Our Team Toronto Arts Council staff work together to support our operations, granting programs and services as well as promote and advocate for the arts in Toronto. Leadership More Kelly Langgard Director & CEO 416-392-6802 x 203 kelly@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Kelly Langgard Director & CEO 416-392-6802 x 203 kelly@torontoartscouncil.org Kelly Langgard is an established arts leader who has worked in public institutions at every level of government, and with communities and partners across Canada and internationally. She has more than 25 years of experience in cultural policy, arts funding, partnerships, stakeholder relations, and non-profit governance and management. Prior to her current role as Director and CEO of the Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, she was Director of Granting at the Ontario Arts Council and held leadership positions at the Canada Council for the Arts in partnership development, international strategy and engagement, and impact research. She has also managed the team at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and been an advisor to Global Affairs Canada on cultural diplomacy. Kelly began her career in the media arts, leading the herland feminist film festival and co-founding the Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival in Calgary before relocating to Toronto to head the Images Festival. In the course of her career, she has initiated and led a range of innovative projects, programs, and partnerships aimed at expanding opportunities for artists and arts organizations, and increasing public appreciation and investment in the arts. More Andrew Suri Director, Planning & Operations 416-392-6802 x 213 andrew@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Andrew Suri Director, Planning & Operations 416-392-6802 x 213 andrew@torontoartscouncil.org Andrew Suri joined TAC in 2010. He studied philosophy and biology (B.Sc. McMaster University, M.Sc. University of Victoria) and commenced doctoral research before he crossed over to the arts and worked as a photographer and filmmaker, and as a performer and educator of the South Asian performing art of banethi. Since then, Andrew co-founded Indian Martial & Performance Art Collective of Toronto, and led community arts projects across Toronto and in India. He has served TAC as Community Arts Officer, Manager – TAC Grants Online, and Director of Granting. Working to improve access to TAC and Foundation programs for under-represented cultural and community groups, Andrew has led the development of many programs and processes, including the Black Arts program, the Newcomer and Refugee programs, the TOArtist Covid-19 Response Fund, the TAC Accessibility Grant and Application Supports, and helped establish TAC’s online granting and the Foundation’s awards systems. With extensive experience in the direction and administration of public funding operations, human resources management, program evaluation, and equity, diversity, and inclusion institutional change, Andrew is passionate about improving operational efficiency while expanding staff and community engagement in organizational mission. Andrew became Director, Planning & Operations in 2023. More Rupal Shah Director, Policy & Programs 416-392-6802 x 211 rupal@torontoarts.org Close modal Rupal Shah Director, Policy & Programs 416-392-6802 x 211 rupal@torontoarts.org Rupal is an experienced and inventive cultural manager with over 20 years of experience leading, supporting and collaborating with artists and communities. Most recently, she was the Interim Associate Director of Granting at Ontario Arts Council. Rupal began her career supporting Canadian theatre artists and performance creators through leadership roles at Nightswimming, Obsidian Theatre, and Summerworks Performance Festival. She then came to Toronto Arts Council where she managed funding programs and partnerships as Strategic Programs Manager. In 2021, she led the creation of a national community of practice as part of the Healthy Communities Initiative, a federal funding program supporting Canadian infrastructure and placemaking initiatives in the wake of COVID-19. Rupal teaches in the Arts Management program at Centennial College. More Dane Bland Director, Development & Engagement 416-392-6802 x 239 dane@torontoarts.org Close modal Dane Bland Director, Development & Engagement 416-392-6802 x 239 dane@torontoarts.org Dane is a Certified Fundraising Executive with a decade of nonprofit experience raising tens of millions of dollars in contributions through corporate and foundation partnerships, major gifts, and multi-channel mass-market campaigns. He is deeply committed to volunteerism, community management, political activism, advocacy, and philanthropy. In addition to his experience in fundraising, Dane brings a wealth of expertise in communications, digital marketing, direct marketing, and media relations. Dane has worked as Head of Development at international LGBTQI+ charity, Rainbow Railroad, and held previous roles in arts, healthcare and higher education. He is a graduate of the Trent University Business Administration Program and Seneca College Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate program. He also sits on the boards of 4th Line Theatre and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Toronto Chapter), and has been a CFRE Ambassador since 2019. Administration More Sarah Mangialardo Senior Coordinator, Executive 416-392-6802 x 226 sarahm@torontoarts.org Close modal Sarah Mangialardo Senior Coordinator, Executive 416-392-6802 x 226 sarahm@torontoarts.org Sarah Mangialardo is an artist, administrator and mother who was born and raised in Toronto. She holds a Master’s degree in Photography from Concordia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Photography from Toronto Metropolitan University. Throughout her career as a visual artist, Sarah’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries in North America and abroad. Her work can be found in collections and publications in Canada as well as Europe, and she has been the recipient of support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Sarah has many years of experience in management, administration and education. Her previous work experience includes working as a digital archivist and administrator at the University of Toronto, as well as teaching at Concordia University. Grants Department More Yazmin Camacho Vela Senior Coordinator, Operations & Grants Process 416-392-6802 x 222 yazmin@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Yazmin Camacho Vela Senior Coordinator, Operations & Grants Process 416-392-6802 x 222 yazmin@torontoartscouncil.org Yazmin is an Arts administrator with years of experience supporting granting opportunities for film, media, and artistic community development projects from diverse roles at the Ministry of Culture, Peru. She has also taken production roles in film and commissioned artistic events. Her most recent work experience with the Pix Film Collective, a Toronto-based grassroots organization that contributes to enriching hybrid and multidisciplinary experimentation in media arts, was awarded the Ignite GLOW scholarship for her outstanding commitment to community development. Yazmin holds a Bachelor in Communication Arts and Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru where she majored in Audiovisual Communication and postsecondary studies in Marketing and Advertising, and is a graduate of Humber College’s Arts Administration and Cultural Management program. More Gursimran Datla Administrator, Technical Support 416-392-6802 