The Banff Centre announces the appointment of Janice Price as President

Banff, Alberta, November 24, 2014 -- The Board of Governors of The Banff Centre is pleased to announce that Janice Price has been appointed as President, effective March 16, 2015.

“Janice Price is an experienced Chief Executive who brings a wealth of experience working at some of the most prestigious arts organizations in Canada and the United States,” commented Brenda Mackie, The Banff Centre Board Chair. “We’re looking forward to her working closely with the board and the management team as we continue to develop multidisciplinary artistic works, train innovative leaders and build creative capital in Alberta for Canada and the rest of the world.”

Price comes to The Banff Centre from her previous position as CEO of the Luminato Festival, Toronto’s Festival of Art and Creativity, an organization she has led since its inception in 2006.  As the Festival’s Founding CEO, Price helped Luminato become one of the world’s largest and most respected annual multi-arts festivals. The Festival reaches over 800,000 audience members annually and has commissioned over 75 new works of art, including work co-commissioned by and created at The Banff Centre.

"The focus in our search was for a candidate who understands the importance of driving creative output, complementary partnerships and the calibre of The Banff Centre experience,” said Robert Walker, The Banff Centre Board Vice Chair. “After a thorough search process we know Janice Price possesses the perfect blend of these attributes and is a strong asset for the future of The Banff Centre.”

“I am honoured and proud to join The Banff Centre, truly one of the most important cultural assets in all of Canada.  I look forward to building on the excellent reputation of The Banff Centre, and to shining a spotlight locally, nationally and internationally on the spectacular work that is being done there.  I’m particularly eager to engage with the University of Alberta and work on the Peter Lougheed Leadership Initiative.  Both my husband and I are excited to live and work in Alberta and to more deeply experience the vibrant, dynamic cultural assets that exist throughout the province,” said Janice Price. 

Previous to Luminato, Price was the President and CEO of The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia from 2002-2006, and prior to that position she was Vice President of Marketing and Communications and then Interim Executive Director at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Prior to her professional engagements in the United States, Price held senior positions at a number of Toronto arts organizations, including the Hummingbird Centre for the Performing Arts and The Corporation of Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall. From 1992 – 1996, Price was the Director of Marketing and Special Projects for the Stratford Festival.  Janice Price currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Festivals and Major Events (FAME) coalition of large Canadian festivals, and as a member of the board of Festivals and Events Ontario where she serves on the advocacy and education committees. She is also a member of the National Board of Culture Days.

 “On behalf of the board of directors and the Luminato staff, we wish Janice all the best in her new role at The Banff Centre, one of Canada’s most esteemed cultural organizations,” said Tony Gagliano, Co-Founder and Chair of the Luminato Festival.

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