Two prestigious members of B.C.’s arts and culture community, Susan Jackson and Yosef Wosk, have been appointed to the BC Arts Council board.

Appointed in July, Susan Jackson has more than 20 years of arts administration and consulting experience in British Columbia’s arts and non-profit sectors. Since 2012, she has served as executive director of the YVR Art Foundation, overseeing grants, scholarships and exhibition opportunities for B.C. and Yukon First Nations artists. She has also held leadership roles at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Knowledge Network, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Craft Council of BC. In addition to her work, Jackson volunteers at Vantage Point, where she has co-developed and facilitated educational workshops for arts organization leaders.

Appointed in November, Yosef Wosk is the former director of interdisciplinary programs in continuing studies at Simon Fraser University, where he still serves as Shadbolt Fellow and adjunct professor in the Department of Humanities. Identified as one of the top 10 thinkers and most thoughtful citizens in the province, he is an appointed member of the Order of British Columbia and a recipient of both the Queen's Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals. Wosk remains active in the areas of education, libraries, museums, the arts, social services, heritage conservation, gardens, philanthropy and religion.

For detailed biographies of BC Arts Council members, visit: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca/about/councilmembers.htm

Established in 1995, the BC Arts Council is the Government of British Columbia’s lead agency for arts funding and development, assisting artists and cultural organizations throughout the province. The council’s board, appointed through Orders in Council, are selected for their expertise and dedication to the arts. Members represent the province’s regions, cultural diversity and artistic communities.

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

“Congratulations to the two newest members of the BC Arts Council board. The incredible knowledge and expertise both Susan Jackson and Yosef Wosk bring will be a great resource for the council. Their insight will help support a thriving creative economy in the province for the benefit of all British Columbians.”

Merla Beckerman, chair, BC Arts Council –

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Susan and Yosef to the BC Arts Council. They both bring a wealth of experience to the board, which has representation from throughout the province. The addition of these two gifted members will enhance the board’s oversight of our program development and council’s ongoing success in support of B.C.’s artists and arts and culture organizations.”

Quick Facts:

• The B.C. government is spending more than $60 million on artists, arts and culture organizations in 2016-17, including about $17.5 million in community gaming grants.
• In 2016-17, the Government of British Columbia is providing the BC Arts Council with $24 million to help artists and cultural organizations flourish in more than 200 communities throughout the province.
• Since 2001, the BC Arts Council has distributed approximately $283 million to artists, arts groups and cultural organizations across British Columbia.
• The BC Arts Council draws upon the expertise of British Columbia’s arts and culture community to provide an independent peer-review adjudication process.
• In February 2016, the Province launched the three-year Creative Economy Strategy to help grow the creative sector. The strategy focuses on four key areas:
  • Leveraging talent and creative clusters;
  • Accessing new markets;
  • Maximizing investment;
  • Enriching communities.
• The United Nations has identified the creative economy as one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors for income generation, job creation and export earnings.
• With 24,800 artists, B.C. has more artists per capita than any other province.

Learn More:

BC Arts Council: http://www.bcartscouncil.ca

Creative Economy Strategy: http://www.gov.bc.ca/creativeeconomy