x 216 gursimran@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Gursimran Datla Administrator, Technical Support 416-392-6802 x 216 gursimran@torontoartscouncil.org Gursimran Datla is an emerging storyteller, living and working in Toronto. He moved to Toronto in 2016 from India to pursue Post-Secondary studies in filmmaking and arts management. Through the Arts Management program at Centennial College, Gursimran focussed on digital marketing, social media optimization, fundraising, web support, and web development. He has also studied design thinking and a variety of programming languages through Ryerson University. For the past eight years Gursimran has been producing short films, facilitating film workshops, and creating events as a film programmer, and has volunteered at many film, theater and art festivals in Toronto. Gursimran is a past recipient of the TAC Newcomer & Refugee Artist Mentorship grant, and is developing a comedy TV pilot based on the lives of South Asian Canadians. As a writer and director, his short film ‘Cinnamon Tea’ was screened at the South Asian International Film Festival, Toronto and at Emerging Lens Cultural Festival at Halifax, Nova Scotia. As an artist and arts worker, he is interested in the aesthetics of displacement and how the idea of ‘Home’ affects our artistic choices and decision-making. Gursimran is a proponent of equity in the arts, and believes that the enriched multi-cultural nature of the arts in Toronto can bring positive change in the lives of its residents. More Christy DiFelice Program Manager, Music 416-392-6802 x 202 christy@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Christy DiFelice Program Manager, Music 416-392-6802 x 202 christy@torontoartscouncil.org Appointed in 2010 to the position of Music Program Manager, Christy came to TAC from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where she was the Manager of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. A graduate of York University (MA, Ethnomusicology/Musicology; 2008), her studies focused on musics and cultures of the African Diaspora, with a specialization in North American Jazz and Blues. In addition, she has previously worked with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Fine Arts Cultural Studies Department at York University, and as a music copyist. Since its inaugural season (2008), she has sat on the Board of Directors of the Brantford International Jazz Festival. She is particularly passionate about advocating for diversity, arts education, and community development through the arts. More Lena Golubtsova Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 219 lena@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Lena Golubtsova Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 219 lena@torontoartscouncil.org Lena Golubtsova is an arts worker, writer and translator. She holds a Master’s degree in Literature and worked in publishing earlier in her career. Since coming to Canada in 2015, she received a graduate certificate in Arts Administration & Cultural Management from Humber College and has been working in the arts with the focus on visual, public and inter-disciplinary art. She contributed to five editions of Nuit Blanche Toronto, visual art residencies at the Banff Centre, and Awakenings program at Toronto History Museums, among other professional and creative projects. Her most heartfelt interests include access to making and experiencing art; anti-colonial perspectives and practices within immigrant communities and beyond; waste, recycling and non-materiality in the arts; mental health in times of ecological crises; feminism; becoming; and unmediated miracles of daily life. More Tafiya Itiaba-Bayah Program Manager, Dance 416-392-6802 x 224 tafiya@torontoarts.org Close modal Tafiya Itiaba-Bayah Program Manager, Dance 416-392-6802 x 224 tafiya@torontoarts.org Tafiya is an Afro-Canadian movement artist with roots in Saint Lucia and Ghana. A graduate of OCAD University, he has worked with movement and dance as his primary method of expression and exploration for over 15 years. Through street dance culture, music, and movement he has been able to find his voice and empower artists in the GTA and abroad. He has trained, facilitated, competed, performed, and traveled internationally in order to hone his craft. He continues to support the advancement of the Canadian dance community through the development of community programs and resource sharing. Creating opportunities to question the experiences, systems, and environments we live in has been a key component of his community arts practice. He remains grounded in a long term vision of creating healthier and more supportive environments for dancers to grow in community or commercial settings. More Peter Kingstone Program Manager, Visual & Media Arts 416-392-6802 x 208 peter@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Peter Kingstone Program Manager, Visual & Media Arts 416-392-6802 x 208 peter@torontoartscouncil.org Peter Kingstone is a Toronto-based visual artist and curator, working primarily in video and photography. As an independent artist, Peter’s installation pieces have been shown across Canada and internationally, and he was awarded the Untitled Artist Award in 2005 for his installation The Strange Case of peter K. (1974-2004). Peter holds a degree in Philosophy/Cultural Studies from Trent University in Peterborough and a Masters of Fine Art focusing on video and new media from York University in Toronto. Peter has presented at many conferences on the ideas around storytelling and social engagement. Peter started in September 2012 as the Acting Visual/Media Arts Program Manager at Toronto Arts Council. More Caitlin Loney Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 230 caitlin@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Caitlin Loney Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 230 caitlin@torontoartscouncil.org Caitlin Loney comes to Toronto Arts Council as a recent graduate of Humber College’s Arts Administration and Cultural Management program. She also holds a B.A. in English Literature from York University, and her education includes a special focus on Creative Writing and Theatre. In recent years, Caitlin has worked on projects as a Stage Manager and Poetry Editor and continues to explore these passions. Her recent work experience has been with the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), where she assisted with the planning and organizing of special projects/events. A life-long lover and student of the arts, Caitlin is excited to bring her skills and passions to TAC where she aspires to help grow a strong and healthy city through the power of the arts. More Elahe Marjovi Program Manager, Theatre & Large Institutions 416-392-6802 x 220 elahe@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Elahe Marjovi Program Manager, Theatre & Large Institutions 416-392-6802 x 220 elahe@torontoartscouncil.org Elahe Marjovi is an Iranian-Canadian theatre set/costume designer and arts manager. Before moving to Canada in 2014, she spent a year as a set design assistant on Broadway, and a year as invited Professor of Scenic Design at the University of Tehran. In Canada, her devotion to advocating for artists and the arts inspired her to pursue studies in arts management while working as a freelance theatre designer. She has worked for many Canadian companies including Factory Theatre, Centaur Theatre Company, Black Theatre Workshop, Teesi Duniya Theatre, and the National Arts Centre. Elahe has also worked as the fundraising officer for Tirgan, one of the largest