Cultural Leadership
Rooted in wisdom. Shaping Arts and Culture in Canada.
Lead with purpose. Join those reshaping the role of arts and culture in society.
After taking a few years to consult and listen to the needs of the cultural and creative sectors, the Banff Centre is proud to launch a new slate of Cultural Leadership Programs, designed for those ready to lead with purpose, courage, and creativity in the arts and culture sector.
Our programs will be much more accessible to a greater number of aspiring cultural leaders, offering short modules that busy professionals can take at their convenience. These programs uniquely balance deep personal growth with practical organizational skills, enabling participants to lead with vision and humility—driving renewal in their communities and institutions.
Banff Centre’s Cultural Leadership Programs are designed for changemakers in the arts and culture sector who want to navigate complexity and drive meaningful change. Rooted in the Seven Wise Practices and Right Relations, developed through 50 years of Indigenous Leadership programming at the Banff Centre, our 2025–26 season launches with foundational Cultural Leadership programs, laying the groundwork for a broader suite of programs to follow in 2026–27.
Participants can earn the Banff Centre Certificate of Distinction in Cultural Leadership by successfully completing seven Cultural Leadership programs, selecting one from each of the seven Wise Practices Elements in our program model.
We’ll also feature dynamic conversations with leading cultural thinkers, including the annual Cultural Leadership Innovation Lecture—an inspiring highlight of the season.
Subscribe to our Cultural Leadership newsletter to keep informed on upcoming programs and announcements.
Programs
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“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.”
Geneviève Cimon, Director, Cultural Leadership
"For many years, Banff Centre’s Indigenous Leadership Program has upheld the importance of Wise Practices and Right Relations in nurturing thoughtful, ethical leadership. I’m pleased to see the Cultural Leadership Program embracing these same principles—creating space for leaders to engage with complexity, build respectful relationships, and lead with integrity across diverse cultural landscapes."
Cynthia Wesley Esquimaux, Faculty Member, Indigenous Leadership Program, Cultural Leadership Program, Chair of Truth and Reconciliation, Lakehead University
"Leaders in our sector are rarely offered the time to slow down, and I've seen firsthand how creating space for meaningful conversations, reflections, and new ideas can strengthen the ability and confidence for leadership-level visioning and decision-making while navigating a rapidly evolving environment. I'm grateful to be returning to Banff Centre as a faculty member, having been an alumnus of the Cultural Leadership Program which deepened my practice within the arts and culture sector, and built a long-lasting network of relationships with other leaders across the country."
Kenji Maeda, Cultural Leader, Alumni & Faculty Member
Vision
Artists and cultural leaders spark renewal, innovation, and impact. With creativity rooted in wisdom and community, we cultivate a thriving and sustainable world.
Mission
We nurture brave cultural leaders through immersive programs that integrate creativity, intercultural dialogue, and community wisdom with contemporary practices in governance, strategy, and innovation. Grounded in the Seven Wise Practices and guided by leading experts, participants transform insight into action to lead meaningful renewal in the arts and culture sector.
Cultural Leadership Team
Geneviève Cimon
Director
Geneviève Cimon 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.
Genevieve Farrell
Program Manager
As Program Manager, Genevieve Farrell supports the life cycle of Cultural Leadership programs. Connecting with Faculty and Banff Centre staff, Genevieve initiates the stages of planning, implementation and successful delivery to ensure residents thrive and build their skill sets through their learning experiences.
Contact Us
For questions about the department and what we offer, please contact:
Email
leadership@banffcentre.ca
Toll Free
1.888.255.6327
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Box 1020, Stn. 43
Banff, Alberta
T1L 1H5 Canada