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The National Arts Centre (NAC) has promoted Annabelle Cloutier to president and CEO, saying she is the first francophone woman to hold those roles.
Cloutier has been with the NAC since 2018, working as executive strategy and communications director and corporate secretary to the board.
She worked on the downtown Ottawa centre’s 50th anniversary and the launch of its Indigenous theatre, according to an NAC news release.
Before that, she worked in the governor general’s office and at francophone cultural institutions such as the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française.
Previous president and CEO Christopher Deacon officially retired last week.
“Annabelle is the kind of arts leader Canada needs for these times, bringing vision, energy and imagination to one of Canada’s most cherished cultural institutions,” said Guy Pratte, chair of the NAC board of trustees and head of the selection committee.
“My immediate priority will be to engage with artists and arts leaders from across the country, to connect actively with our national audiences, and to collaborate with and support our wonderful NAC team,” said Clouthier in the news release.
“Together, we will ensure that the performing arts remain a vibrant and relevant cornerstone of our Canadian identity, as they should be.”
