WHO WE ARE

“The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” – Neil Gaiman

BelRed Arts District Community Alliance

In May of 2023, passionate community volunteer organizers, artists, and art advocates founded the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance (also known as the BelRed Arts District), a grassroots, community-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our heartfelt commitment to the arts district is to rally, organize, and carry out our mission that unifies, empowers, and inspires our community through arts, culture, and innovation as the BelRed Arts District continues to evolve.  

As community amplifiers, we are looking to reveal, increase visibility, establish cohesion and shared identity by bringing more synergy and inspiration to the district. We invite and welcome partnership and collaborations at all levels and are pleased to be supported by the City of Bellevue, artists, arts and culture organizations, and others in the area. We believe in the power of arts, culture and innovation to build community and to positively elevate and improve quality of life, community and the world in which we live. We are excited to engage the community, collaborate with partners, celebrate our diversity and advance arts with excellence and education and more.

MEET THE BOARD

  • Eden Helstein

    PRESIDENT, CO-FOUNDER

    Born and raised in New York, Eden relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 1993, establishing roots in the industrial warehouse spaces of Bellevue’s BelRed neighborhood. This move set the stage for a journey of imagination and entrepreneurship. Eden had a vision to nurture talent and foster creativity within the community… he built Evolution Studios, a music rehearsal studio that quickly became a cornerstone of the local music scene and beyond.

    Over the span of three decades, Eden's continued passion has left an indelible mark, focused on raising our next generation of creative thinkers and shaping a supportive environment for artistic growth and excellence.

    Today, Eden is acclaimed not only as a small business owner and co-founder of the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance, he’s an advocate for the arts, whose impact resonates throughout the community.

  • MARIA LAU HUI

    BOARD CHAIR, TREASURER, CO-FOUNDER

    Maria is a licensed architect, LEED Accredited Professional, and operational strategist with a wealth of experience in architecture and real estate development. With a knack for both design and project management, she has a deep understanding of entitlement and building processes. Through her consultancy firm, Matcha Agency, Maria guides clients through the complexities of design and entitlement logistics, including feasibility studies, zoning analysis, and consultant selection and management.

    Beyond her professional achievements, Maria is a dedicated community member. Maria has contributed to the City of Bellevue’s Arts Commission, including as Chair, sat on the Wilburton Commercial Area Study Citizens Advisory Committee, and was a member of the 4Culture Public Art Advisory Committee. Maria finds joy in giving back, mentoring others, and participating in advisory roles. Her most cherished moments include volunteering as a manicurist for the elderly at St. Luke’s Hospital in NYC during her grad school years.

  • SANDY VO

    CO-FOUNDER, SECRETARY

    Sandy is a strategic communications professional who finds joy, hope and inspiration through the people behind the place, telling stories of the Bellevue community and beyond.

    They graduated from Washington State University in 2021 and earned a role as the communications/marketing intern at the Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) right out of college. They have now grown into the role of communications manager at the BDA and found a passion for community engagement and placemaking. They also sit on Visit Bellevue's Advisory Board on behalf of the BDA to help provide guidance and feedback to further their mission of stimulate economic growth and development in Bellevue’s visitor economy and inspire memorable visitor experiences.

    Sandy joined the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance as one of the founding board members in 2023, continuing their work as a city builder on the Eastside. In their spare time, you can find them at the RockBox Fitness gym or painting at home.

  • MARCI MARRA

    BOARD MEMBER

    From an early age, Marci Marra discovered her passion for the arts, finding solace and creative expression through painting and drawing. Her innate artistic talents led her to pursue formal education in the arts, culminating in her attendance at art school, where she honed her skills and nurtured her artistic vision.

    Despite her deep-rooted love for the arts, Marci ventured into the world of business, and spent the majority of her career as a management consultant and a transformational coach and former member of the Forbes Coaches Council. During her career, she worked with organizations to transform their businesses and individuals to define and achieve their goals.

    Marci remains a committed leader with a passion for inspiring people to innovate and make impactful changes. She made her own impactful change when she retired from consulting in 2023 and reinvented herself as a knitwear designer and joined the BelRed Arts District Community Alliance board in 2024.

Past Board Members

  • Angela Cheung, previous board chair, president, co-founder, and community organizer