Catherine McInnes: Squamish Arts Council

Aug 20, 2020 12:00 PM

12:00noon: Online ZOOM meeting. email us to join.

Catherine McInnes – Bio

A former elementary teacher with the Thames Valley Board of Education (1989 – 2009), and a former artistic director of Home County Music & Art Festival in London, Ontario (2005 – 2012), Catherine's recent work at the London Arts Council (2011 – 2019) combined her passion for arts education and community arts programming. In collaboration with the Ontario Arts Council and two local school boards, she developed a robust artists in the schools program. This project enabled the London Arts Council to leverage funding and expand community arts programming, which included youth mentorship programs with local professional artists, and the creation of an innovative program called Culture City (see https://www.londonarts.ca/culture-city-youth). The Culture City program is steeped in local cultural institutions and facilitated by local artists. Her last work involved coordinating new Arts in Health Care programs, collaborating with several community health care partners, including Parkwood Institute Mental Health Care, My Sisters' Place/CMHA Middlesex, McCormick Dementia Services, and a Healing Through the Arts project with Participation House, L'Arche London and Hutton House. With extensive experience as a professional musician, songwriter and music teacher, from 2010 – 2019, Catherine facilitated a community music program called Belong To Song for those with lived experience of mental illness, and directed a seniors choir at Meadow Park Long Term Care in London Ontario from 2015 - 2018. As a jazz singer, pianist and singer-songwriter, Catherine self-produced two recordings (2003 Alone Together & 2007 Exposed) and performed at many festivals, music venues and concert series in London, Ontario.

For her presentation, Catherine will present an overview of community arts programs involving youth, seniors, and those living with mental illnesses; programs she developed, implemented and in some cases, facilitated, while working at the London Arts Council in London Ontario.