April at the Skirball is one of our favorite times of year—when our campus comes alive for our annual Puppet Festival, an all-day celebration featuring performances from some of Southern California’s premier puppetry artists.

It’s only fitting that this month’s Skirball Spotlight highlights someone who helps bring that magic to life every day. Meet Kelsey Kato, our Story and Puppet Lead and Shift Supervisor at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Q: Tell us about a past or present exhibition that you enjoyed and why.

A: I enjoyed Wild Things are Happening, the Maurice Sendak exhibition. It was wonderful to see the layers of an artist's process peeled back in that way and to see all of the many complex steps it took for him to develop those beautiful illustrations.

Q: Describe a Skirball event you had the opportunity to attend. What made it special for you?

A: I loved attending Dis-order, a recent co-production from the dance company Volta and the puppetry collective Freak Nature Puppets. I have several colleagues in Freak Nature Puppets, and it was fun to see their work shine through in tandem and in collaboration with the artists from Volta.

Q: What's one activity you prioritize outside of the Skirball? How does it interact with the work you do here?

A: Outside of the Skirball, I design and fabricate puppets for plays and other performances, and sometimes puppeteer. It just so happens that a great deal of what I do at the Skirball also involves design, fabrication, and puppet performance. I consider myself lucky to have so many opportunities to build community and share stories through the art of puppetry, both at the Skirball and in the LA community at large.

Q: Tell us about a coworker who has gone above and beyond to represent the Skirball in their work.

A: Lily Nunno, a fellow full-time educator at Noah's Ark and Family Programs, is always inspirational to me in the work that she does at the Skirball. Her constant commitment to creating positive moments with Skirball visitors, in tandem with her kind, caring, and affable spirit, which is a constant uplifting presence behind the scenes, does much to express and exemplify some of the Skirball's core values.

Q: What are you looking forward to learning more about yourself in the following year?

A: In the following year, I look forward to learning more about how I best operate as a team leader at the Skirball. In the past year, I've been investing more effort in setting my coworkers up for success in their work here, and I've gone out of my way to provide opportunities them to shine and succeed. I hope to continue these efforts, and, through those efforts, to learn more about how the different layers of effective leadership can be woven into my approach as a team leader here at the Skirball.

Our institution is more than just a workplace—it's a community where each team member plays a vital role in bringing the Skirball's mission and values to life, and creating memorable experiences for all who walk through our doors. As a loving tribute to our original benefactors, Jack and Audrey Skirball, and because of the Skirballs' dedication to education and cultural exchange, we proudly call ourselves "Skirballers."

We regularly spotlight one of these Skirballers, showcasing their unique talents, passions, and contributions to our community. Through these introductions, we invite you to get to know the people who make working here truly something special.