Don't let the word "Curator" fool you.
It means a lot more than you think.
When people hear I’ve spent much of my career as a curator, they usually think of white gloves and dusty shelves. They picture someone moving artifacts around in neat little boxes.
I don't move boxes, I open them.
My super-skill is seeing opportunities, pitching ideas, and making them happen. From concept to completion, I gather the people, resources, and details needed to make projects work, on-site or remotely.
In Surrey, BC, I spotted a blank atrium wall and invented a 45-foot mural made from 44,000 community and archival photos to put the people into the place! It's now an icon of the building. During a 10,000-square-foot facility expansion, I led a team that created content, supported RFP processes, refreshed a major permanent public engagement space, and championed updates for inclusiveness and a new accessible entrance. I also turned an idea called "BEES!" into a community collaboration and a national revenue-generating tour for three consecutive years.
As the sole staff member tasked with leading the creation of a new art gallery in Calgary, AB, I oversaw the renovation and build, created all policies, structure, programming, and brand identity. I even provided the creative direction for a poster campaign that won a Gold Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators, and initiated a TV ad that drove a 150% jump in attendance.
At my core, I'm a storyteller and connector. I've brought ideas to life through exhibitions, documentary films, radio, and other creative projects. I love collaborating with people from all walks of life, from Indigenous communities and community organizations, to artists.
I operate like an Iron Chef in the workplace. Give me a random box of ingredients, and I'll find a way to make something amazing happen. I love being out in the community, building relationships, sharing ideas, and bringing people together.
I’m currently open to new opportunities and would love to connect.
Project Leadership | Events | Communications | Partnerships
Explore my website to see some of the things I've built
Creative Production & Operations
Turning ideas into reality, from mural walls to shopping mall activations
Communications & Storytelling
Iconic interviews, national press campaigns, and content that connects
Program & Project Leadership
Coordination of large-scale projects, major grants, and complex programs built from concept to launch
“Colleen is an astute and critical thinker who can immediately see the big picture while focusing on the smaller details to bring a project to fruition. She is unselfish with her work ethic, her talents at negotiating bureaucracies, and is quick to include those around her who can help get a job done and improve the final outcome. She is an asset for any organisation aspiring to make a strong social, cultural and artistic impact.
[Kurtis Lesick, Associate Professor, Alberta University of the Arts ]
Contact
Questions? Curiosity?
Let me know!
Location
colleensharpe.com
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada