Welcome to our newest GAC Staff Members!

Guelph Arts Council is excited to welcome our newest staff members for winter/spring 2021. Elly Grant is our new Communications and Outreach Assistant and Michael Crha is our new Digital Strategies Assistant. Together, Elly and Michael will be playing a critical role in supporting Guelph Arts Council in launching a brand new online arts hub this coming spring/summer of 2021 for artists and cultural organizations in Guelph and Wellington County.
 

Elly Grant

Elly Grant is an interdisciplinary artist and art educator who has spent the past 6 years in communities across Canada working in the arts and public service. Last Fall Elly returned to her hometown of Guelph, and participated in the Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project (GEAMP) which where she reconnected with Guelph’s vibrant arts community.

Elly graduated from Quest University Canada (Squamish, BC) with a Bachelor of Arts and Science, where she pursued a senior thesis on community arts and cultural development. Elly has served as the Coordinator for the Junction Artist-in-Residence (JAR) Program, a unique fashion and textile residency for Canadian artists in Yukon Territory. Elly has also worked in Visitor Experience at several Parks Canada sites, and as a Curatorial Assistant Internship at Touchstones Museum of Art and History in Nelson, BC. Elly is currently enrolled in a Master’s of Art Education at NSCAD University in Halifax, NS where she hopes to continue exploring her diverse range of academic interests. On the side, Elly runs an upcycled clothing business, Double Dipped, where she integrates her passion for sustainable clothing, textile design and entrepreneurship. You can check her work out on Instagram (@doubledipped_) or her website: www.doubledipped.ca. 

Elly’s strong interests in arts administration, curation and arts programming have developed over the years through many incredible experiences. Elly joins GAC as yet another opportunity to continue her learning and discover the behind-the-scenes functions of an arts organization. Elly hopes to expand upon and integrate her resourceful, organized and enthusiastic skill-set in her role as GAC’s Communications and Outreach Assistant this semester. Most importantly, Elly hopes to further connect and collaborate with her hometown arts community and contribute her endless ideas to GAC’s program offerings.

Elly Grant can be reached at [email protected] 

Michael Crha

I am a third year undergraduate student at the University of Guelph studying Public Management, a Bachelor of Commerce program. Having grown up in Rockwood, Ontario, Guelph has been the community in which I have learned, worked, and engaged in all my life. I am a graduate of St. James Catholic High School in Guelph, where I was involved in many artistic functions such as the band, designing the yearbook, and creating short films.

Why I am excited to join:

I am joining the Guelph Arts Council for a co-op work term placement, helping to bring about a new digital hub for artists, organizations, and the broader community. My previous co-op terms have been extremely valuable for both my education and career goals. It is a nice break from being a student, and having more of a focus on professional development. I am excited for the learning opportunities this placement will have to offer, the new connections I will make, and the positive impact on the community our project aims to have.

Artistic background:

When it comes to an artistic background, I have a passion for filmmaking and video production. I have been an actor, cameraman, writer, director and editor for a number of short films. Among these was the school-wide production of a comedy/sci-fi film in my Grade 12 year. I am a fan of experimental art, influenced by the likes of filmmakers Werner Herzog and David Lynch.

Other:

I am a citizen of the Czech Republic and traveling is one of my biggest ambitions in life. I enjoy experiencing different cultures and learning new languages— I am at an intermediate level of German.

Michael Crha can  be reached at [email protected]

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