Today, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced the appointment of Cheryl Hickman as the next chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts for a five-year term. Ms. Hickman currently serves as a member on the board and will succeed current chairperson Jesse Wente, when his term ends July 27, 2025.
Cheryl Hickman is the Founder as well as General and Artistic Director of Opera on the Avalon (OOTA), which she established in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2009. She has been recognized for her innovative programming, including new works that address contemporary issues, and for engaging diverse audiences. Hickman is dedicated to promoting equity in the arts, creating mentorship opportunities and supporting emerging artists.
She has also served on the board of directors of Opera.ca. An accomplished soprano, Hickman has performed with major opera companies in North America and Europe. Her leadership has earned her multiple accolades, including being named one of Atlantic Canada's Top 50 CEOs and receiving recognition from Arts NL.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hickman led OOTA through innovative digital programming and established an emergency fund for artists. She has also championed equity in opera, founding mentorship programs and mentoring emerging talents. Hickman's dedication to the arts and her community has made her a key figure in the Canadian opera scene.
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada's national public arts funder. The Council promotes and invests in artistic excellence through a broad range of grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations that are involved in dance, integrated arts, media arts, music, theatre, visual arts, writing and publishing. It also promotes public awareness of the arts through its communications, research and arts promotion activities.
