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Noel Szabados Content & Impact Documentation Coordinator Noel (she/her) is based in Ottawa, Ontario, on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation. As the Content & Impact Documentation Coordinator at Arts Ottawa, she supports programming through documentation, communications, and administrative coordination, with a focus on capturing and sharing the impact of local arts initiatives. She has completed four years of her Bachelor of Fine Arts and has presented research on interactivity in computer-based art at the SUNY New Paltz Undergraduate Art History Symposium. Her background as a visual artist informs a thoughtful and detail-oriented approach to her work in arts administration.

Meet the Arts Ottawa team Meet the Arts Ottawa Team Alex Maltby Programming & Partnerships Brooklyn Marok Digital Engagement & Design Cassandra Olsthoorn Co-Leadership, Strategy & Community Mobilization Joni Hamlin Programming and Operations Nicole Milne Co-Leadership, Operations & Revenue Generation Noel Szabados Content & Impact Documentation Coordinator Advisors Leah Cogan Community Wealth Building Learning Labs Kwende Kefentse Shared Ground Initiative Board of Directors Anona Kosmack Knowledge Steward Chirag Gehani Financial Steward Dominic Brisson Legacy Steward Emily Ramsay Chairing Member Jeff Richstone Support Chair

Joni Hamlin Programming and Operations With over 30 years of experience in event management, volunteer coordination, and office administration, Joni Hamlin is dedicated to fostering a thriving and inclusive arts community in Ottawa. As the Programming and Operations Manager at Arts Ottawa, she oversees a diverse portfolio of initiatives, including donation campaigns, membership engagement, program development, and both small and large-scale event management. Her expertise lies in bringing people together—artists, donors, community leaders, and arts supporters—to create meaningful experiences that celebrate and sustain the arts. Whether managing logistics for major events like the Arts Ottawa Awards, coordinating co-creation programs, or building relationships with equity-deserving communities, she is committed to ensuring every initiative runs smoothly and makes a lasting impact.

Alex Maltby Programming & Partnerships Alex is a musician, arts administrator and programmer, living and working on unceded Algonquin Anishnaabe territory. He has played an active role in the local music and arts scene for nearly two decades, with a focus on community engagement, equity, and relationship building. At Arts Ottawa, Alex collaborates with various interest holders to develop and expand programs and strategic partnerships that support Ottawa's arts community. Past artistic experience includes programming and performing at renowned festivals across Canada, such as Pop Montreal, Megaphono, Bluesfest, CityFolk, Westfest, Arboretum Arts Festival, Ottawa International Animation Festival, as well as participating in international events like PATIOS in León, Spain.

Ways you can get involved with the Ottawa arts community. Get Involved Be part of shaping Ottawa’s arts community. Your involvement amplifies creativity, builds connections, and drives collective action. Together, we can create a thriving, inclusive cultural landscape. Explore ways you can get involved below. Photo: Shannon Hawn Membership Connecting communities to action and amplifying arts voices. Become a Member Community Forums Come together to shape shared priorities for Ottawa's arts sector Join us Arts Ottawa Governance Model We’ve reimagined governance at Arts Ottawa, centering collaboration, transparency, and community input in everything we do.  Learn More Learning and Co-Creation Labs Exploring governance, advocacy, and artist-led collaboration to design a Shared Leadership Model. Learn More Action Labs and the Core Leadership Circle Tackle urgent issues, driving sector-wide change Take Action Volunteer Connect with local artists and give back to your community Volunteer Sponsorship Sponsor the arts in our local community Become a Sponsor Support Arts Ottawa Your contributions fuel the growth of our local arts sector Donate Today

