Inspired by people that want to make meaningful change through their work and lives, Burns Maxey cares about communities and has a passion for creativity in everything that she does. She has extensive experience in non-profit marketing, arts management, and arts programming. When she’s not making art or consulting with organizations on their strategies and design, Burns serves as president of CitySpace, a nonprofit located in Easthampton MA, that restores and manages the historic Old Town Hall as a vital and affordable center for the arts. With CitySpace, she has managed capital projects, campaigns, grant development, strategic planning, and launched programs that give artists who most need it, access to space to create. Burns also teaches Arts Marketing at UMass Amherst. In 2023, she was named a Difference Maker by Business West.

Prior to launching BurnsMax, Burns worked for the city of Easthampton’s planning department as the Arts Coordinator for Easthampton City Arts. There, she cultivated citywide cultural programming and public art initiatives prefacing the exchange of the arts, placemaking, and economic development. Previously, Burns was the Director of Creative and Digital Marketing at New England Public Media, managing the public media outlet’s digital products — like podcasts and websites — and creative collateral. 

As an artist, Burns’ art focuses on place, people, and animals through visual storytelling using multimedia installation, performance, and visual art. In the past few years, woodblocks, linocut, and screen printing have become a passion and are integrated in both her design and art. She attended Bard College and received a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.

As a designer and illustrator, Burns’ approach is to transform ideas into unique and effective experiences and content. If you are interested on working on a project together, let’s get something started!