Outgoing Canadian Art Foundation executive director and publisher Ann Webb / photo Marlo Szellos
The board of directors of the Canadian Art Foundation has announced that Ann Webb, executive director of the foundation and publisher of Canadian Art, is leaving her position after a long, successful history with the foundation.
While continuing to pursue her interests in visual arts and culture at the local, national and international levels, Webb will participate in the inaugural International Leadership Program in Visual Arts Management in Bilbao, New York and Abu Dhabi through New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Deusto Business School, and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
Ann began working with the foundation in 1995. In 1996, she coordinated the first Canadian Art Gallery Hop in Toronto, now in its 18th year and presented annually in Vancouver as well. In 2004, Webb founded the Reel Artists Film Festival, the only festival in North America devoted to screening documentaries about visual art and artists. Over the past 10 years, the festival has featured Canadian and world premieres and hosted special presentations with art-world figures. In 2010, Webb led the rebranding of the foundation, positioning the organization as a leader in the advancement of the visual arts in Canada.
In her role as executive director, Webb expanded the reach of the foundation through collaborations and partnerships with Canadian and international colleagues, presenting programs to audiences across the country, such as the Asia Contemporary Speaker Series with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the forthcoming Paris-Toronto symposium “The Ecology of an Art Scene” with the Consulate General of France in Toronto. She has developed strong relationships with sponsors, donors, granting agencies and volunteers across the country to successfully achieve the foundation’s mission.
As publisher of the foundation’s award-winning print and digital media properties Canadian Art and Canadianart.ca, Webb worked closely with the foundation team to meet the challenges of today’s dynamic publishing environment, relaunching the website and releasing Canadian Art’s tablet edition.
Webb’s last day with the foundation will be October 4, 2013. The board has begun a search process for a new executive director and publisher with a view to supporting the foundation’s current priorities and expanding its strategic initiatives. Jacqueline Howe, who has held the position of publishing consultant with the foundation, has agreed to act as interim executive director and publisher during the search process. The board looks forward to working with Howe in this new position and has full confidence in her ability to lead the foundation.
Webb made an invaluable contribution to the Canadian Art Foundation. On behalf of everyone at the foundation, the board would like to thank her for her commitment and dedication to the foundation and wishes her every success in her future endeavours.
