Koffler Centre of the Arts Announces New Interim Director Anthony Sargent CBE
Respected international cultural leader, advisor and communicator, Anthony Sargent, is joining the Koffler Centre of the Arts as its Interim Director, Board Chair Helen Burstyn announced today.
“We are thrilled to have a globally respected and accomplished leader such as Anthony taking the reins of the Koffler as we emerge from the pandemic,” said Burstyn. “Anthony has the experience, the vision and the connections to build on the Koffler’s strong cultural platform and showcase the talent of both Canadian and international artists.”
“Toronto has such a vibrant and distinctive arts and cultural community, and The Koffler Centre provides an important forum for the appreciation and development of the contemporary arts, as well as nurturing and promoting Canadian artists. I couldn’t be more excited to be back in Toronto helping this essential cultural champion continue to achieve its important mission.” Sargent said.
Sargent joined the Luminato Festival Toronto as its Chief Executive Officer in 2015 and led the organization for five years. He rejoined his family in the UK after COVID forced the cancellation of the 2020 festival, and has now returned to continue to foster the artistic community in his second home.
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About Anthony Sargent CBE
After studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, Anthony worked for thirteen years with BBC Radio and TV in presentation, production and management, including leading the artistic planning for the BBC Proms and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
After working as Artistic Projects Director of London’s Southbank Centre he moved to Birmingham as the City Council’s Head of Arts for ten years, creating Birmingham’s first Arts Strategy and leading the Council’s major arts projects, investments and festivals, co-leading with Sir Simon Rattle Birmingham’s acclaimed 10-year festival of the 20th Century, Towards the Millennium.
After returning to the BBC in the management of the nationwide Radio and TV Millennium Music Live, the largest scale music festival the BBC has ever staged, he was founding General Director for fifteen years of Sage Gateshead (England’s award-winning international centre for music performance and education) before moving to Canada to lead Luminato Festival Toronto as its second CEO, also joining Toronto Arts Council as a Board member and Chair of its Advocacy Panel and Board Chair for three years of the New York based International Society for the Performing Arts.
Now an international cultural advisor and consultant, during the last 18 months he has written two international studies of the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for the cultural sector,
the first published by the University of Leeds’ Centre for Cultural Value in September 2021 and
the follow-up study in May 2022.
ABOUT THE KOFFLER CENTRE OF THE ARTS: The Koffler Centre of the Arts is a cultural platform that explores critical ideas and concerns of our time through exhibitions, publications, performances, literary events and digital initiatives. We examine complex issues through transformative art experiences that stimulate intercultural dialogue and position Jewish identity in conversation with diverse perspectives and global voices. The Koffler Gallery and its administrative offices are located at Artscape Youngplace, in Toronto’s vibrant West Queen West art and design district.
For further information or media inquiries, contact:
Lucy White
Koffler Centre of the Arts
180 Shaw Street, Suite 104-105, Toronto M6J 2W5
647.920.2398
E-MAIL:
lwhite@kofflerarts.org | WEB:
kofflerarts.org