Arts Council welcomes new executive director

NEWS RELEASE ARTS COUNCIL OF SAULT STE. MARIE AND DISTRICT ************************* Chris Rous, President of the Arts Council of Sault Ste.

NEWS RELEASE

ARTS COUNCIL OF SAULT STE. MARIE AND DISTRICT

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Chris Rous, President of the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie & District is delighted to welcome Valerie King as the new Executive Director, thanks to an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant.

Valerie brings with her a BA in Theatre Arts, a College Diploma in Office Administration (Executive) and many years' experience with Not for Profit agencies, Government Agencies, and local businesses.

She grew up in Bruce Mines, attended high school at CASS, and lived in Sudbury for her University days.

Eventually, Valerie made it back to the Sault and has lived here ever since.

Chris Rous and the Board of Directors looks forward to working with Valerie as the Arts Council continues to promote a thriving, vibrant and creative arts community in Sault Ste. Marie and District through planning and running art and cultural events; collaborating with other arts based organizations; seeking grants and funding for local artists; connecting local artists with appropriate organizations; and promoting artists and arts events through social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and the Arts Council website.

Valerie is excited to participate in upcoming events like Art in the Park event on August 16, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion, and Art in Parking Lot in the Emergency Festival August 15 at Bellevue Park from 12 - 4 p.m. She will also continue the great work started with the NORDIK collaboration project, Graffiti Reframed.

Along with her excitement for current events, Valerie brings many wonderful ideas to the Arts Council that the board hopes will spark renewed interest in the arts and cultures that make Sault Ste. Marie so unique and exciting.

If you would like to meet Valerie in person and share your own ideas and dreams for art in our area, you are welcome to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Arts Council on June 18, 2015, at the Centennial branch of the Public Library at 7 p.m.

As part of the A.G.M., there will be an opportunity to provide input for changes to Sault Ste. Marie's Cultural Policy.

You are welcome to stop in to the Arts Council office at 369 Queen Street East, Unit 104A (beside Fabricland) to talk with Valerie personally during office hours, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. - 5p.m.

Valerie also welcomes comments, questions, or ideas through phone calls (705-945-9756) or by email ([email protected]).

Check out our website www.ssmarts.org and become involved in the local arts scene!

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