festivals celebrating Iranian art and culture in the world. Elahe’s academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree in Architecture (Beheshti University in Iran), a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design (University of Kansas) and a Master’s degree in International Arts Management (HÉC Montreal and SMU Dallas). Elahe’s works have been recognized both locally and internationally, and she has received design nominations for a Dora Award the Fadjr Theatre Festival. She received a National Award in design excellence from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Elahe has also been awarded grants from Toronto Arts Council, Conseil des arts de Montréal, and Canada Council for the Arts. Elahe is currently on leave. More Liza Mattimore Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 231 liza@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Liza Mattimore Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 231 liza@torontoartscouncil.org Liza Mattimore holds a B.A from the University of Toronto and a post-graduate diploma in Culture and Heritage Site Management from Centennial College. She has worked as a Theatre Producer, General Manager, and Arts Administrator for the past 10 years. Prior to joining TAC she served as a Producer for Crow’s Theatre, and as General Manager for both Theatre Direct and Cahoots Theatre. She has also held positions with organisations including Artscape; the Toronto International Film Festival; Catherine Hurley & Company, one of Canada’s leading creative consultancies; The Arcadia Artists Housing Co-Operative; and Big Bang Technology Inc. Liza is particularly interested in the intersections of new technologies, public and private partnerships, accessibility, and support for local and emerging artists. More Sarah Miller-Garvin Interim Program Manager, Theatre 416-392-6802 x 205 sarahmg@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Sarah Miller-Garvin Interim Program Manager, Theatre 416-392-6802 x 205 sarahmg@torontoartscouncil.org Sarah Miller-Garvin is an artist, writer and arts administrator who was born and raised in downtown Toronto. She is a Dora nominated producer and has held positions for a wide breadth of artistic and cultural organizations. Among them are the Paprika Festival, where she served as Director of Production; Yonge-Dundas Square, where she worked in event coordination and Aluna Theatre, where she coordinated the Rutas Panamericanas Festival. She has also filled artistic roles in many independent theatre productions. Sarah has a Honours BA from the University of Toronto, where she focused on Theatre and Gender Studies. She has been working in public funding for the arts at Toronto Arts Council since 2015, supporting a variety of different discipline and strategic programs and initiatives. Sarah is passionate about the importance of Arts and Culture in our city. More Onika Powell Senior Manager, Outreach & Access 416-392-6802 x 209 onika@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Onika Powell Senior Manager, Outreach & Access 416-392-6802 x 209 onika@torontoartscouncil.org Onika is an artist, educator, and cultural leader with over 20 years of experience in the arts sector, working across the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her passion for the arts began in her childhood in Malvern, where she was a member of the Scarborough Caribbean Youth Dance Ensemble. Throughout her career, Onika has been dedicated to using the arts as a tool for mentorship, civic engagement, and community development. She is the co-founder of the non-profit dance company D’LYFE and GoLEFT Creatives, a creative services and consultation company. Holding a degree in Public Service and Liberal Studies and currently pursuing a Master of Education, Onika also teaches in the Arts Management program at Centennial College, where she mentors and inspires the next generation of artists and administrative leaders. Most recently, Onika was the Artistic Director of VIBE Arts. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Onika’s work continues to reflect her commitment to creativity, mentorship, and community. More Rudrapriya Rathore Program Manager, Literary Arts & Music Operating 416-392-6802 x 236 rudrapriya@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Rudrapriya Rathore Program Manager, Literary Arts & Music Operating 416-392-6802 x 236 rudrapriya@torontoartscouncil.org Rudrapriya Rathore is a writer and administrator with several years of experience in the education and cultural sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Toronto and has published her non-fiction work in various magazines including Brick, Hazlitt and The Walrus. Her fiction is featured in online and print publications as well as in The Unpublished City, Volume I, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Toronto Book Award, and After Realism, a 2022 anthology of short stories. In 2021, she was shortlisted for a National Magazine Award in the Essays category. She has previously worked as a college program advisor and a bookseller, and most recently managed administration and production at The Glenn Gould Foundation, where she collaborated with many music organizations to bring concerts and digital programming to an audience of thousands. She is deeply interested in the politics of mentorship and expanding access to creative collaboration for artists in all fields. In 2017, she founded the Flying Books Mentorship Program to empower writers and improve their craft. More Kevin Reigh Senior Manager, Arts Discipline Programs 416-392-6802 x 227 kevin@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Kevin Reigh Senior Manager, Arts Discipline Programs 416-392-6802 x 227 kevin@torontoartscouncil.org Kevin has over 14 years of experience working in the arts/not-for-profit sector, having previously worked at dance Immersion, the Canadian Music Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) and Unity Charity in various administrative, fundraising and outreach capacities. He also founded Mosiah Grant Writing + Creative Communications to help independent artists and smaller not-for-profit organizations navigate the world of grant writing and proposal development. As a writer and spoken-word artist, Kevin has released one album (Ground Provisions) and a volume of poetry (Love. Universes. All Things.) and has collaborated with numerous musicians and dancers throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Kevin also contributed a spoken-word piece, The Real Deal, to Paranoid Jack’s acclaimed album of electronic and house music, The Last of the Funky Cyborgs, and his work was also included in T-Dot Griots: An Anthology of Toronto’s Black Storytellers. More Nawal Salim Interim Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 220 nawal@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Nawal Salim Interim Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 220 nawal@torontoartscouncil.org Nawal Salim is an artistic programs producer, content developer, filmmaker, and actress who has worked with several arts organizations such as Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Ontario Culture Days, MuslimFest, and Silk Road Institute. She has her Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Media from Toronto Metropolitan University and has studied acting at Second City Toronto, Armstrong Studios, LB Acting Studios, and the Professional Actors Lab. Her acting work includes: the short films Taboo, One Day, and TV commercials for Canadian Tire, Government of Ontario, VanCity Bank and more. More Joyce To