Banff Centre Announces Michael Falk as Director, Music and Geneviève Cimon as Director, Cultural Leadership

Michael Falk and Geneviève Cimon signify two additions to Banff Centre’s Arts and Leadership departments, among several other key internal changes, to mark a new era of programming at one of Canada’s preeminent institution dedicated to educational and training opportunities in arts and creative leadership.

BANFF, AB, May 29, 2025 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is pleased to announce several staffing updates to mark a new era of programming at the post-secondary institution, strengthening Canada’s leading organization dedicated to providing residencies, training, and professional development to all arts disciplines, mountain culture, Indigenous culture, and leadership.

First, Michael Falk joins Banff Centre as Director, Music. His tenure began earlier this month. Joining Banff Centre after over three years in senior leadership at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as the Senior Director of Artistic Operations—where he produced concerts, managed the orchestra, and programmed their Pops and Movies series. His previous experience as a producer, manager, Artistic Director of Jazz Winnipeg, part of the indie rock band Les Jupes, and now as the solo artist known as Touching, ensures he is ready to embrace the individual musical styles of Banff Centre’s music participants.

“Winnipeg will always be my musical home, but I’m looking forward to what the mountain air will inspire,” said Michael Falk. “With the resources, diversity, and history of Banff Centre’s renowned Music department, there is no limit to what we can create together. I invite musical artists from any genre, area of the world, to think of their greatest desire and ask how we can make it a reality at Banff Centre.”

“Michael brings with him a wealth of experience working across a wide spectrum of musical genres including jazz, orchestral, electronic and global. As we continue to refresh and reimagine our Music Programs, this breadth of experience coupled with his creative energy makes him an exciting choice for Banff Centre as well as for the many participants and faculty who will take part in our programs. We all look forward to working with him very much.” said Josephine Ridge, Executive Director, Arts at Banff Centre.

Geneviève Cimon joins Banff Centre as Director, Cultural Leadership on June 2, 2025. is a respected leader, producer, collaborator, and mentor in the creative sector with over 20 years of executive experience. As Senior Director of Learning and Community Engagement at the National

Arts Centre, she led a multidisciplinary arts education team and worked extensively with the NAC Orchestra, overseeing international artist training programs, engagement tours, and partnerships.

Since leaving the NAC, she has built a dynamic arts consultancy, working with organizations such as Propeller Dance, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Azrieli Foundation seeking to expand their social impact. She has also served as Chair of Centretown Community Health Centre, as an Advisory Board member for the Global Leaders Institute’s Arts Innovation MBA, and is an External Research Fellow at Carleton University’s Research Centre for Music, Sound, and Society.

“I am so excited to join Banff Centre’s inspiring team and contribute to its vision for advancing cultural leadership in Canada,” Cimon says. “As arts leaders navigate shifting audience behaviours, evolving funding landscapes, and the very essence of our mission, we stand at a transformative crossroads. Challenges may test us, but within them lie powerful opportunities. I am eager to learn from and collaborate with present and future leaders in embracing these moments with collective wisdom, adaptability, and creativity.”

“Banff Centre’s Cultural Leadership program has been a groundbreaking force in fostering important conversations, building essential skills, and connecting leaders from across Canada since it began,” says Mark Wold, Executive Director, Leadership at Banff Centre. “Behind the scenes, we’ve been in months of research, development, and piloting for the next chapter of Cultural Leadership education at Banff Centre. With her experience in education, arts administration, and research, I firmly believe Geneviève is the person to start this next chapter.”

Rounding out the staff changes in Banff Centre’s Arts Program team are: Jacqueline Bell—former Curator of Walter Phillips Gallery—who is now Director, Walter Phillips Gallery and Collections, acknowledging her impactful contribution to Banff Centre’s on-site art gallery and the development of Banff Centre’s art collection; Karen Howard—former Manager, Exhibitions and Collections—who is now Senior Manager, Leighton Studios and Self-Directed Residencies overseeing residencies across campus as well as in the uniquely designed Leighton Artist Studios located in a forested area of Banff Centre’s campus; and the recently announced Director, Visual Arts, Haema Sivanesan.

For interview requests and images, please contact Carly Maga, Director, Communications at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity at the contact below.

Carly Maga
Director, Communications Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity 
tel: +1.403.763.6210
cell: +1.403.431.3423 
carly_maga@banffcentre.ca

About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Founded in 1933, Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and leadership development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become a global organization leading in arts, culture, and creative decision-making across dozens of disciplines, from the fine arts to Indigenous Wise Practices. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to move everyone who attends our campus - artists, leaders, thinkers, and audiences - to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to build an innovative, inspiring future through education, performances, convenings, and public outreach. banffcentre.ca