Driving collective action to address the needs and priorities of Ottawa's arts sector. Celebrate with us at The Arts Ottawa Awards Ceremony! Tickets are on sale now Thursday, February 5th, 2026 7:00pm - National Arts Centre (Fourth Stage) Learn more about the Arts Ottawa Awards Buy Tickets Arts Ottawa supports and advocates for artists and the arts in Ottawa. Through our focus on collaboration and partnership, we mobilize collective action in Ottawa’s arts community with an emphasis on inclusive and participatory decision-making. Artwork: Melanie Yugo, Nurture Future Photo: Curtis Perry What’s Happening Now Become and Arts Correspondent - Learn more and apply May 13 - CWB Learning Lab 4 | Registration Open Why Arts Spaces Matters in the Future of the ByWard Market | Article by Cassandra Olsthoorn Ottawa Has Culture. What It Doesn’t Have Is a Cultural Economy Strategy | Article by Kwende Kefentse Watch the CWB Learning Labs online now Giving Circle: Help Shape the Future of the Arts in Ottawa Learn More Co-Leadership Circle Mobilizes action, connects sectors, and guides collective vision. Learn More Advisory circle Amplifies arts voices and connects communities to action. Take Action Action Labs and the Core Leadership Circle Tackle urgent issues, driving sector-wide change Become a Member Membership Connecting communities to action and amplifying arts voices. Volunteer Volunteer Connect with local artists and give back to your community Governance Board ensures accountability and aligns collective action with strategic goals. Donate Today Support Arts Ottawa Your contributions fuel the growth of our local arts sector Become a Sponsor Sponsorship Sponsor the arts in our local community Ways to Get Involved Be part of shaping Ottawa’s arts community. Your involvement amplifies creativity, builds connections, and drives collective action. Together, we can create a thriving, inclusive cultural landscape. Get Involved Co-Creating Arts Ottawa Timeline 2026 January Arts Ottawa Awards Ceremony Meet the recipients February AIRG Jordan Danger: Final exhibition on Feb. 26 Learn more March March 14 - Social Impact Evaluation Learning Lab Learn more March 19 - First Lab of the CWB Learning Lab Series Learn more Watch online April April 9 - Second Lab of the CWB Learning Lab Series Learn more April 23 - Arts Ottawa's First Community Forum Learn more April 29 - Third Lab of the CWB Learning Lab Series Learn more May May 13 - Fourth Lab of the CWB Learning Lab Series Learn more May 27 - AGM June June 1st - Fifth Lab of the CWB Learning Lab Series Learn more June 19th - Last Lab of the CWB Learning Lab Series Learn more July - August - September - October - November - December - Driving collective action to address the needs and priorities of Ottawa's arts sector. Photo: Curtis Perry 2025 January Introduction of Co-Creating Arts Ottawa learn more First Open Office Hours: Welcome to Arts Ottawa learn more February Learning Lab no.1: Governance Models and Advocacy in the Arts learn more Open Office Hours: Discussing Arts Awards March Learning Lab no.2 : Artists as Community Leaders learn more Open Office Hours: Discussing Mentorship within the Arts April Learning Lab no. 3: Redefining Volunteerism in Governance learn more Co-Creation Labs: building a governance model learn more May Learning Labs recap videos available online watch now June AGMs held on June 18th Read the annual reports here Shared Ground first event of the initiative held on June 25th Learn more July Unveiling of our new Arts Ottawa Awards Learn more Launch of the Giving Circle Learn more Open Office Hours: Arts Ottawa's Shared Leadership Model Learn more August Updated Volunteer pathway Learn more Introducing Artist Talk: Online community forum Sign up now! September Introducing our new Action Lab: Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Learn more Arts Awards Co-Design Process Read the report October Shared Ground Learning Lab Learn more Co-Create Mission, Vision and Values statements Community Co-Creation feedback with staff and board Collaborative Strategy Sessions outlining areas of focus for 2026 Learn more November Co-Create Arts Ottawa Report: Governance, Inclusion, and Volunteer Engagement Read the report December Social Impact Evaluation in the Arts Learning Lab :Audited by Meral Tan as an Arts Correspondent Read the report Donate to Arts Ottawa Arts Ottawa seeks to nurture the arts, to let them bloom and spread their roots deep into the cityscape. In so doing, we endeavour to build a city that hums with life, where equity and diversity are not just present, but celebrated. Together we can deliver on our mission to drive collective action in responding to community needs and priorities, fostering a thriving arts sector. Donate to Arts Ottawa Today Programs & Services Arts Ottawa Awards The Arts Ottawa Awards celebrate Ottawa-based artists, creatives, educators, businesses, and organizations who help shape a vibrant, connected city. Shared Ground Calling in Leadership on Cultural Spaces and Reimagining Downtown Through Arts and Culture Artist in Residence in Government Enacting sustainable, meaningful change in communities is a complex and ongoing challenge. That’s why Arts Ottawa and the City of Ottawa have launched the Artist-in-Residence in Government (AIRG) program. This initiative connects artists with municipal government staff and the community to tackle unique civic challenges and reimagine traditional approaches. By embedding an artist within a city department, their creative perspectives and lived experiences help co-create transformative models of community engagement—addressing pressing local issues in innovative ways that push beyond the status quo. Explore more programs & servicEs Explore the new Artist Talk! Our new community hub brings together events, resources, and discussions — all in one place. Stay connected, informed, and inspired. Visit Artist Talk Subscribe to the Arts Ottawa Report! Arts Ottawa offers a bi-weekly report that will keep you up to date on all of the programs and services Arts Ottawa has to offer the Ottawa community. Learn about our newsletters here. Email* Yes, subscribe me to Arts Ottawa Report. * Submit

