Bella Fontanes…
is a teaching artist from Denver, CO. She achieved her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration, with a focus in Teaching Art at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis, MN. She currently lives and works in Denver, CO where she teaches at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Arvada, CO and serves as an AmeriCorps ArtistYear Fellow at Alameda Junior/Senior International. In addition to visual arts education, she has a passion for the performing arts. Bella also has experience as a technical director, stage manager, and scenic designer and has worked as a teaching assistant on five youth productions (students ages 5-14) at the Arvada Center.
Teaching Experience
Bella spent the 26-27 school year serving as a teaching artist at Alameda International Jr/Sr High School in Lakewood, CO. Along with her co-teacher, she taught Middle School Graphic Design, High School Digital Photography, and Social-Emotional Learning for all grades.
Bella also completed her student teaching in the Minneapolis Public School System in Minnesota during the 2025-2026 school year. During this time, she served at FAIR Arts School in downtown Minneapolis as well as Sullivan STEAM School, a magnet elementary school focused on arts integration.
Meet the Masters (ages 5-8, 9-12)
Art, Animation, and Design (ages 9-15)
Drawing for Kids (ages 5-8, 9-12)
Explore Painting (ages 5-8, 9-12)
Mixed Media (ages 5-8, 9-12)
Cartooning (ages 9-13)
Character Journeys (ages 5-8)
Story-Inspired Creations (ages 5-8)
Passport to Seussville (ages 5-8)
Play in a Day (ages 5-8)
Theatre Experience
Alicia in Wonder Tierra (Or, I Don’t Eat Goat Head) (2026)
Technical Director. Ghostlight Productions. Dir. Auriana Jimenez
James and the Giant Peach Jr. (2026)
Teaching Assistant. Arvada Center. Dir. Bekah Ortiz.
My Son Pinocchio Jr. (2025)
Teaching Assistant. Arvada Center. Dir. Bekah Ortiz
Finding Nemo Jr. (2024)
Teaching Assistant. Arvada Center. Dir. David and Julie Payne
Beauty and the Beast Jr. (2023)
Teaching Assistant. Arvada Center. Dir. David Payne
Unto These Yellow Sands (2023)
Teaching Assistant. Arvada Center. Dir. by Olivia Newman
Jekyll and Hyde (2022)
Assistant Stage Manager. Arvada Center. Dir. Tami Losasso
Anastasia (2022)
Stage Manager & Designer. Lakewood HS. Dir. Tami Losasso