Administrator, Grants & Outreach 416-392-6802 x 234 joyce@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Joyce To Administrator, Grants & Outreach 416-392-6802 x 234 joyce@torontoartscouncil.org Joyce To is a Toronto-based percussionist, improviser, and new media/sound artist, who explores relationships between aesthetics and ecology through experimental art making. She considers the tensions between aesthetic representations of the natural world in digital media and the material consequences of art-making practices. She aims to create pathways of reflection on contemporary environmental and social discourse through artistic investigation, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Her performance career spans across the globe, having performed in Australia, Japan, America, and Canada. Over the past six years Joyce has also gained a wealth of administrative and stage management experience through festival management and co-curator roles. Joyce’s output includes presenting works at conferences and international festivals, premiering 50+ new works, and collaborating with improvisers, artists, composers, dancers, and writers. Joyce has trained as a percussionist in Australia and Canada. She holds a Masters in Performance from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Research & Impact More Kadija de Paula Senior Manager, Research, Impact & Evaluation kadija@torontoarts.org Close modal Kadija de Paula Senior Manager, Research, Impact & Evaluation kadija@torontoarts.org Kadija de Paula is an artist, writer and arts administrator passionate about the intrinsic value of art and its transformative power. As Senior Manager, Impact & Evaluation at the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, Kadija draws on a wealth of experience from her previous roles as Evaluation Manager and Interim Strategic Programs Manager at TAC/TAF. Her global perspective is informed by her work on Brazil’s National Arts Policy and her facilitation of a network of 27 artist residencies across 14 Latin American countries. In Toronto, she has made significant contributions to the arts through positions at the Ontario Arts Council, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, and XPACE Cultural Centre. Kadija holds an International MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a BFA from OCAD University. Her artistic and literary works have been presented in venues and publications worldwide, including the 32nd São Paulo Art Biennial, Q21 MuseumsQuartier Vienna, Kunsthaus Dresden, and Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. More François Lebas Manager, Data Analytics 416-392-6802 x 207 francois@torontoarts.org Close modal François Lebas Manager, Data Analytics 416-392-6802 x 207 francois@torontoarts.org Raised in Western France in a family where music held primary importance, François began studying choir singing and music theory at the age of six, later expanding his talents to piano and guitar. In 2017, he graduated from a renown engineering master’s program with a specialization in Urban Engineering and launched a career in the technology sector. He immigrated to Toronto two years later in pursuit of new professional opportunities and quickly developed a passion for hands-on work in web application development and end-to-end analytics solutions. Joining the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, François is excited to bring his technical skills to serve local artists and organizations, building stronger communities, and creating a city that we all love. Marketing & Communications More Selina McCallum Coordinator, Communications 416-392-6802 x 238 selina@torontoarts.org Close modal Selina McCallum Coordinator, Communications 416-392-6802 x 238 selina@torontoarts.org Selina McCallum is a hardworking and ambitious social media manager, filmmaker, photographer and videographer who is passionate about digital storytelling, music and social justice. She was born in Toronto and raised by her Tanzanian mother and Jamaican father. She graduated from the University of Windsor in spring 2019 with a double degree in Digital Journalism and Communications Media and Film. She started her photography business, Shot By Selina in 2016, and has worked with brands, models and businesses. In 2018, Selina won a national award for her videography work in her short documentary Marley’s Journey, which was also featured in Windsor Shorts 2019 on CBC GEM. Her film, Prison Bars to Page Lines a part of the Being Black in Canada Program was also nationally broadcasted on CBC and available to watch on CBC GEM. Her most recent documentary, Fitriya: Muslim On and Off The Court, has been selected in film festivals nationally and internationally. Selina has successfully worked on communications and social media management projects for production houses in Toronto and music labels like Warner Music Canada. In her free time, she loves to watch movies, spend time with her family and go for walks. More Maggie Parkhill Senior Coordinator, Marketing & Communications maggie@torontoarts.org Close modal Maggie Parkhill Senior Coordinator, Marketing & Communications maggie@torontoarts.org Maggie Parkhill is a communications and marketing specialist, a former journalist, and an acting school dropout. After earning her Master of Journalism degree from Carleton University, she went on to write, edit, and produce for Canadian news outlets including CTV News before joining the team at the Toronto International Film Festival as the Editor and Senior Coordinator. When she’s not in the office, her cat Rupert is her work-from-home supervisor and reality TV buddy. More Clau Souza Senior Graphic Designer clau@torontoarts.org Close modal Clau Souza Senior Graphic Designer clau@torontoarts.org Clau Souza is a Brazilian Designer + Illustrator. Over the years, she has engaged in collaborative ventures across a broad spectrum of creative projects and teams, including partnerships with publishers, advertising agencies, game companies, and non-profit organizations around the world. With a Bachelor Degree in Advertising and post-graduate studies in Graphic Design and Arts Education and Community Engagement, her work is deeply rooted in fostering connections among communities and empowering people and projects that leave a positive, worldwide impact. Clau’s unwavering belief is that design is a force for change, driving her passion and curiosity for a creative approach focused on sustainable practices and accessible design solutions. Finances More Armen Karapetyan Senior Manager, Finance & Facilities 416-392-6802 x 210 armen@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Armen Karapetyan Senior Manager, Finance & Facilities 416-392-6802 x 210 armen@torontoartscouncil.org Armen Karapetyan has extensive working experience with numerous non-profit organizations, predominantly in administration and finance. Prior to moving to Toronto, Armen lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he held a position at the Barthelmes Conservatory of Music, a rewarding and enjoyable experience he recalls with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Immediately upon his arrival, Armen immersed himself into the Toronto art scene by volunteering with local arts organizations, including the Toronto Summer Music Festival, The Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, Canada’s National Ballet School and b Current Performing Arts, where he assisted with administrative, marketing, and accounting duties. Armen holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and currently serves on the Board of Directors with Sinfonia Toronto.