Learning and Co-Creation Labs Bringing together artists, interest holders, staff, and sector experts to explore governance, advocacy, artist leadership, and collaboration, to co-create a shared leadership model rooted in equity, volunteerism, and collective care. Photo: Quest 2026 Learning Lab Series: Community Wealth Building (CWB) Join us on May 13th for the fourth Learning Lab: CWB: Just Use of Land and Property Register This Learning Lab series is part of Arts Ottawa’s community-wide programming for 2026 and supports our ongoing work to strengthen the local arts sector. After months of community input and workshops, Arts Ottawa has identified three key focus areas for building a more sustainable arts sector: economic conditions, spaces, and social impact . The Learning Lab series offers a space for the community to collectively explore the Community Wealth Building model, widely used in other sectors, and consider how it might help address these priorities , strengthen coordination, and support long-term growth in Ottawa’s arts ecosystem. Across six sessions between March and June, participants will hear from guest speakers, experiment with practical tools, and work together in workshops. These sessions will lead into co-creation labs where the community will collaborate to build an economic coordination strategy that reflects shared priorities and expertise. Learn more Who is it for? This learning series is for anyone in the arts community who wants to explore innovative ways to strengthen the sustainability of their work. No expertise in economic development is required. The series is designed to be practical, accessible, and relevant to all areas of practice. We encourage artists and arts and culture workers to be part of the conversation and help identify actionable steps for both the short and long term. What to expect? Each session will be engaging and hands-on with dedicated workshop time for participants to experiment with ideas and apply concepts locally. Following the series, Arts Ottawa will host co-creation labs to collectively determine the next steps toward growth, sustainability, and shared prosperity in our sector, building an economic coordination strategy that reflects the priorities and expertise of the community. More about CWB Community Wealth Building is a people-centered approach to economic development that focuses on building, retaining, and recirculating wealth within local systems and industry by prioritizing local ownership, democratic control, and a more balanced distribution of wealth. It involves using strategies like supporting local cooperatives, social enterprises, and community land trusts, and leveraging the purchasing power of large local institutions to create good jobs and keep resources within the community. Learn more about the model here . May 13th 9:15am - 1:00pm (Programming starts at 10am) Bayview Yards In this session we will explore partnership models and acquisition strategies that enable more stable access to property, premises and land for artists and cultural organizations. We will test the concept of artist-owned infrastructure and why we need it, explore the partnerships and skills that are necessary to bridge into asset management, learn how to activate sector buy-in to change how artists participate in real-estate, and play with collective ownership models that can make this all feel possible. In part 1 of the session we’ll hear from Brian McBay about 221A’s journey navigating different property ownership and partnership models in Vancouver, and how the Cultural Land Trust movement is taking shape in Canada. We’ll follow this up with an in-depth roundtable