Laura Sievert-Hesseltine

Executive Director, Arts Quincy: America’s First Arts Council

Quincy, Illinois

Laura Sievert-Hesseltine is the executive director at the Arts Quincy: America’s First Arts Council, a nonprofit that creates access to the fine arts and humanities to enrich the cultural vibrancy of rural West Central Illinois. Her work centers around expanding access to the arts for children, seniors, veterans, and low-income and underrepresented residents. Laura has expanded children's programs to provide in-classroom activities and arts field trips for every student in her county up to eighth grade. She also expanded seniors programs, including those at the Illinois Veteran’s Home, and created free arts series serving primarily underrepresented and low-income residents. She is the founder of TEDxQuincy, where she brings diverse ideas to the local stage of her rural community, and is an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar. Laura aims to elevate the voices of rural America and works to ensure rural spaces are drivers of economic growth, as her work stimulates local businesses through tourism.