18b Arts District Announces New Executive Leadership Team to Drive District's Next Chapter

LAS VEGAS, NV - January 26, 2026 - The 18b Arts District, the nonprofit organization named for the area's original 18 blocks and supporting local artists and businesses throughout downtown Las Vegas's Arts District, today announced Josh Kellman as its new Board President for a three-year term, effective January 12, 2026.

Kellman, founder and CEO of Voicebox, a Las Vegas-based growth strategy consultancy, assumes leadership at a pivotal moment for the Arts District. As the neighborhood experiences dynamic growth and new investment, 18b faces the opportunity of welcoming development while protecting the affordability and creative culture that define the district.

"The Arts District is at a crossroads," said Kellman. "New development brings vibrancy and investment our community needs, but growth must support our creative community and businesses rather than displace it. My role is to ensure 18b becomes the strongest possible advocate for finding that balance."

The district is experiencing dynamic growth and investment. The City of Las Vegas has added nearly 300 new parking spots in the last two years-a 35% increase-and broke ground in December 2025 on a new $25 million, 500-space parking garage featuring public art installations and 10,000 square feet of retail space, scheduled to open in August 2026. Kellman and Vice President Brian "Paco" Álvarez will serve as evaluators for the artist mural that will be painted on the garage. The 18b executive officers are working closely with Ward 3 Councilwoman Olivia Diaz to address parking access and ensure the district remains welcoming to artists, residents, and visitors alike.

The district's cultural momentum extends beyond visual arts. In the past week alone, Main St. Provisions Executive Chef Ellie Parker won Season 24 of Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" and was named a James Beard Emerging Chef semifinalist, while three additional restaurants-Bar Bohème, Sparrow + Wolf, and Black Sheep-earned James Beard Best Chef nominations. This culinary recognition underscores the district's emergence as a destination for national-caliber creative talent across multiple disciplines.

As founder and CEO of Voicebox, Josh brings a special combination of corporate growth expertise and deep personal commitment to the arts. His firm has led growth strategies for Fortune 500 clients including Apple, Microsoft, Toyota, and General Mills. In Las Vegas, Voicebox works with the Mayor's Fund Las Vegas, Triple Aught Foundation, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Museum of Art. He also supports local nonprofits including the Tyler Robinson Foundation, Forever One Memorial, and TEDx Las Vegas since 2019.

His vision extends beyond the 18 blocks to strengthen Las Vegas's entire cultural ecosystem. Through Voicebox, he collaborates with the Las Vegas Museum of Art, scheduled to open in 2028 in Symphony Park. "The Arts District and institutions like LVMA aren't competitors-they're collaborators in building Las Vegas's cultural infrastructure," he said. "Great museums need thriving artist communities. Thriving artist communities need institutions that elevate their work. 18b's role is ensuring our artists can access those opportunities."

Beyond professional credentials, Josh's connection to the Arts District is deeply personal. He has lived in the Las Vegas Valley since 2018, and in 2021 moved his family from Green Valley Ranch to the Palomino neighborhood to join Las Vegas's historic community. The Arts District has become his daily workspace for meetings and collaboration.

"Throughout my life, I've been drawn to creative communities," Kellman said. "I hosted art exhibits for local artists in Long Beach, California, and I'm a member of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art LA (MOCA LA). I collect work from local artists wherever I travel. When my family and I decided to put down roots in Las Vegas, being part of this creative neighborhood was essential. The Arts District isn't just where I work - it's where I belong."

In this transition, he succeeds Becky Miller, who served as Board President through 2025. "Serving as Board President has been one of the great honors of my life. Over the past eight years, we've watched the Arts District evolve from a grassroots neighborhood into a cultural destination that's attracting national attention. But with that growth comes real challenges-rising costs, development pressure, and the need for more sophisticated advocacy. Josh brings exactly what 18b needs at this moment: strategic insight, institutional credibility, and a genuine passion for protecting what makes this district special. The Arts District is in excellent hands," said Becky Miller, Outgoing Board President and Owner of Main Street Mercantile.

Kellman will lead alongside a full executive board including Vice President Brian "Paco" Álvarez, Las Vegas Native and art curator, with decades of work in the local cultural arts scene; Treasurer Sarah Collins, founder of Main Street Peddlers Antique Mall and longtime district advocate; and Secretary Liliauna Beckstrom, an artist and community organizer known for grassroots activism in the neighborhood.

