AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE CITADEL THEATRE BOARD CHAIR WENDY DUPREE

Friends of The Citadel Theatre,

It brings me great joy to be able to share with you our announcement of the appointment of our new Executive Director for the Citadel Theatre, Sarah Pocklington.

Sarah comes to the Citadel with over 40 years as an arts manager, educator, performing artist, and public servant. Through those years she has amassed an impressive and extensive array of experience that will be an asset to the Citadel as it emerges from the pandemic and continues its transformational changes. Sarah will be joining the Citadel from her most recent position as the Arts Manager for First Peoples’ Cultural Council – Canada’s only First Nations-led Crown Agency. Her time with the British Columbia Arts Council and Alberta Foundation for the Arts yielded strong programming with youth, community, and Indigenous engagement, as well as the creation of policies to help reduce barriers for access to grants in these areas.

In addition to her work in the arts, Sarah has championed anti-racism work throughout Alberta and British Columbia, helping to lead and inspire public policy creation and adoption. Sarah was the co-founder of Rock Against Racism, an evening of great music performed by some of the top music artists in the city of Calgary; a perfect example of where her artistic and activism worlds meet. As the Citadel continues to uphold the 35//50 Initiative calling for a commitment to 35%+ BIPOC and 50%+ women and non-binary representation among staff and contractors by the 2024/25 season, we welcome Sarah’s leadership in helping us reach that goal.

Creating and performing art has been a part of Sarah’s life from a very young age. As part of the ASANI Trio, Sarah was nominated for a Juno Award in 2006 along with many other accomplishments as a vocalist, composer, arranger, and percussionist. She holds a Music Degree from Macewan University, which happens to be only the tip of her educational background.

We are very excited about the skills and experience Sarah brings to the Citadel. She is a community builder and visionary who has a strong track record of leading practical and creative approaches to both challenges and opportunities within the organizations she has been a part of. Sarah joins us at a perfect time, as we joyfully approach reopening and the continued realization of Daryl’s inclusive, innovative, international vision for the Citadel, now accompanied by Sarah’s strengths in arts management, relationship building, and community engagement.

We would also like to take the opportunity to thank our Interim Executive Director, Kimberlee Stadelmann. Kimberlee has and continues to lead our team through our reopening and leadership transition with exceptional execution, and we thank her for her passion and additional hard work at this critical time. Kimberlee will be returning to her role as Associate Executive Director, alongside Sarah and Daryl’s leadership.

Sarah will be starting in her new role with the Citadel August 30, 2021. Please help me to welcome Sarah back home to Edmonton and into the Citadel family.

Sincerely,

Wendy Dupree, Board Chair
The Citadel Theatre