discussion with Menon Dwarka (thought leader and arts management consultant) and Valerie Stam (co-designer of Cr:8, an arts-based social enterprise) to explore what skills and models are needed to see success in artist-owned, artist-led placemaking. In Part 2, participants will engage in workshop activities facilitated by Arts Ottawa to explore the principles of Just Use of Land and Property and how they could be activated in Ottawa. CWB 2026 Learning Lab Schedule March 19th An introduction to Community Wealth Building LEARN MORE April 9th Pillar 1: Pluralistic Ownership LEARN MORE April 29th Pillar 2: Locally Rooted Finance REGISTER May 13th Pillar 3: Just Use of Land and Property REGISTER June 1st Pillar 4: Progressive Procurement REGISTER June 19th Pillar 5: Fair Work Practices REGISTER Watch the 2026 CWB Learning Lab Series online now: Watch Here 2024 - 2025 Arts Ottawa hosted innovative Learning and Co-Creation Labs that brought together interest holders, sector experts, the arts community and staff to explore governance models that center artists, with advocacy, equity, and volunteerism playing pivotal roles in shaping leadership structures. Explore What We Learned Dive into a snapshot of the ideas, collaborations, and insights that emerged from this series of Labs. The report highlights conversations that inspired ideas for more equitable governance, showing how advocacy and shared leadership can better support artists. READ THE REPORT HERE Learning Labs The three Learning Labs we held between February and April served as an introduction to themes such as governance, advocacy, artist leadership, trust-building, and cross-sector collaboration. Participants reimagined traditional governance approaches, explored strategies to strengthen collective advocacy efforts, and heard from policy experts, grassroots organizers, and sector leaders who are reshaping governance and advocacy frameworks. These hands-on sessions bridged sector-wide learning with localized, actionable solutions. Learn more about each Learning Lab LEARNING LAB #1: Governance Models and Advocacy in the Arts Sector In this lab, we explored how shifting political landscapes, rising costs, and systemic inequities are reshaping the arts sector. LEARN MORE •••••••••• LEARNING LAB #2: Artists as Community Leaders This Learning Lab explored the ways in which artists drive systemic change and lead community development to create meaningful change in society. LEARN MORE •••••••••• LEARNING LAB #3: Redefining Volunteerism in Governance In this Lab, we examined the decline in volunteerism and its impact on arts governance, from leadership challenges to increased workloads. LEARN MORE WATCH THE LEARNING LABS ONLINE READ THE SUMMARIES HERE Co-Creation Labs Building on that foundation, the Co-Creation Labs held on April 24 th and 26th invited participants to collaboratively bring those insights to life. Over 4.5-hour interactive sessions, artists, community organizers, and arts advocates co-designed a governance model rooted in inclusive decision-making. Creative tools like café-style speed dating, visual storytelling, and consensus-building helped shape a shared leadership structure for Arts Ottawa. Together, we co-created a Governance Charter grounded in community values—ensuring leadership that is transparent, accountable, and artist-centered. WATCH THE CO-CREATION LAB RECAP These labs were designed not only to imagine new systems but to build them—reflecting the vibrant, diverse, and evolving arts community we serve. This work directly shaped how the Core Leadership Circle (CLC) and  Community Advisory Members (CAM)  were formed, recruited, and are run.

