Calgary Arts Development welcomes new Public Art Director
Cultural leader and arts champion Kirsten Schrader joins team
After a rigorous international executive search guided by Arts Consulting Group, Calgary Arts Development is thrilled to welcome Kirsten Schrader to the team as Public Art Director effective September 9, 2024. Calgary Arts Development is thrilled to welcome Kirsten Schrader to the team as Public Art Director effective September 9, 2024.
Kirsten has dedicated her career to being a cultural leader and champion for the arts. She has held leadership roles in both non-profit and municipal environments including as Executive Director of the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, Arts Coordinator for the City of Richmond, and in Public Programs at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Most recently, Kirsten held the position of Arts and Culture Division Manager with the Cowichan Valley Regional District in B.C. While there she initiated innovative strategies and programs to build political and financial support for cultural planning across 13 municipalities, including establishing B.C.’s only fully regional tax funding for the arts. In this role, she also managed the civic cultural venue, the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, which included a public art gallery, arts centre and 750-seat performing arts theatre, for which she curated an annual performing arts season.
Kirsten has been advocating for artists her entire career by lobbying for cultural facilities, establishing new funding models and granting programs, and providing performance opportunities for diverse voices across all artistic genres. In 2018, she was awarded Presenter of the Year for her work in championing artists from the provincial arts advocacy organization the BC Touring Council.
With a wide network both provincially and nationally, Kirsten’s workdays are often extended through volunteer commitments, such as past president of the BC Alliance for Arts and Culture, and currently on the board of directors for The Grand Theatre in Calgary. One of her most meaningful community engagement positions was as Director of Ceremonies and Special Events for the Cowichan 2018 B.C. Summer Games, where she produced the 40th anniversary of the Games in full partnership with the Cowichan Nations for the first time in B.C. Games history.
Working in the Cowichan Valley, which has the largest per capita Indigenous population in B.C., gave her the opportunity to develop relationships and to partner with Indigenous leaders on cultural programming and community-building events. Kirsten is committed to listening and learning from her Indigenous partners and mentors, to raising awareness of her own privilege and cultural biases, and to exploring how public art can contribute to the ongoing healing work of Truth and Reconciliation.
When asked about her vision for public art, Kirsten had this to say: “Public art holds immense potential to unite people, engage the public meaningfully, and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of our communities. Calgary is a vibrant, creative city where art sparks conversations and builds connections across different groups. Public art is not just a reflection of who we are — it mirrors our stories, values, and aspirations as a community. I am excited to work in collaboration with others, forging new partnerships and strengthening existing ones to embed public art and empower artists throughout Calgary.”
