Winnipeg Arts Council

Winnipeg Arts Leader Recognized with National Award

Yesterday, at the Creative City Summit in Vancouver, the Creative City Network of Canada (CCNC) celebrated the recipients of its national Cultural Impact Awards. Among the honorees was Carol A. Phillips, recently retired Executive Director of the Winnipeg Arts Council, who was celebrated by her peers from across country with the 2024 Cultural Leadership Award.

The Cultural Leadership Award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to local cultural planning, programs, and services, demonstrating inspired leadership and a deep dedication to advancing the vision of Creative Cities. Carol A. Phillips, with her exceptional career spanning multiple decades, has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Canada.

Carol's remarkable achievements include leading Regina’s MacKenzie Art Gallery, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. She chaired Canada’s UNESCO Subcommission for the World Decade for Cultural Development and led Canada’s award-winning representation at the Venice Biennale in 2001. Over the years, her contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the Senate 150 Medal, and the Creative City Network’s inaugural Public Art Award in 2016.

Throughout her career, Phillips has been a steadfast advocate for Indigenous voices in the arts. In 1982, she co-curated the groundbreaking exhibition New Work by a New Generation at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. In the ’90s, she created space for Indigenous artists to design their own programs at the Banff Centre. She also conceived of Close Encounters: The Next 500 Years in 2011, the largest contemporary Indigenous art exhibition ever staged in North America at the time. More recently, she initiated the Indigenous Arts Leaders program through the Winnipeg Arts Council and commissioned significant public artworks by Indigenous artists, including Rebecca Belmore.

During her 18-year tenure at the Winnipeg Arts Council, Carol Phillips demonstrated an unwavering belief that the arts are essential to city building. She championed public art and advocated for fair payment for artists. Under her guidance and the banner of Arts for All, Winnipeg was named the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2010. Phillips also developed cultural action plans, the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts, commissioned iconic sculptures, and launched the International Cello Festival, leaving a profound and lasting impact on the city’s cultural fabric.

In addition to these remarkable initiatives, Phillips has been a dedicated mentor, inspiring her colleagues to grow and encouraging them to follow the art wherever it may lead. Her contributions to the cultural sector are immeasurable, and her legacy will continue to influence the arts for years to come.

Carol A. Phillips recently retired from her role at the Winnipeg Arts Council but remains active and available for consulting.

For more information, please contact:
Tanya Christensen, Interim Director
Winnipeg Arts Council
204-943-7668
tanya [at] winnipegarts.ca

About the Creative City Network of Canada (CCNC):
The CCNC is a national non-profit organization that supports cultural development in communities across Canada by providing resources, networking opportunities, and a platform for cultural leaders to share best practices in the field of local cultural planning.