Nicole Milne Co-Leadership, Operations & Revenue Generation Nicole’s leadership of the Ottawa Arts Council for the past five years was rooted in positioning the organization as a passionate and influential voice; as a champion for an engaged, thriving and connected arts community; as a facilitator in creating a healthier, more sustainable arts sector; and as an effective collaborator in building diversity and inclusion in the arts. A dedicated advocate for Ottawa’s vibrant arts community, Nicole brings 30 years of experience in arts administration, fundraising, marketing, communications, strategic planning, and community engagement. Her work with the Ottawa Arts Council, Great Canadian Theatre Company, Canada’s National Arts Centre, and the Canada Council for the Arts have offered her unique opportunities to shape and support the city’s dynamic cultural landscape. Nicole is committed to advancing the arts through innovative approaches, fostering collaboration, and building meaningful connections within the community.

Cassandra Olsthoorn Co-Leadership, Strategy & Community Mobilization Cassandra has been leading and developing noteworthy projects for the Ottawa arts community through different roles at Arts Network Ottawa for 15 years. Her visionary, thoughtful approach to a team-driven workplace focuses on the delivery of dynamic programming and services to the community. Her unique brand of leadership has positioned Arts Ottawa as a collaborative champion within the sector. Cassandra is passionate about Ottawa and believes that the arts help build strong, vibrant communities.

Brooklyn Marok Digital Engagement & Design As the Digital Engagement & Design Coordinator for Arts Ottawa, Brooklyn plays a key role in connecting the local arts community. She is the primary point of contact for sharing exciting events and opportunities, helping to amplify these initiatives through our social media, website, and newsletters. Her goal is to strengthen and foster a more inclusive, connected arts ecosystem in Ottawa. Brooklyn manages the organization’s social media, so if you message us, you’re likely chatting with her! Additionally, she handles the creation of graphics, ensuring our visual identity reflects the vibrancy of our community. Brooklyn supports all communications efforts to maintain clear, engaging messaging that keeps the arts community informed, involved, and excited about what's happening in Ottawa.

Kwende Kefentse Shared Ground Initiative Kwende (Memetic Media) is an advisor and the research lead to the Shared Ground initiative, helping shape the work by facilitating community conversations, asking critical questions, and bridging creative practice and research with city building. Kwende Kefentse is a creator, researcher, administrator and cultural innovator based in Ottawa. Coming from Caribbean heritage, Kwende's upbringing as a first-generation Canadian instilled in him a profound appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultural expressions that surrounded him. From the rhythms of his parents' Bajan roots to the pulsating energy of Caribana, Kwende's early experiences in the Greater Toronto Area laid the groundwork for a lifelong exploration of the intersections between culture, creativity, and urbanism. Kwende earned a Masters of Research (MRes) from UCL's Bartlett School of Architecture focused on the spatial dynamics of cultural production in the music industry. He is an external research fellow for Carleton University's Research Centre for Music, Sound, and Society in Canada and serves on the boards of the Carleton University Art Gallery, the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, the Ottawa Film Office, and the Washington D.C.-based Music Policy Forum (Emeritus). As DJ Memetic, creative director of TIMEKODE and the producer of the TIMEKODE original productions and remixes, he played a pivotal role in shaping Ottawa's underground music scene, fostering a space for musical exploration and cultural exchange. His work has received critical acclaim from international outlets like Vice Thump, Radio Nova, and Wax Poetics. He has been requested as an opening performer for luminaries like Nas and Barack Obama. In 2025 Kwende is establishing his consultancy Memetic Media, and launching the TIMEKODE CoLABoratory, a dynamic, interdisciplinary project that commemorates 20 years of local nightclub heritage, while charting its future through innovation, collaboration, and community engagement

Leah Cogan Community Wealth Building Learning Labs Leah is a key advisor for Arts Ottawa’s Community Wealth Building Learning Lab series, bringing deep subject expertise alongside long-standing experience working across the sector. She has played a central role in shaping the series by coordinating and curating speakers, drawing on her network of practitioners and collaborators, and facilitating workshops to ensure the right questions are being asked and meaningful insights are gathered to move the work forward. Leah Cogan is a bilingual coach, facilitator and educator who combines strengths-based, arts-inspired, embodiment practices with human-centered design principles and innovation theory. She is also a multi-disciplinary artist with experience in performance, creation and arts education. Iterating from her thesis project at Brown University, Leah has been continuously exploring the intersection of creative practice and collective action. She has worked as an engagement and knowledge mobilization specialist at Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa, leveraging her creative tools to lead multi-stakeholder strategic sessions to design and coordinate around new community-led housing solutions. Leah also served as Chair of PAL Ottawa, a non-profit housing initiative serving aging artists in the National Capital Region. Leah is currently hosting a Learning Series with Arts Ottawa to explore Community Wealth Building as an economic coordination model for the sustainability and growth of Ottawa’s creative sector.