New Executive Director for Prince George & District Community Arts Council

SEAN FARRELL
IMAGE: BRENT BAATEN

Sean Farrell has been appointed executive director of the Prince George & District Community Arts Council, stepping in to coincide with the organization's 40th year.

Farrell has degrees in music and economics and a background in marketing and non-profit leadership. Originally from Ontario, he started as a classical pianist in Toronto before a road accident made him pursue arts administration and then education in Toronto for nearly 20 years. He moved to Vancouver in 2005 and Prince George in 2013.

"I think Prince George is a city in an awesome position," said Farrell. "I don't think there are as many cities of this size anywhere across Canada that has this abundance of amenities, and so many of those amenities are tied to arts and culture. That is really a testament to a pioneering spirit in Prince George's past that said 'we deserve it, we are the capital of northern BC and we have to act like it. It is also testament to the thousands of years of First Nations culture here. People saw, so long ago it's impossible to really measure, that there was something special about this area, there are special qualities to this place, and that's why you have a community here now. So it has been the capital of northern BC for a very long time, and if we want to maintain that standing, we have to maintain our focus on having a thriving arts and culture sector."

Farrell replaces former executive director Wendy Young, who left the organization in summer 2016. He joined the organization in September.