Led by Micheline McKay, The Arts Advocate was founded in 1993 to respond to the increased need for the engagement of cultural organizations in public policy. She brings over 25 years experience in the public and cultural sectors.

For the past twelve years, Micheline has shared her time between The Arts Advocate and Opera.ca. Until recently, Micheline was the part-time Executive Director of Opera.ca, where she built the organization from its earliest days as a small committee of OPERA America to a full-fledged national arts service association. Working with OPERA America and 20 opera companies across Canada, she championed the interests of the Canadian opera sector. Key among recent initiatives:

• leadership on the steering committee of the Canadian Arts Coalition, a national effort to secure increased funding for the arts;
• the launch of the Canadian Opera Creation Fund, an initiative to foster increased development and production of Canadian opera;
• in association with the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Banff Opera Colloquium an in-depth exploration of issues affecting the Canadian opera sector (August 2005 and 2007).

Micheline continues to work with Opera.ca in a leadership capacity, responsible for advocacy and the strategic positioning of the association.

Prior to establishing The Arts Advocate in 1993, Micheline was responsible for provincial government relations at TVOntario. There, she strengthened relations with the key government decision-makers and managed the annual funding process for the provincial broadcaster. A former Economist at Ontario's Ministry of Treasury and Economics, and a researcher at the Ontario Legislature, she understands government policy, program development and political processes.

Micheline holds an M.A. in Political Science from York University and an Honours B.A. from Carleton University. In 2006, she successfully completed executive accreditation with the Canadian Society of Association Executives.

Micheline is the President of the Cultural Careers Council of Ontario and a director of the Toronto Arts Council Foundation and volunteers with Coleman Lemieux & Compagnie. She is a member of Arts Consultants Canada and the Public Affairs Association of Canada; she is active in her local community.

The Arts Advocate
52 Old Orchard Grove
Toronto, Ontario
M5M 2C9

416-389-9629