Kelly Rooney grew up traveling the world, experiencing different cultures and fostering an appreciation for the arts from a young age. “It’s important to continue placing value in [the arts] and continue to explain to the community how much value that [the arts] bring to us.”  Her mother, an amateur painter, also inspired Kelly’s advocacy for the arts “it’s important to continue placing value in [the arts] and continue to explain to the community how much value that [the arts] bring to us.” 

Kelly, along with her husband Joe, are longtime supporters of the Cultural Council. She currently serves on the Council’s board of directors, as she has for the past five years, along with serving on the boards for the Hanley Foundation and American College Dublin. She also owns and operates the Josephine Alexander Collective in Juno Beach, which offers high-quality accessories created by international artisans that are supported with a secure, sustainable source of income.  When it comes to her support of the Council, Kelly explains that the organization “provides so many avenues for artists whether their work is featured in the gallery or for sale in the Roe Green Uniquely Palm Beach Store, in addition to furthering their professional development…it’s very important to nurture that in a community.”

Arts education is another passion for Kelly, who has one daughter of her own: “I think it’s good to have children exposed to the arts from a young age. It’s important to teach them to be able to express themselves through the arts. And, through the Council’s educational programs, those ideals are enabled.”

In the end, Kelly sums it all up with a simple statement, “I love the arts, which is why I love the Council!”