Our Team
We are dedicated arts enthusiasts who believe a great city demands great art. We work collaboratively to shine a spotlight on artistic excellence, spark creative connections, and support cultural growth in our city.
Kelly Langgard, Director & CEO – Kelly Langgard has more than 25 years of experience in public policy, arts funding, governance, strategic planning, partnerships and government and stakeholder relations. She has led various programs and initiatives aimed at supporting more opportunities for artists and arts professionals. Kelly began her career at Calgary’s Herland Feminist Film Festival before becoming Executive Director of Images Festival in Toronto, during which time she served on the boards of the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre and the Independent Media Arts Alliance. She has held a number of positions at Canada Council for the Arts: Media Arts Officer, Head of Audience and Market Development, Head of Partnership and International Coordination and Manager of Strategic Research Initiatives. She has also held the positions of Senior Advisor for Cultural Diplomacy at Global Affairs Canada, Program Manager at the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and most recently Director of Granting at Ontario Arts Council.
Susan Wright, Deputy Director – Susan has been Deputy Director, and prior to that Director of Operations, for TAC and TAF since 2000. In this role, Susan oversees planning, communications, staffing and financial management and advocates for support for artists and arts organizations. Currently, she is a member of the Steering Committee of CADAC (Canada Arts database), and sits on a number of external committees, including IRAFF (Intergovernmental Forum for Arts Funders and Foundations), and BeautifulCity.ca. Prior to joining TAC, Susan spent five years as General Manager of Toronto Artscape, and many years as an arts consultant and manager of small arts organizations.
Inés Aguileta, Manager, NAN Programs – Inés is an arts administrator who also brings a deep background in project management. She has been involved in the arts community for nearly a decade, but has been passionate about the arts since childhood. After graduating from York University’s Honours Graphic Design program, she relocated to Spain where she earned her Master’s in Cultural Project Management at the Barcelona School of Design and Engineering. Upon her return to Toronto, she undertook the Marketing and PR Manager role at Soundstreams. Since then, she has volunteered at TEDx Boston, TIFF, and The Toronto Maker Festival. Currently at the Toronto Arts Foundation, she coordinates numerous programs for Neighbourhood Arts Network. Inés is an avid globetrotter and lover of culture, beginning with that of her native Mexico. She believes her experiences working and living in many other parts of the world have greatly benefitted her understanding and respect of many different cultures and forms of artistic expression.
Mitsuki Amano, Donor Relations Coordinator - Mitsuki is an experienced fundraising professional with passion for community-building through the arts. Born and raised in Sendai, Japan, where the Great East Japan Earthquake hit in 2011, he is interested in the various benefits the arts bring to the community, particularly in post-disaster settings. Prior to joining Toronto Arts Foundation, Mitsuki worked for a number of arts and cultural organizations/events both in Canada and in Japan, including The Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet of Canada, and Tokyo Performing Arts Meeting. With his extensive knowledge of non-profit management and philanthropy in the arts industry, he hopes to help further enrich the communities of Toronto and GTA. He has a Bachelor's of Arts in English Studies from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, as well as a joint Master's of Management in International Arts Management from Southern Methodist University and HEC Montréal.
Mitsuki assists donors with processing their gifts, issuing tax receipts, arranging details for special events, and more. Contact Mitsuki if you have any questions regarding your donation.
Email: mitsuki@torontoarts.org; Phone: 416-392-6802 ext. 204
Christian Anderson, Engagement Coordinator, ArtworksTO – Christian is an award-winning Afro-Latinx filmmaker and community organizer who specializes in communications, creative industries and collaborative wellness programming. Since graduating from York University’s film production program in 2019, their work has centred amplifying the voices and experiences of diasporic folks through unique and immersive storytelling and support spaces. Their previous work includes time spent in Toronto’s non-profit sector as Unity Charity’s Communications Coordinator and The Regent Park Film Festival’s 2021 Program Coordinator. In addition to their work in the nonprofit sector, they are also an alumnus of Oya Media’s Emerging Filmmaker’s program and the Nia’s Centres Creative Connect community.
Angie Aranda, Senior Manager, Neighbourhood Arts Network – Angie has an extensive background in partnership development, event management and communications, with numerous years of arts administration experience, previously working for Entertainment One Television, Cookie Jar Entertainment and York University. She is an active member of the arts community, particularly through her photography practice. She holds a Double Honours BA from York University with a focus on Film & Video and Communication Studies. Angie is also a member on the advisory board for East End Arts and AVNU.
