ArtsBC Names New Executive Director

Vancouver , British Columbia – The Board of Directors of ArtsBC/Assembly of BC Arts Councils is very pleased to announce that a new Executive Director has been named.

Having worked as Interim Executive Director since March 2011, Sheryl McGraw has been appointed permanently for the position effective January 2012. Taking over during the administration of the Spirit Programs funding, the organization of our annual conference and Annual General Meeting, Sheryl has shown great adaptability, productivity, leadership, and communication skills. The Board determined that her 15 years of work in the arts and cultural sector in BC, her event management and programming experience and the outstanding work she has done for ArtsBC for the past eight months made her the best candidate for the position.

“The Board is thrilled that Sheryl has decided to continue on in her position and lead the organization during a period of exciting and challenging change,” said Board President Joan Richoz.

“Sheryl’s passion for the development of arts and culture, her profound understanding of the important role ArtsBC plays in the province and her vision for the future make her an excellent choice,” she added.

Ms. McGraw succeeds Junko Sakamoto who worked for ArtsBC from January 2008 until May 2011 when she resigned from the position.

Sheryl is well-known in the arts community in BC having worked as the manager for the Arts Sector Engagement for 2010 Legacies Now, as the Interim General Manager for the Creative City Network of Canada, as the Conference and Special Projects Coordinator for the BC Touring Council and as the Campaign Manager for the Vancouver East Culture Centre capital campaign. She has strong ties to arts service organizations in BC and has worked closely with the municipal, provincial and federal funders. She is well respected among her peers and brings a commitment to and strong belief in the goals of ArtsBC.

“I am both delighted and honoured to be given this opportunity to continue to work with ArtsBC’s member organizations around the province, our partners, funders and with the remarkable people who work so hard to develop arts and culture in British Columbia” said Ms. McGraw.

Sheryl plans to relocate ArtsBC’s office from Nanaimo to the Metro Vancouver area in the coming months. A change of address will be sent out once the new office location has been determined.