Toronto, March 11, 2003 — Singer-songwriter, Eric Dubeau has been hired as Franco-Ontarian Arts Officer at the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). He is the first Franco-Ontarian Arts Officer to come from the music sector.
“Eric’s experience as an artist and programmer will help OAC open its programs to more artists and arts organizations particularly those from francophone culturally diverse communities,” said Billyann Balay, OAC Director of Granting Programs. “In addition, we are looking to help artists and arts organizations reach a broader audience for their work.”
As well as being a working musician, Eric brings a range of skills to the role. He has extensive experience in arts education having worked in elementary and secondary schools throughout Ontario. He was the program coordinator for Centre Communautaire Franc-Ouest in Ottawa (1998-1999) and was the music program coordinator for the 7th and 8th Franco-Ontarian games (2000-2001). He has served on a number of volunteer boards, most recently as the President of the Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique franco-ontarienne.
Francophone artists applying to the Ontario Arts Council will have additional assistance from Josée Bourbonnais in her newly created role as Francophone Support Coordinator. She will be working with OAC program officers to ensure that Francophone applicants have the same access, information, and help as Anglophone applicants, and that the applications are adjudicated equitably through the assessment process. Francophone applicants working in non-language based art forms do not apply to the Franco-Ontarian arts programs (e.g. a Francophone visual artist applies to the Visual and Media Arts program).
Eric Dubeau will start in his new position on April 7, 2003. He succeeds Paul-François Sylvestre who stepped down in November 2002 to focus on his writing career. Josée Bourbonnais’s new responsibilities are effective immediately.
OAC Media Contact: Kirsten Gunter, Manager of Communications
Tel: (416) 969-7403. Toll-free outside of Toronto: 1-800-387-0058, ext. 7403.
E-mail: kgunter@arts.on.ca