Toronto Arts Council and Foundation Welcome Dane Bland and Rupal Shah to the Team
Dane and Rupal are stepping into newly formed senior management positions
TORONTO, November 27, 2023 - Under the leadership of Director & CEO Kelly Langgard, the senior management team at Toronto Arts Council and the Foundation has grown. New positions were added to create a more balanced and efficient structure that better supports our ability to serve Toronto's artists and communities.
Following Susan Wright's retirement, the Deputy Director role was eliminated with current responsibilities re-distributed among three Directors working under Kelly's leadership. As part of the new leadership structure, Andrew Suri, Director or Grants, has assumed a new role as Director, Planning & Operations.
We're thrilled to announce that Dane Bland and Rupal Shah are joining our team as Director, Development & Engagement and Director, Policy & Programs, respectively. Both will begin working with us in early December.
Biographies for the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation senior management team are below.
Dane Bland (he/him)
Director, Development & Engagement
Dane is a Certified Fundraising Executive with a decade of nonprofit experience raising tens of millions of dollars in contributions through corporate and foundation partnerships, major gifts, and multi-channel mass-market campaigns. He is deeply committed to volunteerism, community management, political activism, advocacy, and philanthropy. In addition to his experience in fundraising, Dane brings a wealth of expertise in communications, digital marketing, direct marketing, and media relations. Dane has worked as Head of Development at international LGBTQI+ charity, Rainbow Railroad, and held previous roles in arts, healthcare and higher education. He is a graduate of the Trent University Business Administration Program and Seneca College Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate program. He also sits on the boards of 4th Line Theatre and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Toronto Chapter), and has been a CFRE Ambassador since 2019.
Rupal Shah
Director, Policy & Programs
Rupal is an experienced and inventive cultural manager with over 20 years of experience leading, supporting and collaborating with artists and communities. Rupal began her career supporting Canadian theatre artists and performance creators through leadership roles at Nightswimming, Obsidian Theatre, and Summerworks Performance Festival. She then came to Toronto Arts Council where she managed funding programs and partnerships as Strategic Programs Manager. In 2021, she led the creation of a national community of practice as part of the Healthy Communities Initiative, a federal funding program supporting Canadian infrastructure and placemaking initiatives in the wake of COVID-19. Rupal currently teaches in the Arts Management program at Centennial College and is Interim Associate Director of Granting at Ontario Arts Council.
Andrew Suri
Director, Planning & Operations
Andrew joined Toronto Arts Council (TAC) in 2010. He has served TAC as Community Arts Officer, as well as Manager, TAC Grants Online. Working to improve access to TAC programs for under-represented cultural and community groups, Andrew led the development of several new grant programs and granting processes, including the Black Arts program and the Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement and Mentorship programs. As head of the TAC Equity Steering Committee, Andrew led the implementation of initiatives such as the TAC Accessibility Grant and Application Support and helped develop and refine TAC's online granting system. Andrew became Director, Grants Management in 2017 and was named Director of Granting in 2019.
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About Toronto Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council (TAC) is the City of Toronto’s funding body for artists and arts organizations. Since 1974, TAC has offered innovative and responsive programs, enabling artists and arts organizations to explore, create and thrive. With funding of nearly $25 million annually, TAC grants lead to exhibitions, performances, readings and workshops seen each year by over five million people across the city. TAC is proud to play a leadership role in fostering Toronto’s dynamic and diverse arts scene. torontoartscouncil.org
About Toronto Arts Foundation
Toronto Arts Foundation is a charitable organization that sparks creative connections, spotlights artistic excellence, and supports vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city, through private sector investment. To learn more or to make a donation, visit torontoartsfoundation.org.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact: Sarah Gladki, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications at sarah@torontoarts.org or 416-392-6802 x 217