100 Mile Arts Network gets first executive director

Arts org supports English-speaking artists

100 Mile Arts Network has a new executive director. Geneviève Cloutier started her new position in July at the organization that supports English-speaking creative professionals throughout the MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais, MRC de Pontiac and MRC de la Vallée-de-la-Gatineau.

The position is a part-time, fixed-term contract, she explained, that she’ll hold through to March 2027. She said she is still in the “listening phase” of her new position and is honoured to join the team.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Cloutier used to visit her grandfather in Chelsea when she was a child. She has lived in Wakefield for 10 years. Cloutier is a researcher, writer, artist, educator and community organizer with an “Integrated Media Arts degree from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and a SSHRC-funded PhD in Education from the University of Ottawa, exploring transdisciplinarity, collaboration, pedagogy, and art/research,” according to her biography on the 100 Mile Art Network website.

This is the first executive director position for 100 Mile Arts Network, according to Cloutier. “The board has managed to gather some funding to do that, because the organization is growing so quickly,” she explained.

The organization has had traffic at the gallery, which is open Thursday and Sunday in the summer. It showcases visual artists’ work and is located at 721 Ch. Riverside, #205, in Wakefield. “The shows have been very well attended, and I think that that’s why the growth is happening really fast,” said Cloutier.

The organization is also focusing on social opportunities, free promotion, professional development workshops and resources, according to Cloutier. That means the public can discover local artists, join the free workshops and take part in cultural events. “We want to grow that,” said Cloutier.

Included is Art in the Park, a free event offered by the arts organization, with artist vendors, live music and workshops. And Cloutier also mentioned that 100 Mile Arts Network has a very robust social media campaign. “And while that’s robust, not everybody is on social media, and even now with the algorithm, the way the algorithms work, you could live in this community and not actually access it,” said Cloutier.

As the new executive director, Cloutier said she wants to support accessible and inclusive opportunities in the future. She used to teach equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Ottawa and wants to include those aspects in her work.

The arts organization is currently supported by the Secrétariat aux relations avec les Québécois d’expression anglaise (SQREA), MRC des Collines-de-l’Outaouais and the Municipality of La Pêche, explained Cloutier. Canadian Heritage, a federal gov’t department, is also a past funder for the organization. According to Cloutier, the arts organization based in Wakefield hopes to continue to build on their relationship with Canadian Heritage in the future.

A new exhibition by Marie-Pier Lopes opens at 100 Mile Arts Network’s gallery in Wakefield on July 31; there’s a vernissage Aug. 6. The next Art in the Park will happen at Centre Wakefield La Pêche on Aug. 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information can be found at 100milearts.net