More Kelly Langgard Director & CEO 416-392-6802 x 203 kelly@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Kelly Langgard Director & CEO 416-392-6802 x 203 kelly@torontoartscouncil.org Kelly Langgard is an established arts leader who has worked in public institutions at every level of government, and with communities and partners across Canada and internationally. She has more than 25 years of experience in cultural policy, arts funding, partnerships, stakeholder relations, and non-profit governance and management. Prior to her current role as Director and CEO of the Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, she was Director of Granting at the Ontario Arts Council and held leadership positions at the Canada Council for the Arts in partnership development, international strategy and engagement, and impact research. She has also managed the team at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and been an advisor to Global Affairs Canada on cultural diplomacy. Kelly began her career in the media arts, leading the herland feminist film festival and co-founding the Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival in Calgary before relocating to Toronto to head the Images Festival. In the course of her career, she has initiated and led a range of innovative projects, programs, and partnerships aimed at expanding opportunities for artists and arts organizations, and increasing public appreciation and investment in the arts.
More Andrew Suri Director, Planning & Operations 416-392-6802 x 213 andrew@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Andrew Suri Director, Planning & Operations 416-392-6802 x 213 andrew@torontoartscouncil.org Andrew Suri joined TAC in 2010. He studied philosophy and biology (B.Sc. McMaster University, M.Sc. University of Victoria) and commenced doctoral research before he crossed over to the arts and worked as a photographer and filmmaker, and as a performer and educator of the South Asian performing art of banethi. Since then, Andrew co-founded Indian Martial & Performance Art Collective of Toronto, and led community arts projects across Toronto and in India. He has served TAC as Community Arts Officer, Manager – TAC Grants Online, and Director of Granting. Working to improve access to TAC and Foundation programs for under-represented cultural and community groups, Andrew has led the development of many programs and processes, including the Black Arts program, the Newcomer and Refugee programs, the TOArtist Covid-19 Response Fund, the TAC Accessibility Grant and Application Supports, and helped establish TAC’s online granting and the Foundation’s awards systems. With extensive experience in the direction and administration of public funding operations, human resources management, program evaluation, and equity, diversity, and inclusion institutional change, Andrew is passionate about improving operational efficiency while expanding staff and community engagement in organizational mission. Andrew became Director, Planning & Operations in 2023.
More Rupal Shah Director, Policy & Programs 416-392-6802 x 211 rupal@torontoarts.org Close modal Rupal Shah Director, Policy & Programs 416-392-6802 x 211 rupal@torontoarts.org Rupal is an experienced and inventive cultural manager with over 20 years of experience leading, supporting and collaborating with artists and communities. Most recently, she was the Interim Associate Director of Granting at Ontario Arts Council. Rupal began her career supporting Canadian theatre artists and performance creators through leadership roles at Nightswimming, Obsidian Theatre, and Summerworks Performance Festival. She then came to Toronto Arts Council where she managed funding programs and partnerships as Strategic Programs Manager. In 2021, she led the creation of a national community of practice as part of the Healthy Communities Initiative, a federal funding program supporting Canadian infrastructure and placemaking initiatives in the wake of COVID-19. Rupal teaches in the Arts Management program at Centennial College.
More Dane Bland Director, Development & Engagement 416-392-6802 x 239 dane@torontoarts.org Close modal Dane Bland Director, Development & Engagement 416-392-6802 x 239 dane@torontoarts.org Dane is a Certified Fundraising Executive with a decade of nonprofit experience raising tens of millions of dollars in contributions through corporate and foundation partnerships, major gifts, and multi-channel mass-market campaigns. He is deeply committed to volunteerism, community management, political activism, advocacy, and philanthropy. In addition to his experience in fundraising, Dane brings a wealth of expertise in communications, digital marketing, direct marketing, and media relations. Dane has worked as Head of Development at international LGBTQI+ charity, Rainbow Railroad, and held previous roles in arts, healthcare and higher education. He is a graduate of the Trent University Business Administration Program and Seneca College Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate program. He also sits on the boards of 4th Line Theatre and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Toronto Chapter), and has been a CFRE Ambassador since 2019.
More Sarah Mangialardo Senior Coordinator, Executive 416-392-6802 x 226 sarahm@torontoarts.org Close modal Sarah Mangialardo Senior Coordinator, Executive 416-392-6802 x 226 sarahm@torontoarts.org Sarah Mangialardo is an artist, administrator and mother who was born and raised in Toronto. She holds a Master’s degree in Photography from Concordia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Photography from Toronto Metropolitan University. Throughout her career as a visual artist, Sarah’s artwork has been exhibited in galleries in North America and abroad. Her work can be found in collections and publications in Canada as well as Europe, and she has been the recipient of support from the Canada Council for the Arts. Sarah has many years of experience in management, administration and education. Her previous work experience includes working as a digital archivist and administrator at the University of Toronto, as well as teaching at Concordia University.
More Yazmin Camacho Vela Senior Coordinator, Operations & Grants Process 416-392-6802 x 222 yazmin@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Yazmin Camacho Vela Senior Coordinator, Operations & Grants Process 416-392-6802 x 222 yazmin@torontoartscouncil.org Yazmin is an Arts administrator with years of experience supporting granting opportunities for film, media, and artistic community development projects from diverse roles at the Ministry of Culture, Peru. She has also taken production roles in film and commissioned artistic events. Her most recent work experience with the Pix Film Collective, a Toronto-based grassroots organization that contributes to enriching hybrid and multidisciplinary experimentation in media arts, was awarded the Ignite GLOW scholarship for her outstanding commitment to community development. Yazmin holds a Bachelor in Communication Arts and Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru where she majored in Audiovisual Communication and postsecondary studies in Marketing and Advertising, and is a graduate of Humber College’s Arts Administration and Cultural Management program.
