The Board of Directors at Dance Victoria announced today that Gillian Jones is the organization’s new Executive Director. Ms. Jones succeeds Stephen White who is retiring at the end of June 2022.
Ms. Jones brings an extensive background in arts programming, leadership and fundraising, coupled with a love of the arts and dance.
“We’re delighted to welcome Gillian to Dance Victoria. She has terrific energy and experience, and she is an enthusiastic advocate for the role arts and culture play in healthy societies. We look forward to working with Gillian as she leads Dance Victoria forward to launch our next chapter,” says Susan K.E. Howard, President, Board of Directors.
Originally from Victoria, B.C., Ms. Jones has progressive experience in the arts, taking her from B.C. to New York City, Istanbul, Turkey and Seattle, Washington.
At Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA) in Edmonds, Washington, she began as an Education and Outreach Manager, succeeding to Director of Programming, and most recently, was Associate Executive Director. She programmed over 25 multi-disciplinary performances a year for the 700-seat performing arts centre (annual budget of $3 million), and oversaw a team of ECA’s development, marketing, and education and community engagement departments.
Ms. Jones has a Master of Professional Studies in Arts and Cultural Management from Pratt Institute, is a Board Member at Inspire Washington, and a member of the Western Arts Alliance Mentorship Committee. She looks forward to engaging with her network of agents, artists, and presenters in the U.S. and Canada in her new role at Dance Victoria.
“I’m thrilled to return and contribute to Victoria’s vibrant arts community,” says Ms. Jones. “I’m so impressed by the level of artistic excellence that Dance Victoria brings to the region, and its investment in the local dance community. My vision is to build on that success, with a commitment to diversity, innovation, and access. I can’t wait to work with Dance Victoria’s dedicated staff and Board, to connect with its supporters, and to help forge new connections and partnerships in the community.”
“I’m excited that Gillian will soon discover the incredible enthusiasm Victoria has for dance. It’s been a true privilege to helm this organization over the past 22 years,” says Stephen White, Executive Producer. “Gillian will be positioned for success with a strong, committed, and skilled administrative team to support her; a solid organization with a dynamic history to build on; and a talented creative community that contributes to the region’s burgeoning dance scene. And being raised in Victoria, she already knows how great it is to call Victoria home. I wish her every success.”
The Board and Dance Victoria wish to thank Stephen White, who has served as Executive Producer since 2000, leading the organization, most recently, through pandemic challenges, demonstrating his resilience, resourcefulness and passion for dance. We wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
Dance Victoria’s Board of Directors would like to thank the Executive Search firm, Martin Bragg & Associates, who conducted this extensive national search.
Gillian Jones will assume her new role at Dance Victoria on July 11, 2022.
About Dance Victoria
Dance Victoria brings the World’s Best Dance to the Royal Theatre and supports the development of new dance for the international stage from its studios in Quadra Village. Dance Victoria is a non-profit charitable society. DanceVictoria.com
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