Eric Dubeau, OAC’s Franco-Ontarian Arts Officer since April 2003, is stepping down to become
Executive Director of the
Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF).
During Eric’s tenure, OAC reaffirmed its commitment to the francophone arts sector, through granting programs and through special initiatives and partnerships. Eric oversaw the development of two programs, Avance médias, to support francophone media artists and Jets de théâtre, a French language theatre projects program.
In 2006, Manager of Francophone Partnerships was added to Eric’s title in recognition of his increased responsibility for building relationships with the francophone community outside of the arts. In this role, he led the partnership with the National Film Board of Canada to fund and present Cinq par cinq, five short films made by francophone filmmakers featuring Franco-Ontarian artists. The films have been broadcast on TFO since 2007 and the NFB produced a compilation DVD of the five shorts that has been screened at several festivals.
Since 2007, Eric has led the OAC/Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) partnership that resulted in the
Ontario-Québec Artist Residency program to stimulate creative exchange and support artists from Québec or Ontario spending up to three months in the other province.
Over the past two years, Eric has worked closely with the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud, the French-language school board involved with OAC’s Artists in Residence (AIR) pilot program.
He managed several projects funded through the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French-Language Services (CANON) that enabled OAC to place more francophone artists in French-language schools. His outreach activities increased OAC’s profile with artists and arts organizations throughout Ontario.
“Eric brought enormous depth and great diplomacy skills to all his Franco-Ontarian Arts Officer and francophone partnership responsibilities,” said John Brotman, OAC Executive Director. “As a result of his efforts, OAC’s relationship with the francophone arts sector has been greatly enhanced.”
OAC will undertake a search for Eric’s replacement through the coming months.
- 30 -
For more information: Kirsten Gunter
Director of Communications
Ontario Arts Council
416-969-7403 or 1-800-387-0058 ext. 7403
kgunter@arts.on.ca