More Gursimran Datla Administrator, Technical Support 416-392-6802 x 216 gursimran@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Gursimran Datla Administrator, Technical Support 416-392-6802 x 216 gursimran@torontoartscouncil.org Gursimran Datla is an emerging storyteller, living and working in Toronto. He moved to Toronto in 2016 from India to pursue Post-Secondary studies in filmmaking and arts management. Through the Arts Management program at Centennial College, Gursimran focussed on digital marketing, social media optimization, fundraising, web support, and web development. He has also studied design thinking and a variety of programming languages through Ryerson University. For the past eight years Gursimran has been producing short films, facilitating film workshops, and creating events as a film programmer, and has volunteered at many film, theater and art festivals in Toronto. Gursimran is a past recipient of the TAC Newcomer & Refugee Artist Mentorship grant, and is developing a comedy TV pilot based on the lives of South Asian Canadians. As a writer and director, his short film ‘Cinnamon Tea’ was screened at the South Asian International Film Festival, Toronto and at Emerging Lens Cultural Festival at Halifax, Nova Scotia. As an artist and arts worker, he is interested in the aesthetics of displacement and how the idea of ‘Home’ affects our artistic choices and decision-making. Gursimran is a proponent of equity in the arts, and believes that the enriched multi-cultural nature of the arts in Toronto can bring positive change in the lives of its residents.
More Christy DiFelice Program Manager, Music 416-392-6802 x 202 christy@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Christy DiFelice Program Manager, Music 416-392-6802 x 202 christy@torontoartscouncil.org Appointed in 2010 to the position of Music Program Manager, Christy came to TAC from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where she was the Manager of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. A graduate of York University (MA, Ethnomusicology/Musicology; 2008), her studies focused on musics and cultures of the African Diaspora, with a specialization in North American Jazz and Blues. In addition, she has previously worked with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Fine Arts Cultural Studies Department at York University, and as a music copyist. Since its inaugural season (2008), she has sat on the Board of Directors of the Brantford International Jazz Festival. She is particularly passionate about advocating for diversity, arts education, and community development through the arts.
More Lena Golubtsova Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 219 lena@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Lena Golubtsova Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 219 lena@torontoartscouncil.org Lena Golubtsova is an arts worker, writer and translator. She holds a Master’s degree in Literature and worked in publishing earlier in her career. Since coming to Canada in 2015, she received a graduate certificate in Arts Administration & Cultural Management from Humber College and has been working in the arts with the focus on visual, public and inter-disciplinary art. She contributed to five editions of Nuit Blanche Toronto, visual art residencies at the Banff Centre, and Awakenings program at Toronto History Museums, among other professional and creative projects. Her most heartfelt interests include access to making and experiencing art; anti-colonial perspectives and practices within immigrant communities and beyond; waste, recycling and non-materiality in the arts; mental health in times of ecological crises; feminism; becoming; and unmediated miracles of daily life.
More Tafiya Itiaba-Bayah Program Manager, Dance 416-392-6802 x 224 tafiya@torontoarts.org Close modal Tafiya Itiaba-Bayah Program Manager, Dance 416-392-6802 x 224 tafiya@torontoarts.org Tafiya is an Afro-Canadian movement artist with roots in Saint Lucia and Ghana. A graduate of OCAD University, he has worked with movement and dance as his primary method of expression and exploration for over 15 years. Through street dance culture, music, and movement he has been able to find his voice and empower artists in the GTA and abroad. He has trained, facilitated, competed, performed, and traveled internationally in order to hone his craft. He continues to support the advancement of the Canadian dance community through the development of community programs and resource sharing. Creating opportunities to question the experiences, systems, and environments we live in has been a key component of his community arts practice. He remains grounded in a long term vision of creating healthier and more supportive environments for dancers to grow in community or commercial settings.
More Peter Kingstone Program Manager, Visual & Media Arts 416-392-6802 x 208 peter@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Peter Kingstone Program Manager, Visual & Media Arts 416-392-6802 x 208 peter@torontoartscouncil.org Peter Kingstone is a Toronto-based visual artist and curator, working primarily in video and photography. As an independent artist, Peter’s installation pieces have been shown across Canada and internationally, and he was awarded the Untitled Artist Award in 2005 for his installation The Strange Case of peter K. (1974-2004). Peter holds a degree in Philosophy/Cultural Studies from Trent University in Peterborough and a Masters of Fine Art focusing on video and new media from York University in Toronto. Peter has presented at many conferences on the ideas around storytelling and social engagement. Peter started in September 2012 as the Acting Visual/Media Arts Program Manager at Toronto Arts Council.
More Caitlin Loney Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 230 caitlin@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Caitlin Loney Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 230 caitlin@torontoartscouncil.org Caitlin Loney comes to Toronto Arts Council as a recent graduate of Humber College’s Arts Administration and Cultural Management program. She also holds a B.A. in English Literature from York University, and her education includes a special focus on Creative Writing and Theatre. In recent years, Caitlin has worked on projects as a Stage Manager and Poetry Editor and continues to explore these passions. Her recent work experience has been with the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), where she assisted with the planning and organizing of special projects/events. A life-long lover and student of the arts, Caitlin is excited to bring her skills and passions to TAC where she aspires to help grow a strong and healthy city through the power of the arts.
More Elahe Marjovi Program Manager, Theatre & Large Institutions 416-392-6802 x 220 elahe@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Elahe Marjovi Program Manager, Theatre & Large Institutions 416-392-6802 x 220 elahe@torontoartscouncil.org Elahe Marjovi is an Iranian-Canadian theatre set/costume designer and arts manager. Before moving to Canada in 2014, she spent a year as a set design assistant on Broadway, and a year as invited Professor of Scenic Design at the University of Tehran. In Canada, her devotion to advocating for artists and the arts inspired her to pursue studies in arts management while working as a freelance theatre designer. She has worked for many Canadian companies including Factory Theatre, Centaur Theatre Company, Black Theatre Workshop, Teesi Duniya Theatre, and the National Arts Centre. Elahe has also worked as the fundraising officer for Tirgan, one of the largest festivals celebrating Iranian art and culture in the world. Elahe’s academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree in Architecture (Beheshti University in Iran), a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Design (University of Kansas) and a Master’s degree in International Arts Management (HÉC Montreal and SMU Dallas). Elahe’s works have been recognized both locally and internationally, and she has received design nominations for a Dora Award the Fadjr Theatre Festival. She received a National Award in design excellence from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Elahe has also been awarded grants from Toronto Arts Council, Conseil des arts de Montréal, and Canada Council for the Arts. Elahe is currently on leave.