Christy DiFelice, Award Program Manager – Christy is the Music Program Manager with Toronto Arts Council, and manages the Foundation's Emerging Jazz Artist Award. Appointed in 2010 to the position of Music Program Manager, Christy came to TAC from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where she was the Manager of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. A graduate of York University (MA, Ethnomusicology/Musicology; 2008), her studies focused on musics and cultures of the African diaspora, with a specialization in North American jazz and blues. In addition, she has previously worked with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Fine Arts Cultural Studies Department at York University, and as a music copyist. Since its inaugural season (2008), she has sat on the Board of Directors of the Brantford International Jazz Festival.
Zyrelle Endozo, Mentorship & Programming Coordinator, Neighbourhood Arts Network (she/they) – Zyrelle is passionate about empowering the voices and work of those creating and existing in intersectionality, especially artists that are BIPOC and/or LGBTQ2SIA+. Her background involves project management, community outreach, design, and strategy development through digital marketing and social media. Previous work includes many years in Toronto’s non-profit sector with RISE, Vibe Arts, AGYU, Nuit Blanche, eCampus Ontario, and most recently Toronto Youth Equity Strategy for the City’s annual ResilienTOgether Youth Week events. She has also provided creative mentorship to the Black Student Association of Notre Dame High School as a proud alumna. Zyrelle is an Honours Graduate of the George Brown College Business Marketing program, as well as an active spoken word artist and painter seeking to amplify her own journey of navigating identity, culture, and healing. She remains inspired by the evolution of artistic expression, storytelling, and the very human way we all seek to deeply connect to one another.
Leslie Francombe, Senior Manager, Philanthropy & Sponsorship – Leslie connects arts philanthropists with creative programs that are meaningful and impactful. Leslie, who previously worked with the Foundation from 2009 to 2011 as Community Investment Manager, has worked in a variety of capacities in both large and small organizations and communities for over 30 years, most recently as Director of Development for Tarragon Theatre. Leslie spent almost a decade as Administrative Director at Carousel Players, a theatre for young audience company based in St. Catharines, during which time the company developed their own performance space within an historic courthouse for both public and school performances while continuing to tour in schools and theatres provincially, nationally and internationally. Leslie has also worked as Development Officer for The Grand Theatre, as General Manager at Stratford Summer Music, and as Education Associate for the Shaw Festival.
Email: leslie@torontoarts.org; Phone: 416-392-6802 x214
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lesliefrancombe
Sarah Gladki, Senior Manager, Communications – As Senior Manager, Communications, Sarah brings her lifelong passion for the arts and strong communication and administrative skills to Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation. An active member of the arts community, Sarah is a visual artist who works in many mediums including drawing, photography, moving images and clay. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University where she majored in both Art History and World Religions, and a Masters of Fine Arts from Ryerson University’s Documentary Media Program.
Rachel Kennedy, Manager, Stakeholder Relations – Rachel is an arts administrator, storyteller and producer based in Toronto’s east end. Previous work includes; development and outreach for Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC), grant and education management at Theatre Ontario, and venue management for Theatre Direct (and the Wee Festival). Evenings are often spent producing for local theatre and dance companies (to learn more, follow her on Instagram @thatrachelkennedy). Rachel is passionate about advocacy, equity, and amplifying local creative voices – and is thankful to have found so many opportunities for work that embraces and furthers these values.
Armen Karapetyan, Finance Officer – Armen has extensive working experience with numerous non-profit organizations, predominantly in administration and finance. Prior to moving to Toronto, Armen lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he held a position at the Barthelmes Conservatory of Music, an experience he recalls with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Immediately upon his arrival in Toronto, Armen immersed himself into the city's art scene by volunteering with local arts organizations, including the Toronto Summer Music Festival, The Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, Canada’s National Ballet School and b Current Performing Arts, where he assisted with administrative, marketing and accounting duties. Armen holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and currently serves on the Board of Directors with Sinfonia Toronto.
Haroon Khalid, Manager, Digital Communications – Haroon is an author and a journalist, who brings his passion of writing and editing, to the position of Manager, Digital Communications. He has an MA in Anthropology from the University of Toronto and a Bsc (Hon’s) in Social Sciences from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). He has been a professional writer since 2008 and has published five books and hundreds of articles. His research interests include pre-colonial arts, religiosity, history, and culture of South Asia. Haroon has also been an educator and has held several managerial positions in the education sector and non-profit organizations. He was a recipient of TAC’s Newcomer and Refugee Mentorship grant in 2020.
