Holly Kent
Stratford
Summary
Senior arts administrator and cultural sector leader with over 15 years of experience directing literary and arts organizations, building strategic partnerships, and expanding audience engagement across Ontario and nationally. Proven success in financial stewardship, government and private-sector fundraising, governance support, and program development. Experienced in working collaboratively with artistic leadership, boards of directors, staff, volunteers, and community partners to deliver high-impact cultural programming. Passionate about strengthening regional arts ecosystems and expanding public access to cultural experiences.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
Ontario Book Publishers Organization
04.2015 - Current
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for a provincial arts service organization supporting independent publishers across Ontario
- Increased membership by 32 percent through new sector initiatives, professional development programming, and regional outreach
- Secured significant new funding through municipal, provincial, and federal grants, sponsorships, and membership revenue, increasing organizational budget by nearly 100 percent
- Lead strategic planning processes with the Board of Directors, including development of multi-year organizational goals and evaluation frameworks
- Oversee marketing and audience development strategies, including regional marketing initiatives in smaller Ontario communities
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with government funders, industry partners, and cultural stakeholders
- Supervise staff and contractors, supporting collaborative workplace culture and professional growth
Executive Director
Open Book Foundation
04.2015 - Current
- Lead strategic direction and daily operations of a public-facing literary organization focused on promoting Canadian authors and publishers
- Manage staff, contractors, and volunteers through goal-oriented planning, regular performance review, and professional development initiatives
- Increased annual operating budget by nearly 50 percent through successful grant applications, sponsorship development, and advertising partnerships
- Work closely with the Board of Directors to develop and manage multi-year budgets, governance policies, and organizational performance measurement strategies
- Oversaw major website redevelopment that increased web traffic by nearly 40 percent and expanded digital audience engagement
- Represent the organization publicly through partnerships, media relations, and sector engagement
Community Manager
National Reading Campaign
09.2013 - 04.2015
- Led development and implementation of national literacy promotion initiatives and public engagement campaigns
- Planned and executed the inaugural Reading Town, a week-long community cultural festival in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- Coordinated national advertising campaign generating over 1.7 million digital impressions, 15.5 million print impressions, and 11.6 million television impressions
- Delivered presentations to stakeholders, funders, and community partners on program outcomes and strategic priorities
- Managed relationships with major funders including TD Bank Group and Canada Council for the Arts
Sales and Marketing Manager
Canadian Children’s Book Centre
01.2011 - 09.2013
- Led membership and publication sales strategy, increasing membership by 12 percent and magazine subscriptions by 10 percent
- Organized and delivered major fundraising initiatives including Take Home an Original at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, raising $80,000
- Represented the organization to major cultural and corporate partners including TD Bank Group, Indigo, Amazon, and iTunes
- Supported national marketing and outreach initiatives to strengthen audience engagement
Education
Leadership Essentials Certificate -
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - English Literature
University of Guelph
Skills
- Community engagement
- Program management
- Strategic planning
- Project management
Timeline
Executive Director
Ontario Book Publishers Organization
04.2015 - Current
Executive Director
Open Book Foundation
04.2015 - Current
Community Manager
National Reading Campaign
09.2013 - 04.2015
Sales and Marketing Manager
Canadian Children’s Book Centre
01.2011 - 09.2013
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - English Literature
University of Guelph
Leadership Essentials Certificate -
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies