Russell Kelley
A former professional musician, Russell Kelley has been head of the Canada Council’s Music Section since December, 2001. Prior to that, he was appointed the acting executive director of the Culture Division of Nova Scotia’s Department of Tourism and Culture from August 2000. He previously served as the founding executive director of the Nova Scotia Arts Council from 1997 to July 2000. During that period, he was a founding board member of the Foundation for Heritage and the Arts, Nova Scotia’s stabilization program.
Originally from Montréal, Mr. Kelley had a successful career as a singer, songwriter and music producer in Montréal and Halifax between 1969 and 1992. He was elected for five two-year terms as a member of the executive board of the Atlantic Federation of Musicians.
From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Kelley was a Program Officer in the Music Section at The Canada Council for the Arts, responsible for a range of programs that included the choir program, the sound recording program, and the operating programs for both opera organizations and orchestras.