Claire Hopkinson is currently Consulting Director of Canada’s Theatre Museum. She served as CEO of Toronto Arts Foundation and Toronto Arts Council for 17 years, Throughout her tenure, Claire’s mission was to not only support artists and arts organizations but also to broaden the reach of the arts to all Toronto residents through her visionary initiative, “Creative City, Block by Block.” Claire played a pivotal role in establishing initiatives such as the Neighbourhood Arts Network, East End Arts, North York Arts, Creative Champions Network and Arts in the Parks. She pioneered many funding programs including the Newcomer Artist Awards, Indigenous Arts Awards, and Black Arts funding.
Before her role at TAC, Claire’s career spanned the arts as actor, theatre and awards show producer, festival director and executive director of arts organizations, including Comus Music Theatre and Tapestry Opera, where she made groundbreaking contributions to the development of contemporary opera. Pioneering productions include Schafer’s epic RA, John Beckwith’s Shivaree, Gotham/MacDonald’s Nigredo Hotel, Sharman/Egoyan’s Elsewhereless and Chan/Brownell’s Iron Road.
Claire has served on many boards, including TAPA, and was the Founding Chair of the Association for Opera in Canada, Vice Chair of Opera America, Founding President of Creative Trust. She is currently on the Board of Tapestry Opera. Her contributions to the arts have earned her numerous accolades, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Chalmers Award for Arts Administration, the Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts, and “Woman of Distinction” recognition from the Association for Opera in Canada.