Melissa A. Thompson

Background

About Melissa A. Thompson

WRITER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTS SPECIALIST driven by remarkable experiences through live theatre + exhibition Always interested in new and unusual intersections of visual and narrative culture, Melissa A. Thompson is an Arts Professional whose forces include concept development, creative leadership and strategy. Thompson first joined Cirque du Soleil as a Fine Arts Research Consultant and went on to found the Creative Intelligence // Vigie team, an in-house think tank focused on identifying emerging cultural trends, people of interest and resonant new directions for the organization. She also held the position of Concept Designer/ Creative Lead at Cirque du Soleil where she developed a broad range of projects including installation-based exhibits, experiences and live theatre show concepts over her 15-year career with the company. Her work has been recognized through several collaborations with the Musée des Beaux Arts de Montreal where she has held the role of Artistic Director of their annual ball (2018 – 2020) and has collaborated on an array of exhibits and installations. Currently based in Finland, recent projects include the LUMIKUNINGATAR Ice ballet (2022 premiere), Johanna Nuutinen & Company's SKIN HUNGER (2023) and the stage concepts for UMK, Finland's eurovision competition including the concept design for Windows95Man (Finland) and Besa's (Albania) Eurovision 2024 stage shows. A Canada Council for the Arts grant recipient, her novel Dreadful Paris, was shortlisted for the McAuslan First Book Award. Thompson holds an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Fine Arts & Creative Writing from Concordia University in Montreal and a Master’s Degree in Visual Arts from Goldsmith’s College at the University of London.