Why arts leadership matters more than ever

When I began this column, Paul Samyn, this paper’s editor, suggested a few themes I might explore — one of them being the significant turnover among Winnipeg’s arts and culture leaders in the last year. It struck me then, as it does now, that this story was less about departures than about the evolving nature of leadership itself.

Over the past year and a half, a dozen or more of our city’s cultural leaders — directors, CEOs and senior managers — have stepped away from their posts. They include figures from the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art, Winnipeg Arts Council, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Manitoba Children’s Museum, Centre culturel franco-manitobain, Oseredok, the University of Manitoba’s School of Art Gallery and the Royal Aviation Museum, among others.

Some retired, others moved on to new opportunities, and some are pausing to catch their breath. Each story is distinct, yet together they form a portrait of a city in transition — a moment when the cultural landscape is shifting and renewing itself. It’s a time to reflect and ask what this means for the future of arts leadership here and across the country.

Leading an arts organization has never been easy, but it has rarely been harder than it is today. These institutions sit at the intersection of art, community and economics, and their leaders must balance creative ambition with financial reality, advocacy with diplomacy and tradition with change.

The pandemic upended business models and audience habits. Costs have climbed even as funding remains uncertain. Expectations around accessibility, reconciliation, inclusion and digital engagement have expanded the role far beyond artistic direction. Arts leaders now find themselves simultaneously CEOs, fundraisers, mediators, educators and caretakers of civic hope.

Behind every concert, exhibition or festival is a leader working late into the night, finding solutions that keep the doors open and the vision alive. Their work rarely makes headlines, yet its impact resonates throughout the community.

What unites many of these recent transitions is not crisis or fatigue, but humanity. Leadership in the arts demands emotional labour, empathy and endurance. It’s deeply personal work, driven by belief and conviction. Yet it can also be isolating and relentless.

Perhaps this wave of departures signals something beyond burnout — a recognition that leadership can evolve, that stepping aside can also be an act of care, making space for renewal.

The arts are not only about permanence but about rhythm — periods of intensity, reflection and rebirth.

This moment also invites us to think about the next generation of arts leaders. Will they see these roles as viable, fulfilling and sustainable? What kind of leadership models will attract them?

Younger professionals may bring new ideas about collaboration, shared authority and community engagement. We may see more co-directorships, collective decision-making and partnerships across institutions — models that mirror a more interconnected and inclusive civic culture.

But as new searches and appointments unfold, there must also be an unambiguous commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion — and to reconciliation in its fullest, most authentic sense. The future strength of our arts community depends on ensuring that leadership opportunities are open and welcoming to Indigenous, Black and other racialized candidates; to women and gender-diverse professionals; and to those whose experiences have historically been overlooked or undervalued. Leadership renewal is not only about who steps down, but who is invited in.

If the last generation built and stabilized the institutions, the next must reimagine them for a world that looks and feels different — one that demands openness, empathy and courage.

Winnipeg has long punched above its weight as a cultural city. Our reputation rests not just on artists and audiences, but on the people who have led our institutions with purpose, patience and conviction. Each of the departing leaders leaves behind a legacy of resilience and creativity that has strengthened the city’s cultural identity.

During my years leading one of Winnipeg’s cultural institutions, I had the privilege of meeting regularly with many of these colleagues. We would gather to share stories, challenges and opportunities — to compare notes on everything from budgets to board relations, from community engagement to staff well-being. Those conversations were candid and generous. They reminded me that while our organizations were distinct, our mission was shared — to keep culture alive, visible and accessible for all. Those meetings, and the people around those tables, made us all stronger.

But beyond the leaders and boards lies something even more enduring — the community itself. Audiences, members, donors, volunteers and artists form the backbone of every arts organization. They are the lifeblood that sustains the work — and the witness that gives it meaning. Directors, CEOs and board chairs will inevitably come and go, but when the community remains strong, supportive and engaged, the organization endures. It is the community that ensures continuity, that holds institutions accountable and that breathes life into every curtain call and gallery opening.

As new leaders step forward, they inherit more than budgets and buildings — they inherit belief. The belief that art connects people, gives voice to community and builds understanding in a complex world.

This recent wave of departures is not a sign of decline; it’s a testament to how seriously we take culture in this city. Change is healthy. It reminds us that leadership, like art itself, evolves.

When I think back to the many conversations I’ve had with Paul Samyn over the years — conversations that often began with a single work of art and widened into reflections on culture and community — I’m reminded that these exchanges are what help sustain civic life. This column, and indeed this topic, grows from that same dialogue.

The story of Winnipeg’s arts leadership is ultimately one of continuity. Leadership changes, but commitment endures. To those who have recently passed the torch — thank you for your vision, your perseverance and your belief in the power of art. You are valued, honoured and deeply missed. And to those who now take up the challenge — our city, and the community that stands behind it, are ready to follow your light.

Stephen Borys is president and CEO of Civic Muse, and a former Director and CEO of the Winnipeg Art Gallery.