Amanda is finding her passion again

For over 20 years, Amanda Kallas has been telling stories in bold, vibrant color. Her signature butterflies, bright florals, and joy-filled canvases are instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with Little City’s art program. 

But when COVID shut down the program in 2020, Amanda and many of her peers lost not just a space – but a community. 

She missed not only the painting but the people. Amanda would create alongside friends like Andy Bell and John King. The art room was her space to express, to belong, and to shine. 

With the renovation and reopening of the Bell Family Arts Center, that space is coming back – better than ever. 

For Little City artists like Amanda, the new studio means more than fresh paint and materials. It means reconnection to her purpose, her peers, and her potential. 

Thanks to the leading generosity of Julie Bell and so many others, Amanda and her peers will soon return to dedicated spaces for digital design, textiles, ceramics, and more. A new café will provide vocational training opportunities for Little City participants, while an art gallery will offer the chance to purchase the art first-hand – creating a community built for everyone.