N.L. artist is the new head of Canada's top arts funder

A Newfoundland and Labrador artist has been tapped to chair Canada's top arts funding organization.

It's a role Cheryl Hickman says is critical in boosting Canadian's sense of pride and identity at a tumultuous time.

Hickman, artistic director of Opera on the Avalon, will start a five-year term in July as chairperson of the federal Crown corporation the Canada Council for the Arts.

"I've served on a lot of boards and I have never served on one as amazing as the council," Hickman told CBC Radio's On the Go.

"To serve on an organization that is fundamentally helping Canadians with their well-being, and helping arts and arts organizations, is a really important job and I'm proud to be a very small part of."

The Crown corporation funds arts and artist organizations across the country, runs an art bank where people can rent pieces of art and operates the public lending rights program, which sends money to artists who have books in Canadian public libraries.

"It's a very, very important Crown corporation for Canada," said Hickman.

The board members aren't the ones deciding who gets grants, said Hickman. Rather, the members ensure the organization is running smoothly.

LISTEN | On The Go host Krissy Holmes speaks with Cheryl Hickman on the importance of the arts: 

On The Go11:21Local leader is Canada Council of the Arts next chairperson

The next chairperson of the Canada Council of the Arts is a prominent leader on the arts and culture scene from this province. We hear all about the general and artistic director of Opera on the Avalon's upcoming role. (Krissy Holmes with Cheryl Hickman)

"We get to go across Canada, meet with artists, meet with organizations, see the incredible work that gets done through the funding of the council," she said.

Hickman was appointed to the board in 2017 for an eight-year term.

On Monday, Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge, appointed Hickman as the head, replacing outgoing chairperson, author and arts leader Jesse Wente.

Delicate time

Hickman said the arts is at a critical juncture due to heightened tensions between the U.S. and Canada.

"Arts funding is critical for the infrastructure of the country," she said. "I don't need to tell people we're at a really delicate time as a country as well.

"Our neighbours are talking about taking our sovereignty. That's a really important discussion."

The arts can also be a huge economic driver, says Hickman, pointing to the financial boost that Taylor Swift's concerts brought to Canadian cities last summer.

"I've yet to go to a cultural event and come out worse than I went in."

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