EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Julie is a printmaker based in Saint John. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Mount Allison University in 2014, and has been working as a professional artist and arts administrator for over 10 years, with six years as Executive Director of ArtsLink NB. Julie is very engaged in the local arts ecosystem and believes that “the arts” are one of the most important tools we have to engage our communities and revitalize our economy. She is committed to assisting the advancement of arts and culture in our province.

PROJECT LEAD

Jessica’s passion is working in the arts in Canada, especially in her home province of New Brunswick. She has spent years in Halifax, New York, Vancouver and Toronto where she appeared in numerous plays, independent films, and performance art pieces, directed for the stage, and wrote for radio and television. Her love of the arts culminated in nine exciting years at the Toronto International Film Festival where she honed her arts administration skills. In her spare time, you can find her mauling her poor dog, watching Criterion Channel, and searching local bakeries for the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR

Julie is committed to fostering community through shared stories and collaboration. For over 30 years, she has been dedicated to the role of creative director at Goose Lane Editions, Canada’s oldest independent publishing house. Her work — influenced by an early background in dance, English and French literary studies, and experiences in theatre behind the scenes — has been recognized by the Canadian Museums Association, the Alcuin Society, and the Atlantic Publishers Marketing Association. In the broader arts community, Julie taught ballet at the community level for over three decades and has long served as a board member for non-profit organizations including Gallery Connexion, Dance Fredericton, Connection Dance Works, and ArtsLink NB.

BOARD MEMBER

A unionized actor and musician for over 20 years, Bridget has worked throughout Atlantic Canada and Ontario, with credits in regional theatre, television, animation, and radio drama (CBC). A versatile vocalist, she is formally trained in classical and jazz styles and holds 2 silver medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. As an arts administrator, she has several years' experience managing a dance studio and school, and also ran her own production company. She has been an arts juror for the City of Burlington, and as an actor-in-education, she has spent a decade working in experiential learning and interactive training with McMaster University's Centre for Simulation-Based Learning, Humber College Sim Lab, and the Touchstone Institute. She is proud to make her home in Southeastern NB.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

onica Lacey is a Canadian/Italian multidisciplinary visual artist, writer, curator, and educator. She is driven by curiosity, service, community, and the pursuit of beauty in all its forms. Monica lives in Epekwitk/PEI on unceded Mi’kmaq territory with her husband and daughter, where, in addition to her studio practice, she teaches Kundalini Yoga and serves as director/curator for the Fitzroy St. Tiny Art Gallery, a miniature art space on her front lawn.

BOARD MEMBER

Bernard Quintal is a retired medical doctor and a full-time visual artist from New Brunswick. He obtained his medical degree from Ottawa University in 1979. Since 1981, Bernard has lived with his spouse Lucie in the Dalhousie region of New Brunswick in front of the beautiful Bay of Chaleur. Bernard was a family physician for 35 years, and was physician executive in all positions from secretary to president. Since retirement, Bernard has plunged into an artistic career making watercolour paintings of a close-up exploration of Maritime beaches, especially the colourful rocks and odd items found there. His endeavour is to preserve the timeless beauty of childhood pristine shores and reliving the joy of discovery.

BOARD MEMBER

Gary Weekes is s Commercial/Fine Art Photographer who celebrates his Black identity in Canada, his upbringing in the UK, ten years spent in the USA and his constantly changing role as a father to three amazing young women. He stands proudly as a creative individual who does not follow the stereotypical boundaries placed on Black artists. In 2022, Gary became the first Black NB Artist to have a Solo Show at the prestigious Beaverbrook Art Gallery. In 2023 Gary received The CBC Black Changemaker Award for his Community Work. His gradual move into Short Documentary Filmmaking has culminated in his latest film “Pugilist Pride: The Story of Faryad Azizi.” Gary is represented by Gallery on Queen, Fredericton NB.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Michael Wood is a dedicated ceramist who incorporates both human and physical geography into his work, creating functional and sculptural pieces. His gestural style often features local geology in a palette of black, white, and ecru, exploring themes of humanity, nature, and connection. Michael has exhibited at the Gardiner Museum and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, and he participated in the Great Canadian Pottery Throw Down featured on CBC. He holds a certificate in visual arts and a diploma in ceramics and is currently pursuing a BFA in sculpture and painting at Mount Allison University.”