Projects

Dominic is a professional arts administrator with extensive experience as a writer, music programmer, event manager, and performer. Over the years he has worked on many different projects, from the mundane to the multifaceted and with budgets ranging from $400 to $4,000,000.

As Executive Director of the Winnipeg Arts Council he is the lead responsible for all the organization’s activities. Throughout his time he has played a major role in its governance, board management, policy development and review, as well as government and stakeholder relations. His responsibilities have included all aspects of program development, review, and implementation for grant funding programs. www.winnipegarts.ca.

He has also created and managed Arts Development activities which facilitate public participation in the arts and provide opportunities for Winnipeg’s citizens to be involved in arts experiences under the banner “Arts for All.” This work has allowed him to be involved in a tremendous variety of arts projects across the disciplines. In 2010 he project managed Winnipeg’s year as Cultural Capital of Canada, working with partners from throughout the community to present 12 different projects. These included major festivals and events, artwork commissions, and the development of a cultural plan for the City of Winnipeg.

In 2014 he oversaw The Year of Urban Ideas, an initiative to raise awareness of the importance of the arts in city-building. This program comprised a symposium, a design competition, and a month-long camp for high school students using art and design to learn how cities are built, planned, and work. In 2022 this program, called City Builders, was adopted into the Met School curriculum for Seven Oaks School Division.

His work and volunteer experience has seen him do everything from bartending and garbage pickup to policy and bylaw development, human resources and fundraising for not-for-profit organizations in the tourism, community centre and childcare sectors.

A more comprehensive listing of Dominic’s projects and experience is found below.

Writing on Culture and the Arts

Dominic is a major contributor to Winnipeg Arts Council organizational documents including policy manuals, strategic plans, annual business plans, and more. Some other highlights include

  • Presentation to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology concerning Copyright Act Review, May 10 2018
  • Dawson City Music Festival Association 2013: Strategic Plan (facilitator and author)
  • Winnipeg Arts Council 2011: Ticket to the Future Phase 2: A Cultural Action Plan for Winnipeg (co-author)
  • Op-Ed, Winnipeg Free Press September 19 2011: Arts council has already tooted Tom Ford’s horn
  • Op-Ed, Winnipeg Free Press October 12 2008: Radio 2 critics are simply not listening
  • Submission to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage concerning the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, June 3 2008
  • Canada Council for the Arts 2005: On The Road Presenting and Touring Handbooks (consulting team)

 Presenter/Mentor

  • Aboriginal Presenters Forum, Winnipeg MB
  • AMP Camp, Gimli MB
  • Australasian World Music Expo, Melbourne AUS
  • Calgary Folk Festival Boot Camp, Calgary AB
  • Channeling Connections Indigenous Arts Gathering, Edmonton AB
  • North American Folk Alliance / Strictly Mundial, Montreal QC
  • Performance Creation Canada, Whitehorse YT
  • Power of the Arts National Forum, Ottawa ON
  • Prairie Music Week, Winnipeg MB
  • Showcase Yukon, Whitehorse YT

 Programmer

  • Mass Appeal, Winnipeg MB, 2016-2019
  • Art Matters Conversation Series, Winnipeg MB 2014, 2016
  • River Barge Festival, Winnipeg MB 2010
  • Big Dance on Broadway, Winnipeg MB 2010
  • The Forks 20th Birthday, Winnipeg MB 2009
  • West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg MB 2004-2009
  • Dawson City Music Festival, Dawson City, YT 1999-2004

Performer/Host/Broadcaster

  • Calgary Folk Music Festival, Calgary AB
  • CBC Yukon (Radio One), Whitehorse & Dawson City YT
  • Definitely Not The Opera, CBC Radio One National Network
  • Frostbite Music Festival, Whitehorse YT
  • North Country Fair, Joussard AB
  • Regina Folk Festival, Regina SK
  • The Bench Jockeys, CJUM Winnipeg
  • Trout Forest Music Festival, Ear Falls ON

Assessor

  • Canada Council for the Arts Music Touring Program
  • Juno Awards
  • Manitoba Arts Council Contact
  • Manitoba Film & Music / FACTOR sound recording programs
  • Manitoba Music Market Access Program
  • Western Canadian Music Awards
  • Yukon Advanced Artist Award

Education & Training

  • Bachelor of Arts, Simon Fraser University. (Canadian History & Political Science)
  • Creative Placemaking, University of British Columbia
  • Creative Climate Leadership, Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts
  • Indigenous Canada, University of Alberta

Other affiliations and volunteerism

  • Americans for the Arts
  • Creative Cities Network of Canada
  • Manitoba Tri-level Arts Funders
  • MUNARTS Municipal Arts Funders Round Table

Previous:

  • Architecture + Design Film Festival Steering Committee
  • Culture Days Manitoba Task Force
  • Dawson City International Short Film Festival
  • Dawson City Minor Soccer
  • École Riverview School Lunch Program
  • Fort Rouge Co-op Day Nursery Board of Directors (Chair, 2014-15)
  • Klondike Institute of Art & Culture Board of Directors
  • Klondike Visitors Association Board of Directors
  • Manitoba Nature Summit
  • Riverview Community Centre Board of Directors (Vice-president, 2022-24)
  • Western Roots Artistic Directors (Chair, 2001-02)
  • Winnipeg’s Downtown Recovery Strategy Energizing Spaces subcommittee
  • Winnipeg Harvest
  • Winnipeg Ska & Reggae Festival Steering Committee
  • Yukon International Storytelling Festival Board of Directors
  • Yukon Liquor Corporation Board of Directors