia and transcends many fields of study: fashion, history, art, media, and performance among people of color throughout history. She received her B.A. degrees in History and Media Studies from the University of Maryland, and her M.A. in Fashion and Museum Studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
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Jessy is a Nicaraguan American self-taught artist originally from Miami, FL who now resides in Baltimore. They are a recovering accountant turned artist, activist, educator, and storyteller, whose works have been shown locally in publications such as BmoreArt Magazine and exhibited in museums like the Walters Art Museum, as well as nationally and internationally. They are passionate about uplifting and showcasing artists and have curated and promoted exhibitions at venues such as Motor House and Impact Hub. They are the owner of J DeSantis Art and have received their B.S. and M.S. in Finance and Accounting.
¡Hablo Español!
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Heather Keating grew up in a creative family and has been around art and photography all her life. In her time at the Maryland Institute College of art, where she studied Graphic Design and Photography, she fell in love with Baltimore and all of its eccentricities. She is a photographer, designer, event planner, and long-time resident of Patterson Park. Heather has worked in design, advertising, and event planning in Baltimore for more than a decade. She worked as a graphic designer for Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts (BOPA) where she learned the ins and outs of large-scale events. She has done marketing and design for many for Baltimore companies such as John Yuhanick Associates, Phillips Seafood, Birroteca, Johns Hopkins, Saint Agnes Hospital, the Fells Point Festival, the Baltimore Rock Opera Society, among others. She received her B.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
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Julia has been an avid Creative Alliance attendee since moving to Baltimore in 2005 to work in the Development office at the Walters Art Museum. After the Walters, Julia worked with some of the region’s top cultural sites and organizations such as Baltimore Center Stage, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Parks and People Foundation, and Ladew Topiary Gardens, to name a few. She has degrees in Art History from the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina and loves music, theater, dance, and literature as much as she loves paintings and sculpture. Creative Alliance’s dedication to lifting up everyone through art and community keeps Julia inspired, energized, and proud every day.
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Lula (they/she) is an artist, arts administrator, and drag performer as Lula Lioness. She is a born and raised Marylander who now lives in Baltimore. They find great satisfaction supporting the arts and creating safe spaces for community. They have worked in the arts for almost a decade and volunteer for LGBTQ+ non-profits in their spare time. Within the drag community, they have performed at venues like Peabody Library, Black Cat (DC), and Motor House. Community and communal growth for trans futures are at the forefront of their work. They have A.A. degrees in Business Administration and Music, and a B.S. in Music with a minor in Marketing.
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We honor Latin-American traditions by presenting three generations of women demonstrating, sharing, and teaching Latin American folkloric arts, crafts, and traditions taking root and thriving in Southeast Baltimore. The Artesanas focus on artist exchanges, workshops, and public events. The program includes professional development training in Spanish for immigrant artists, after-school enrichment programs, as well as public community workshops at family festivals and area schools. We organize bilingual cultural events for all ages including Día de los Muertos and traditional Posadas!
¡Hablo Español!
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Rachel Rush has worked in education, the arts, and event coordinating for over a decade in Baltimore. She has also coordinated community events such as Park After Dark in Patterson Park and taught Fine Arts at Friends School of Baltimore and Living Classrooms Foundation. Previously as Education Coordinator, she assisted in coordination of all Education offerings. After graduating from The University of the Arts with a BFA in Painting, she was awarded the Ted Carey prize. Rachel continues making her large scale jungle paintings and shows her work in the Baltimore area.
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Sunflower Williams is a multimedia artist and copy editor based in Baltimore. Hailing from the nonprofit sector, they have worked in grants management, operations, program coordination, and communications in Boston, Washington, D.C., and the greater Philadelphia Metropolitan area. He has just completed a two-year multidisciplinary arts fellowship with Baltimore Youth Film Arts at John Hopkins University after having been awarded a full scholarship for a ceramic intensive at Harvard University.
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Visual artist Victor Yambao has been with Creative Alliance since 2016 and currently serves as their Development Manager (since 2025). His professional background includes wide-ranging experiences such as Ticketing Service Associate at the Harvard Box Office, Front of House Manager at Boston’s Improv Asylum, as well as his work in painting, illustration, and theatrical design. Prior to his current role, he held positions at Creative Alliance as Box Office Assistant (2016), Office Manager (2017), and Development Associate (2020), showcasing his growing commitment to the organization.
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After co-founding the Creative Alliance at her café and gallery in Fells Point in 1995, Margaret served as the Creative Alliance’s Executive Director from 1995-2018. She co-led the development of The Patterson, Baltimore’s premier multi-arts center. Creative Alliance built The Patterson in 2003 to champion Baltimore’s creative community, spearhead Greater Highlandtown’s revival, and build community through accessible arts and education programs. As Executive Director, Margaret led the organization’s growth from a small group of visionary volunteers into a transformative cultural force. After transitioning from executive leadership, Margaret continued as a volunteer to help develop the new Creativity Center to provide facilities and opportunities for education and community programs. She now lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
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We’re looking for creative people that are committed to supporting art and community in Baltimore to join our team!
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