Under his leadership, 18b will focus on strengthening the organization's infrastructure to amplify its advocacy voice, diversifying revenue to expand direct support for local artists, and deepening 18b's partnership with the City of Las Vegas as a collaborative advocate for the interconnected needs of district artists, residents, businesses, and the city's downtown revitalization goals.

The organization is also actively engaged in exploring a Business Improvement District for the Arts District, with leadership from the new executive team. Josh serves on the BID steering committee alongside fellow 18b board members Derek Stonebarger, Marissa Pretkus, and outgoing President Becky Miller. "A BID could provide sustainable funding for improvements that benefit the entire district-enhanced lighting, public art, marketing, and security," he explained. "We're ensuring that if a BID moves forward, it's designed with artists' and small businesses' interests at the center, not just property owners."

"We're primed for growth as an organization," he added. "The artist community here is expanding, and the challenges they face are becoming more complex. 18b has built a strong foundation over two decades of grassroots advocacy. Now, as the district attracts national attention and unprecedented growth, we need to scale our capacity to match that momentum-expanding governance systems, diversified revenue streams, and sophisticated policy advocacy that ensures our voice matches our influence."

"As both an artist and a gallery owner on Main Street, I've experienced this district from multiple angles. When I opened Recycled Propaganda in 2018, the goal was creating space for artists to experiment without being told no-to paint the walls, the floors, the ceiling if they wanted. That kind of creative freedom is rare and valuable. The Arts District has always been a place where you could try things, fail, learn, and grow without being priced out or pushed out. Josh gets that balance-he understands we need infrastructure and advocacy that protects what makes this place work for working artists, not just developers. That perspective matters," said Izaac Zevalking, 18b Arts District Board Member and Owner of Recycled Propaganda Gallery.

"The 18b Las Vegas Arts District continues to be an authentic, homegrown neighborhood that has become an incredible place to visit. I know Josh to be a good listener and a consensus builder, and I look forward to working with him and the 18b team to ensure the district remains vibrant and true to its cause," said Councilwoman Olivia Diaz, Ward 3.

"As the owner of two Main St. bars (The Stadium and Horse Trailer Hideout), the Arts District is more than a neighborhood; it's my community. Serving on the 18b board for the past two years has shown me how critical strong advocacy is for small and up-and-coming businesses as the district grows. 18b provides a unified voice to Councilwoman Diaz and the City, ensuring that the needs of the artists and entrepreneurs who built this community are not lost as new development comes in. This work matters because what happens here affects all of us," said Marissa Pretkus, 18b Arts District Board Member.

The 18b Arts District encompasses 18 blocks of downtown Las Vegas between Las Vegas Boulevard and Interstate 15, from Hoover Avenue to Colorado Avenue. The district is home to galleries, artist studios, antique shops, boutiques, bars, and restaurants. It supports monthly First Friday celebrations attracting thousands of visitors, as well as signature events including the annual Art Auction and Chalk It Down! Festival.

"This district represents the art and soul of Las Vegas," Kellman said. "My vision is to ensure it thrives for another generation - that artists can still afford to live and work here, that small businesses can succeed alongside new development, and that 18b has the resources and influence to make that vision real."
For more information about the 18b Arts District, upcoming events, or to support local artists through donations or membership, visit 18b.org or follow @artsdistrictlv on social media.

MEDIA NOTE: 18b board members are available for interviews. High-resolution photos and additional information available upon request. Contact Josh Kellman at media@18b.org, (562) 754-1102 or 1400 S. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89104 to schedule.

ABOUT 18b ARTS DISTRICT
18b Arts District operates through two complementary nonprofit organizations: the 18b The Las Vegas Arts District Neighborhood Association, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation dedicated to advocacy and community building, and the 18b The Las Vegas Arts District Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit LLC that provides direct financial support to artists through grants and charitable programming.

Together, these organizations support local artists and foster the creative community across downtown Las Vegas's Arts District. Spanning an area that originated with 18 blocks, the district is now home to galleries, studios, boutiques, restaurants, and creative businesses. Through events like the annual Art Auction, and Chalk It Down! Festival, 18b creates opportunities for artists to showcase their work, connects community members with local culture, and advocates for policies that protect the district's creative character and affordability. For more information, visit 18b.org.

