Introducing Katie Brennan – the NEW Executive Director of ARTSCO

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Hi there! Let me introduce myself.

I’m Katie Brennan and I’m the new Executive Director of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan.

You may know me from my previous role as the Curator of the Lake Country Art Gallery where I served for the last 4 years. I hold a BFA from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and a MFA from the University of Guelph, both in studio art. I maintain a healthy professional art practice – see more katiebrennan.ca . I’m also an art consultant, and the Founder and Editor in Chief of the Okanagan Art Review, an online art magazine and online hub for all things visual arts in the Okanagan. I am also a producer and facilitator of ecstatic dance practices, like 5 Rhythms. 

I’ve previously served on the ARTSCO board (2013) during which I conceived of the project “60 Artists in 60 spaces to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of ARTSCO” for which I designed the accompanying exhibition / participant catalogue, attended the inaugural Cultural Roundtable session in Vancouver, BC and the Arts BC Conference held in Vernon, BC.

Since beginning this position with ARTSCO on Sept 1st, which also included moving the ARTSCO office into the Rotary Centre for the Arts in downtown Kelowna, I’ve been thinking a lot about what the purpose of an arts council is and how it can best support and showcase what is happening in the arts in our region. And my thoughts keep coming back to two main points.

The purpose of ARTSCO, from my point of view, is to serve ART MAKERS and ART LOVERS.

To serve ART MAKERS by supporting and providing resources and opportunities that support all the extra things that artists, dancers, writers, musicians, etc. need to do get their work out there and make it as easy as possible for them to get that support and get them back into the studio, and making, as soon as possible.

And to serve ART LOVERS by making the finding out about the arts as easy as possible – so that you practically have to trip over it.

Beside tending to the administration of ARTSCO since the beginning of September, I’ve also been engaging in conversations with the lightning rods of the arts community – folks who make who stuff happen.

This is one of my favourite things to do; to hear about what people are up to, what they are dreaming about and what they would like to put into action. The icing on the cake here for me is when I can get in on the action and support them, amplify them, and cheer them on.


I would LOVE to do this for you.

If you are someone who has burning desire to make something happen in the Arts in the Central Okanagan, or who needs a sounding board or just wants to talk to someone who is equally passionate about the arts, I’m your gal.

Please reach out to me.

My phone number is 250-861-4123 and my email is [email protected]

Also, I will be holding open office hours on Mondays 1 – 6pm, Oct 19th, 26th, Nov 2nd, and 9th, on a first come first serve basis. If these times don’t work for you, I’d be happy to make an appointment with you at a time that is more suitable to you.

I look forward to talking with you.

Katie Brennan