Barbara Gilbert

Background

About Barbara Gilbert

Transforming communities through strategic partnerships and authentic engagement. As Media Arts Officer at the Ontario Arts Council, I leverage deep community connections and 15+ years of cultural sector expertise to drive meaningful social impact. My unique perspective as a bilingual, neurodivergent leader brings authenticity to equity-centered programming and stakeholder engagement. What I bring: Strategic grant management - Managing multi-million dollar portfolios across Media Arts and Accessibility programs Partnership development - Cultivated collaborations with 20+ organizations from grassroots collectives to national institutions Equity leadership - Member of OAC's EDIA Committee, with lived experience informing inclusive program design Bilingual community engagement - Connecting Francophone and Anglophone arts ecosystems across Ontario Systems thinking - Co-chaired New Ways of Granting initiative, redesigning funding approaches for post-pandemic realities From revitalizing Le Labo as Executive Director to navigating complex stakeholder relationships in my current role, I excel at building bridges between communities, funders, and institutions. I'm passionate about creating sustainable change through thoughtful resource allocation and authentic relationship-building. Open to exploring foundation and corporate social impact opportunities where community connection meets strategic vision.