More Liza Mattimore Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 231 liza@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Liza Mattimore Program Manager, Strategic Initiatives 416-392-6802 x 231 liza@torontoartscouncil.org Liza Mattimore holds a B.A from the University of Toronto and a post-graduate diploma in Culture and Heritage Site Management from Centennial College. She has worked as a Theatre Producer, General Manager, and Arts Administrator for the past 10 years. Prior to joining TAC she served as a Producer for Crow’s Theatre, and as General Manager for both Theatre Direct and Cahoots Theatre. She has also held positions with organisations including Artscape; the Toronto International Film Festival; Catherine Hurley & Company, one of Canada’s leading creative consultancies; The Arcadia Artists Housing Co-Operative; and Big Bang Technology Inc. Liza is particularly interested in the intersections of new technologies, public and private partnerships, accessibility, and support for local and emerging artists.
More Sarah Miller-Garvin Interim Program Manager, Theatre 416-392-6802 x 205 sarahmg@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Sarah Miller-Garvin Interim Program Manager, Theatre 416-392-6802 x 205 sarahmg@torontoartscouncil.org Sarah Miller-Garvin is an artist, writer and arts administrator who was born and raised in downtown Toronto. She is a Dora nominated producer and has held positions for a wide breadth of artistic and cultural organizations. Among them are the Paprika Festival, where she served as Director of Production; Yonge-Dundas Square, where she worked in event coordination and Aluna Theatre, where she coordinated the Rutas Panamericanas Festival. She has also filled artistic roles in many independent theatre productions. Sarah has a Honours BA from the University of Toronto, where she focused on Theatre and Gender Studies. She has been working in public funding for the arts at Toronto Arts Council since 2015, supporting a variety of different discipline and strategic programs and initiatives. Sarah is passionate about the importance of Arts and Culture in our city.
More Onika Powell Senior Manager, Outreach & Access 416-392-6802 x 209 onika@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Onika Powell Senior Manager, Outreach & Access 416-392-6802 x 209 onika@torontoartscouncil.org Onika is an artist, educator, and cultural leader with over 20 years of experience in the arts sector, working across the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Her passion for the arts began in her childhood in Malvern, where she was a member of the Scarborough Caribbean Youth Dance Ensemble. Throughout her career, Onika has been dedicated to using the arts as a tool for mentorship, civic engagement, and community development. She is the co-founder of the non-profit dance company D’LYFE and GoLEFT Creatives, a creative services and consultation company. Holding a degree in Public Service and Liberal Studies and currently pursuing a Master of Education, Onika also teaches in the Arts Management program at Centennial College, where she mentors and inspires the next generation of artists and administrative leaders. Most recently, Onika was the Artistic Director of VIBE Arts. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Onika’s work continues to reflect her commitment to creativity, mentorship, and community.
More Rudrapriya Rathore Program Manager, Literary Arts & Music Operating 416-392-6802 x 236 rudrapriya@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Rudrapriya Rathore Program Manager, Literary Arts & Music Operating 416-392-6802 x 236 rudrapriya@torontoartscouncil.org Rudrapriya Rathore is a writer and administrator with several years of experience in the education and cultural sectors. She holds a Master’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Toronto and has published her non-fiction work in various magazines including Brick, Hazlitt and The Walrus. Her fiction is featured in online and print publications as well as in The Unpublished City, Volume I, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Toronto Book Award, and After Realism, a 2022 anthology of short stories. In 2021, she was shortlisted for a National Magazine Award in the Essays category. She has previously worked as a college program advisor and a bookseller, and most recently managed administration and production at The Glenn Gould Foundation, where she collaborated with many music organizations to bring concerts and digital programming to an audience of thousands. She is deeply interested in the politics of mentorship and expanding access to creative collaboration for artists in all fields. In 2017, she founded the Flying Books Mentorship Program to empower writers and improve their craft.
More Kevin Reigh Senior Manager, Arts Discipline Programs 416-392-6802 x 227 kevin@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Kevin Reigh Senior Manager, Arts Discipline Programs 416-392-6802 x 227 kevin@torontoartscouncil.org Kevin has over 14 years of experience working in the arts/not-for-profit sector, having previously worked at dance Immersion, the Canadian Music Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) and Unity Charity in various administrative, fundraising and outreach capacities. He also founded Mosiah Grant Writing + Creative Communications to help independent artists and smaller not-for-profit organizations navigate the world of grant writing and proposal development. As a writer and spoken-word artist, Kevin has released one album (Ground Provisions) and a volume of poetry (Love. Universes. All Things.) and has collaborated with numerous musicians and dancers throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Kevin also contributed a spoken-word piece, The Real Deal, to Paranoid Jack’s acclaimed album of electronic and house music, The Last of the Funky Cyborgs, and his work was also included in T-Dot Griots: An Anthology of Toronto’s Black Storytellers.
More Nawal Salim Interim Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 220 nawal@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Nawal Salim Interim Administrator, Grants Support 416-392-6802 x 220 nawal@torontoartscouncil.org Nawal Salim is an artistic programs producer, content developer, filmmaker, and actress who has worked with several arts organizations such as Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Ontario Culture Days, MuslimFest, and Silk Road Institute. She has her Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Media from Toronto Metropolitan University and has studied acting at Second City Toronto, Armstrong Studios, LB Acting Studios, and the Professional Actors Lab. Her acting work includes: the short films Taboo, One Day, and TV commercials for Canadian Tire, Government of Ontario, VanCity Bank and more.
