Celia M. Hughes, Executive Director
MPA, LBJ School of Public Affairs, UT Austin and graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA, NYC). Celia Hughes has been involved in the arts since she was a child, with her earliest memory singing in the cherub choir at her hometown Methodist Church at Christmas. Celia has also worked with people with disabilities from a very early age. These two avocations merged in NYC when she taught tv production to high school students with Dyslexia and hired them as crew for two weekly shows she directed for Manhattan Cable.
Moving to Austin in 1985 was a huge culture shift - Celia relied on grounding in the arts to help her through the transition. Many of these experiences forged the ground to build her creative house upon. This rock-solid foundation has supported her throughout many years as the ED of Art Spark Texas. For 20+ years, Celia has brought people together from all walks of life to create the story of an inclusive world. It is a good story.
Jerry Slayton, Director of Education
Jerry Slayton is an Art Educator working in Austin, Texas. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design and Painting and MFA, and has 18 years of experience working in higher education and community education settings. Jerry has specialized in teaching Graphic Design, 2d Foundations and New Media Arts to adults with and without disabilities.
For the past 4 years, Jerry has served as the Director of Education for Art Spark Texas. In that time, he has helped secure funds through city and federal grants, and provided arts opportunities to thousands of individuals across the state of Texas.
Kim Flor, Manager of Community Engagement
Kim holds two B.S. in Consumer Studies and Business from Texas State University and brings years of experience in arts programming and equity-centered event production. As the Founder of Flores Market and Latinfest, she is passionate about creating inclusive spaces that celebrate culture, creativity, and community. Her approach to events centers art, community and historically marginalized voices through experiences that are both meaningful and accessible.
A lifelong creative with a heart for connection, Kim’s work with Art Spark Texas has deepened her commitment to accessibility in the arts and expanded opportunities for Austin’s mixed-ability community through events that engage and empower. Find her creative work @_kimberlyflor_ and events @flores.market.atx on Instagram.
Silva Laukkanen, Director of Integrated Dance
Silva is a passionate dance educator, advocate, and researcher for inclusive dance. A chance opportunity to teach at a rehabilitation center in Silva's native Finland transformed her perspective on movement, leading her to refocus her career on community dance and disability.
Silva has since worked internationally, creating choreography and teaching in diverse settings, from senior centers to correctional facilities and professional dance companies. In 2016, she launched DanceCast, a podcast highlighting artists working beyond traditional dance norms, and in 2021, she co-authored Breadth of Bodies: Discussing Disability in Dance, book. With a deep commitment to expanding access to dance education, Silva continues to research, publish, and produce projects that challenge perceptions of who can dance and where dance happens.