Meet the EAC's new Executive Director

On November 4, 2024, the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) welcomed Renée Williams as the organization’s new Executive Director. An accomplished business leader and strategic communicator, Renée is a passionate supporter of Edmonton’s vibrant and dynamic arts community and its vital role in the city’s placemaking efforts. Renée is excited to lead the EAC’s dedicated team and work with the community to see Connections & Exchanges through to fruition and plan for the organization’s next steps. Read on to learn more about Renée and what she is looking forward to accomplishing at the helm of the EAC. 

Tell us about your connection to Edmonton and what keeps you living and working here.

I like to say I was born and raised in Edmonton; I was born in Montréal, but we moved here before I was a year old, and so, Edmonton has been home for me ever since. There is something so beautiful about the warmth of the city. It truly is a welcoming destination, and I recognize it from the travel that I’ve had the privilege of doing throughout my career, to other cities and other countries. There’s just something so welcoming and grounding about Edmonton. 

I lived in Calgary for a period of time – I completed my university degree in Calgary. One day as I was driving back to Edmonton, and I was approaching the Gateway Visitor Centre that was open at the time, I remember getting this feeling of I’m home. Calgary was beautiful, but it felt different. The vibe in Calgary was different. It was a little more metropolitan, whereas Edmonton had a more eclectic, relatable vibe, and I think a lot of that is credited to our arts and culture community which truly brings this destination to life. 

There’s something so vibrant about Edmonton and what we do here. It’s a city of everyone getting involved and people finding pathways for accessibility to things, getting their hands dirty, building things, and creating. I love that about Edmonton. 

What drew you to apply for the role of Executive Director at the EAC?

I’ve been surrounded by the arts community for my entire life. I myself, while I’m not a performing artist per se, I’ve been deeply rooted in the music community here and had the privilege of having some really unique experiences in my youth and my childhood around music in Edmonton. I saw this as an opportunity to serve a community that rallies behind the work that they do and rallies behind art and culture and its preservation, but also its ability to showcase the destination and who we are. Those are the things that prompted me to look at the opportunity and to apply for it. 

I know a few of the staff who work in this organization, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the Edmonton Arts Council on various projects when I was at Explore Edmonton – I worked closely with the past Executive Director and the team here on the Festival and Event pillar under the Major Event Growth and Attraction Strategy for the City of Edmonton. It was really rewarding to work with people whose day-to-day was to support the arts and cultural community. That’s what made me look at the opportunity a little bit more seriously, to see how I could help and how my experience could be of assistance to the Edmonton Arts Council and the phenomenal work that’s already being done here by the organization. I wanted to lend my leadership experience and expertise to an organization that contributes to the vibrant placemaking efforts in our city. 

What is your interest in/​involvement in the arts?

Music is my number one. I started singing with my sister at a really young age. Together we were a little duet and it’s predominantly been in the church and the gospel space, but then went on to volunteer and to participate in school choirs, jazz choirs, jazz bands, things like that. 

Attending festivals is our thing as a family, but we also experience other disciplines together as well. We’ll go to the Symphony a couple times a year. We enjoy theatre from time to time as well. And we’ll go check those things out around town as a family. I think it feeds a part of your soul. It’s important for us to have that as part of our family practice and as part of our own individual practice too. My husband is also an artist, he is a musician and has worked at the Ivory Club doing dueling pianos for a number of years and has put out an album. And as an artist who’s actually gone through the pathway to the EAC, and has applied for funding and support in the past, I’ve been alongside him for that journey as well. 

What is your favourite piece of public art and why is it special to you? 

I would say Tawatinâ Bridge. I love that art. When you are walking down that bridge and you look up and see the mural, there is something so profound about learning the truths of this land and the Indigenous heritage. Coming from Fort Edmonton Park to this organization, I’ve been on a unique journey the last five years working with the Indigenous community, learning from people, understanding things differently, and frankly, being completely transformed. There is a sensation of peace, connectedness and rootedness, recognizing I am a settler to this land. There is something that comes over me when I’m on that bridge and can’t quite put it into words, but it is truly remarkable. 

Is there anything you’ve learned or experienced in your first few days that surprised you? 

No surprises, but I would definitely say a reassurance and an affirmation of the decision to join the organization and such an appreciation for the talent that’s here. The people that are here are passionate about the work that they do, and it is evident in every single moment of the day through conversations in the hallway and lunchroom, people are passionate about arts and culture and the work of the Edmonton Arts Council. For me, that’s been so rewarding, even in just a short time, because it reaffirms the decision to be a part of the organization and it reaffirms that the work that we do is important and it’s foundational, and we’re going to continue to do that work for many years to come. 

What are you looking forward to in the role?

I think the biggest thing is really learning the team and understanding the intricacies of the work that we do at the EAC, understanding the variety of programs and granting opportunities and how we can better serve the community. I know we’re doing tremendous work. We’ve got this phenomenal 10-year strategy that’s got a series of ambitions, aims, actions within and we’ve surpassed the halfway mark and over the next couple of years we’ll be coming towards the end of that strategy. The former Executive Director did a phenomenal job of bringing it to life, so seeing it through to completion is something I’m looking forward to. I’m also looking forward to working with community, learning more about them, working with the arts and cultural community to vision the next strategy, and to understand what that needs to look like and how it needs to take shape for future years and continued success. 

Renée Williams will be at the Edmonton Arts Council Shop & Services on Churchill Square on Thursday, December 5 from 3:30 – 6:30 pm to meet members of the arts community over light refreshments. 

Please join us, stop by and say hello, and welcome Renée Williams to her new role as the Executive Director of the Edmonton Arts Council!