Robin Sokoloski

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT ROBIN SOKOLOSKI

About two decades ago, when I was living in Ottawa, I started up an artists collective to assist street artists in making a positive impact on society through their art. I was a really young, inexperienced arts manager, but driven by the belief that the arts can make a difference. Since then, I’ve had the great fortune to have a career that has allowed me to test the assumptions of that belief. I am grateful to all of the artists that I worked with over the years who challenge and reinforce my thinking.” Robin Sokoloski (she/her) has been working in the arts and culture sector for twenty years. Currently, as the Director of Organizational Development of Mass Culture, Robin is working with academics, funders and arts practitioners to support a thriving arts community by mobilizing the creation, amplification and community informed analysis of research. For 10+ years, Robin was the Executive Director of Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC). During her time there she launched the Canadian Play Outlet (a book store dedicated entirely to Canadian Plays), fostered a growing national awards program for playwrights, the Tom Hendry Awards, and led major changes within the organization. After graduating from Humber College’s Arts Management Program, Robin started working at PGC as their Program Manager. After working there for a year, she created and implemented a nationwide program called Uth Ink. Through a collaborative process, involving both art and technology, Uth Ink gave two hundred young Canadians in twelve different cities a voice through the creation of their own site-specific art installations. Robin remains committed to Canada’s arts and culture scene by volunteering for various arts organizations as a way of staying connected to the local arts community and ensuring public access to artistic experiences. Until recently, Robin served as the Board President of East End Arts. For seven years, Robin volunteered on the Steering Committee of ArtReach Toronto, an organization designed to support community-based arts initiatives that engage youth from underserved populations. In 2004, Robin received Humber College’s Board of Governors award for the creation of Lakeshore Arts’ Youth Arts Movement, a group that inspires young people to engage in their community through the arts. Robin currently sits on Toronto Metropolitan University\'s Centre For Free Expression Advisory Committee and Toronto Arts Council Board of Directors.