ABOUT JOSH KELLMAN
Josh Kellman is the Founder and CEO of Voicebox, a Las Vegas-based growth strategy consultancy. With over 20 years of experience, he has led growth transformations for Fortune 500 companies including Apple, Microsoft, Toyota, Comcast, General Mills, and Edwards Lifesciences.

Beyond his corporate work, Kellman has been deeply involved in Las Vegas's nonprofit community since 2019, supporting organizations including the Tyler Robinson Foundation, Forever One Memorial, TEDx Las Vegas, the Mayor's Fund Las Vegas, Triple Aught Foundation, UNLV, and the Las Vegas Museum of Art. He has also served as Founder and Chairman of We Are Homeless, addressing housing insecurity issues.

A lifelong arts advocate, Kellman is a member of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art LA (MOCA LA). He has curated art exhibits for local artists and maintains a personal collection of works from artists around the world. He has lived in the Las Vegas Valley since 2018 and moved to the historic Palomino neighborhood in 2021 to be closer to the city's creative community.

Kellman serves on the board of 18b Arts District, where he joined in fall 2025 before being elected Board President for a three-year term effective January 12, 2026.

ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Brian "Paco" Álvarez, Vice President
Las Vegas native Brian "Paco" Álvarez is an entrepreneur, anthropologist, public speaker, tour guide, and leader in the arts. He holds a master's degree in Urban Leadership from the School of Public Policy and Leadership at UNLV and a bachelor's degree in Anthropology. Paco is the founder of two startups, Psionic Art Works and Very Very Vegas Tours.

Paco's career spans the cultural arts in Southern Nevada. He was the collections manager of the Liberace Museum, curator for the City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs 2005 Centennial Exhibition, interim curator of the Neon Museum, curator of the Las Vegas News Bureau Photo and Films Archives, art curator and corporate historian for Zappos.com, gallery curator for Clark County Public Art, and helped open Museum Fiasco at Area 15. His passion for art and culture has been the driving force behind his career, recognizing that this passion drives a dynamic economy.

Paco has proudly served as a member of the City of Las Vegas Arts Commission and Regional Transportation Commission Art-in-Transit Advisory Council, a trustee to the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation and Atomic Museum, United States Senate Curatorial Committee, board member of the Contemporary Arts Center of Las Vegas, the Hispanic Museum of Nevada, the Nevada Museums Association, 18b Arts District Neighborhood Association, Preserve Nevada, and Chairman of the Liberace Foundation for the Performing & Creative Arts.

Sarah Collins, Treasurer
Sarah Elizabeth Collins is the founder of Main Street Peddlers Antique Mall, a cornerstone business in the 18b Arts District. With a degree in business administration and a passion for community building, Sarah brings both financial expertise and deep district roots to her role as Treasurer.

A seasoned traveler who grew up in Europe and Puerto Rico, Sarah speaks three languages and has visited more than a two-dozen countries. She describes herself as a modern-day treasure hunter, applying that same eye for value and potential to her work supporting the Arts District's creative economy.

Sarah has been a dedicated community leader for years, serving as Treasurer of the 18b Arts District and producing the Antique Alley Map featured in the Southern Nevada Country Register. Her business acumen, multilingual skills, and commitment to the district's independent businesses make her an essential voice in 18b's leadership.

Liliauna Beckstrom, Secretary
Liliauna Beckstrom is a familiar face in the 18b Arts District, where she has spent years building a life as both an artist and community advocate. For Liliauna, being part of this community has always been about more than just business; it's about showing up for people. Whether she's offering a helping hand to a neighboring shop or organizing grassroots art events to raise money for local causes, her focus is always on keeping the district's heart beating.

When she isn't busy with her studies in Chemistry or creating art, Liliauna is likely wandering through an antique mall, hunting for unique finds and enjoying the history of the area. She is a firm believer in the power of small-scale activism and the strength found in local connections.

As the newly elected Secretary, Liliauna is excited to bring her hands-on experience and her deep love for this neighborhood to the Executive Board. She is dedicated to being a practical, supportive resource for her fellow artists and business owners, ensuring 18b continues to be a place where everyone can flourish together.

This release was published on openPR.