Arts Umbrella is pleased to announce that Paul Larocque has been appointed its new President & CEO, and is rejoining the non-profit to continue its vision to inspire lifelong creativity through high-quality Performing, Visual, and Media Arts programs.
“Arts Umbrella is at a pivotal time in its 37 year history. Paul has extensive fundraising, strategic planning, and educational expertise. He will lead Arts Umbrella in its next steps forward as an impactful, community arts organization, growing access to creativity and the arts for children and youth across Metro Vancouver,” says Michael Lee, Arts Umbrella Association Board Chair.
Paul is returning to the organization at a time when Vancouver’s creative industries are booming. Businesses and other organizations now recognize their very survival and success increasingly relies on a workforce well-equipped with creative thinking skills. As creativity must be nurtured from an early age, providing children with quality access to the arts has never been more important.
“The leaders of the future will draw heavily on creativity as a major resource,” says Paul Larocque, Arts Umbrella President & CEO. “Research shows that nurturing creativity must start from an early age and Arts Umbrella programs help a wide range of young people from throughout Metro Vancouver to explore creative thinking, expand artistic expression, and grow self-confidence.”
Arts Umbrella is well positioned to make an even greater impact in the coming years, having expanded to Surrey with two locations in 2012. The organization now reaches more than 20,000 children and youth every year. About 60% of its students (11,600 kids) access free-of-charge community programs that inspire a love of the arts while overcoming socio-economic and geographical barriers.
Paul’s appointment adds more than three decades of arts and culture experience to this community organization, and his experience will only expand Arts Umbrella’s capacity to inspire creativity for good in the next generation.
About Arts Umbrella
Art can change the lives of children in incredible ways, which is why Arts Umbrella helps young artists cultivate creativity and grow self-confidence through Performing, Visual, and Media Arts programs. Since 1979, the not-for-profit has opened the doors for all kids ages 2 to 19 to find and explore their artistic voices. More than 20,000 students discover the magic each year, with more than half participating at little to no cost to their families.
About Paul Larocque
With more than three decades of active involvement in the cultural sector, Paul Larocque is committed to promoting the importance of the arts and art education in our communities. Paul recently assumed his post as President & CEO of Arts Umbrella, returning to the non-profit where he previously held senior management positions in the late nineties and early 2000s.
Prior to his return to Arts Umbrella, Paul was Associate Director at the Vancouver Art Gallery for more than a decade where his portfolio included administration, fundraising, government relations, strategic planning, education, and the Gallery’s relocation efforts. He is an active member of Vancouver’s cultural community, serving on various boards including Volumes Project, Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, and Boca del Lupo.
For more information please contact:
Eric Lowe
Arts Umbrella
Manager, Marketing and Communications
604-681-5268 x104
elowe@artsumbrella.com
