Kathleen Sharpe is a senior manager in government and the cultural sector. She has been Executive Director of the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund since its inception in 1999. The Fund, a unique program established to support cultural tourism attractions through a combination of grants and loans, has committed over $85 million to almost 900 cultural tourism projects around Ontario.
Prior to OCAF, Kathleen was Director of the Culture Division of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, a post she held from 1991 until amalgamation of the municipality into the City of Toronto in 1998. Kathleen’s leadership led to the adoption by Metro Council of its first comprehensive cultural policy, Metro’s Culture Plan, in 1994. She managed the transition of cultural programs and staff of 150 during the changeover from Metro to the new amalgamated City of Toronto.
Kathleen has also held management positions at the Ontario College of Art and Design and The Banff Centre. Kathleen is past chair of the Toronto Arts Foundation board; past chair of Toronto Artscape; past president of the Canadian Conference of the Arts and a member of the TO Live board. She sits on many advisory committees including Nuit Blanche.