More Joyce To Administrator, Grants & Outreach 416-392-6802 x 234 joyce@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Joyce To Administrator, Grants & Outreach 416-392-6802 x 234 joyce@torontoartscouncil.org Joyce To is a Toronto-based percussionist, improviser, and new media/sound artist, who explores relationships between aesthetics and ecology through experimental art making. She considers the tensions between aesthetic representations of the natural world in digital media and the material consequences of art-making practices. She aims to create pathways of reflection on contemporary environmental and social discourse through artistic investigation, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Her performance career spans across the globe, having performed in Australia, Japan, America, and Canada. Over the past six years Joyce has also gained a wealth of administrative and stage management experience through festival management and co-curator roles. Joyce’s output includes presenting works at conferences and international festivals, premiering 50+ new works, and collaborating with improvisers, artists, composers, dancers, and writers. Joyce has trained as a percussionist in Australia and Canada. She holds a Masters in Performance from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.
More Kadija de Paula Senior Manager, Research, Impact & Evaluation kadija@torontoarts.org Close modal Kadija de Paula Senior Manager, Research, Impact & Evaluation kadija@torontoarts.org Kadija de Paula is an artist, writer and arts administrator passionate about the intrinsic value of art and its transformative power. As Senior Manager, Impact & Evaluation at the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, Kadija draws on a wealth of experience from her previous roles as Evaluation Manager and Interim Strategic Programs Manager at TAC/TAF. Her global perspective is informed by her work on Brazil’s National Arts Policy and her facilitation of a network of 27 artist residencies across 14 Latin American countries. In Toronto, she has made significant contributions to the arts through positions at the Ontario Arts Council, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, and XPACE Cultural Centre. Kadija holds an International MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a BFA from OCAD University. Her artistic and literary works have been presented in venues and publications worldwide, including the 32nd São Paulo Art Biennial, Q21 MuseumsQuartier Vienna, Kunsthaus Dresden, and Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.
More François Lebas Manager, Data Analytics 416-392-6802 x 207 francois@torontoarts.org Close modal François Lebas Manager, Data Analytics 416-392-6802 x 207 francois@torontoarts.org Raised in Western France in a family where music held primary importance, François began studying choir singing and music theory at the age of six, later expanding his talents to piano and guitar. In 2017, he graduated from a renown engineering master’s program with a specialization in Urban Engineering and launched a career in the technology sector. He immigrated to Toronto two years later in pursuit of new professional opportunities and quickly developed a passion for hands-on work in web application development and end-to-end analytics solutions. Joining the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, François is excited to bring his technical skills to serve local artists and organizations, building stronger communities, and creating a city that we all love.
More Selina McCallum Coordinator, Communications 416-392-6802 x 238 selina@torontoarts.org Close modal Selina McCallum Coordinator, Communications 416-392-6802 x 238 selina@torontoarts.org Selina McCallum is a hardworking and ambitious social media manager, filmmaker, photographer and videographer who is passionate about digital storytelling, music and social justice. She was born in Toronto and raised by her Tanzanian mother and Jamaican father. She graduated from the University of Windsor in spring 2019 with a double degree in Digital Journalism and Communications Media and Film. She started her photography business, Shot By Selina in 2016, and has worked with brands, models and businesses. In 2018, Selina won a national award for her videography work in her short documentary Marley’s Journey, which was also featured in Windsor Shorts 2019 on CBC GEM. Her film, Prison Bars to Page Lines a part of the Being Black in Canada Program was also nationally broadcasted on CBC and available to watch on CBC GEM. Her most recent documentary, Fitriya: Muslim On and Off The Court, has been selected in film festivals nationally and internationally. Selina has successfully worked on communications and social media management projects for production houses in Toronto and music labels like Warner Music Canada. In her free time, she loves to watch movies, spend time with her family and go for walks.
More Maggie Parkhill Senior Coordinator, Marketing & Communications maggie@torontoarts.org Close modal Maggie Parkhill Senior Coordinator, Marketing & Communications maggie@torontoarts.org Maggie Parkhill is a communications and marketing specialist, a former journalist, and an acting school dropout. After earning her Master of Journalism degree from Carleton University, she went on to write, edit, and produce for Canadian news outlets including CTV News before joining the team at the Toronto International Film Festival as the Editor and Senior Coordinator. When she’s not in the office, her cat Rupert is her work-from-home supervisor and reality TV buddy.
More Clau Souza Senior Graphic Designer clau@torontoarts.org Close modal Clau Souza Senior Graphic Designer clau@torontoarts.org Clau Souza is a Brazilian Designer + Illustrator. Over the years, she has engaged in collaborative ventures across a broad spectrum of creative projects and teams, including partnerships with publishers, advertising agencies, game companies, and non-profit organizations around the world. With a Bachelor Degree in Advertising and post-graduate studies in Graphic Design and Arts Education and Community Engagement, her work is deeply rooted in fostering connections among communities and empowering people and projects that leave a positive, worldwide impact. Clau’s unwavering belief is that design is a force for change, driving her passion and curiosity for a creative approach focused on sustainable practices and accessible design solutions.
More Armen Karapetyan Senior Manager, Finance & Facilities 416-392-6802 x 210 armen@torontoartscouncil.org Close modal Armen Karapetyan Senior Manager, Finance & Facilities 416-392-6802 x 210 armen@torontoartscouncil.org Armen Karapetyan has extensive working experience with numerous non-profit organizations, predominantly in administration and finance. Prior to moving to Toronto, Armen lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he held a position at the Barthelmes Conservatory of Music, a rewarding and enjoyable experience he recalls with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Immediately upon his arrival, Armen immersed himself into the Toronto art scene by volunteering with local arts organizations, including the Toronto Summer Music Festival, The Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, Canada’s National Ballet School and b Current Performing Arts, where he assisted with administrative, marketing, and accounting duties. Armen holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and currently serves on the Board of Directors with Sinfonia Toronto.