Michelle Chawla (courtesy LinkedIn)
Michelle Chawla will be director and chief executive officer of the Canada Council for the Arts for a five-year term, effective June 26, says Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez.
The government went with an internal promotion with Chawla, who has worked at the Canada Council since 1995 and is now the council's director general of strategy, public affairs and arts engagement, where she is responsible for communications, strategic planning, international coordination and cultural diplomacy.
She will replace the current head, Simon Brault, who released a recent farewell message that was critical of governments that continue to fall short on funding for the arts sector. Brault, who served two five-year terms in the senior post, steps down on June 23.
"Michelle Chawla's impressive leadership and extensive experience in various senior roles at the Canada Council for the Arts makes her uniquely qualified for this position," said Rodriguez, who also thanked Brault for his "exemplary leadership and vision."
Chawla, who is fluently bilingual, comes from a Punjabi and Quebecois background, and is a member of the Sikh community.
Over the years, she has held other senior positions at the council, including corporate secretary and director of strategic initiatives, secretary-general for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and head of arts services.
Chawla has experience in arts and culture policy, program development, equity, corporate governance, government and stakeholder relations, transformation initiatives, international engagement and cultural relations, the announcement said.
The council, Canada's public art funder, is a Crown corporation that provides grants, services and prizes to Canadian artists and arts organizations. It is governed by an 11-member board.
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