Alexandra Loewen, Senior Coordinator, Programs & Events – Alexandra has been interested in the arts from a very young age. She has been involved in instrumental and choral music as well as the visual arts. Her past work experience includes event planning, administration and project assistance and coordination. She holds a bachelor's degree in Film Studies from Brock University and a graduate certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management from Humber College.
Alandra McKirdy, Corporate Relations Coordinator – Alandra has a long history in the arts and most recently completed a post-graduate program in Arts Management at Centennial College. Alandra is passionate about connecting Toronto’s communities with accessible, art programming that can inspire creativity and ignite conversations. In her spare time, you can find her drawing, watering her plants, and listening to music.
Hasanika Mediwake, Program Outreach Coordinator – Hasanika is a recent graduate from the Community Worker Program at George Brown College. She started at Toronto Arts Foundation as a placement student for their strategic initiative, Neighbourhood Arts Network and then as an Events and Outreach Assistant for Arts in the Parks. Through these experiences she worked with a variety of local arts service organizations, artists and communities across the city. Her personal, professional and academic background have contributed to a passion of community based activism and engagement specifically within the arts. She is excited and enthusiastic about supporting a vision that ensures that all people in Toronto can access the arts.
Shawn Newman, Ph.D., Manager, Research & Impact – Shawn is the Research & Impact Manager at Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the evaluation of TAC grants programs and Foundation initiatives and initiating collaborative research projects that support the arts and culture sectors through bridging academia and industry. Having had an international career as a dancer and choreographer, and described as “[one] of Toronto’s finest dancers” (Paula Citron, Toronto Life), Shawn then completed his PhD in Cultural Studies at Queen’s University. He has taught in the Department of Gender Studies and the Department of Film and Media at Queen’s as well as the Department of Dance at York University. His research spans many artistic disciplines while focusing on representation and power in and through critical race, critical disability, and gender studies.
Michelle Parson, Office Manager – Before joining the Foundation's team in 1997, Michelle was General Administrator at Ballet Creole, and Human Resources Clerk at Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago. Michelle is a busy vocalist, singing with a number of bands in her Caribbean community. She has performed and toured with Ballet Creole, Inner Stage Theatre, Naked Mask and La Petite Musicale of Toronto. Numerous freelance performances have allowed her to share stages with high-profile local and international artists.
Abhishek Rao, Junior Accounting Clerk – Abhishek has a master's degree in commerce from the University of Mumbai and is currently pursuing a postgraduate diploma in international business management from Seneca College. He had worked as an Audit Analyst at KPMG before joining Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation. He is ecstatic and enthusiastic about supporting a vision that assures that all Toronto residents have access to the arts.
Jaclyn Rodrigues, Senior Manager, Programs & Events – Jaclyn supports Toronto Arts Foundation by developing and implementing strategies to engage stakeholder groups through outreach and marketing campaigns, special events and projects, and manages one of their largest initiatives, Arts in the Parks. Jaclyn is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Performance Production program, where she focused on production management. Jaclyn has worked with The Banff Centre for the Arts, The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Kaeja d’Dance and Canada's National Ballet School. Most recently, Jaclyn has focused her professional development on project management, and is currently pursuing accreditation in emergency management. Jaclyn is passionate about ‘building better together,’ and believes that the arts are a public right.
Catherine Tammaro, Award Program Manager
Taomesre ~ People of the Little Turtle, Wyandot of Anderdon Nation; Wendat Confederacy
Catherine Tammaro is a multi-disciplinary artist whose practise spans decades. She is an enrolled member of the Wyandot of Anderdon Nation which is part of the Wendat Confederacy and served as their Communications Officer for many years. Catherine is a seated Spotted Turtle Clan Tradition Keeper and is active throughout the city and beyond, in many organizations as Elder in Residence, Mentor and Cultural Advisor. She is an alumna of the Ontario College of Art and has had a diverse career, multiple exhibits and installations, published written works and presentations and continues her practise as well as supporting the work and development of other artists on an ongoing basis. Catherine served on the Board of the TAC, TAC's Income Precarity Working Group and was the Chair of the Toronto Arts Council's Indigenous Advisory Committee in 2020/21.
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