Anna Gallagher-Ross awarded the Jini Stolk Creative Fellowship
Photo by Andrew Williamson
Toronto ON, December 3, 2025 — Anna Gallagher-Ross, Senior Manager of Programming at The Bentway, has been awarded the third annual Jini Stolk Creative Fellowship. The Fellowship was created in memory of arts leader Jini Stolk and continues her legacy by supporting the field of arts management through an award of $20,000 over two years to an arts manager of a small to mid-sized Toronto arts organization.
About Anna Gallagher-Ross
Anna Gallagher-Ross is a curator and arts leader with 15 years of experience creating ground-breaking and inclusive artistic experiences in Toronto and internationally.
Prior to The Bentway, Anna was Co-Artistic Director of Fusebox Festival and curated an ambitious annual festival of international artists
alongside year-round residencies and presentations. Her career spans museums, theatres, and festivals across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Her writing has appeared in Art Papers, C Magazine, The Walker Reader, and other places.
Anna is a graduate of Bard College’s Center for Curatorial Studies.
“It’s an incredible honor to be named the 2025 Jini Stolk Creative Fellow,” states Anna Gallagher-Ross. “Jini Stolk’s visionary leadership and generous spirit continue to inspire me and so many others working to make our city’s arts ecology more collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable. This fellowship provides a unique opportunity to deepen my curatorial research and professional work, contributing to the evolution of public art practice as a catalyst for civic dialogue, community connection, and urban transformation.”
The Fellowship Project
Anna Gallagher-Ross was selected from among 18 nominations. Through the Jini Stolk Fellowship, Anna intends to lead the creation of a publication for The Bentway’s 10-year anniversary that will document its site-specific, community-driven model of public art practice. The project will introduce a curatorial framework and practical toolkit to inspire peers and position The Bentway as a thought leader in creative placemaking. The fellowship will also provide Anna with mentorship, opportunities for local and international collaboration, and the time to shape the vision for The Bentway’s next decade of programming—advancing her research, practice, and leadership in transformative public art.
The Selection Process
The jury, consisting of Claire Hopkinson, former Director & CEO, Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, Jane Marsland, arts consultant and advocate, and Anahita Azrahimi, Executive and Creative Director of Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, were unanimous in their decision.
“The jury was inspired by the optimism and vision behind Anna’s proposal. The anniversary book and accompanying toolkit promise to inspire new ways of thinking about public art curation, engage new audiences in creative city-building, and deliver a lasting legacy that the entire city can celebrate.”
About the Jini Stolk Creative Fellowship
The Jini Stolk Creative Fellowship is an annual award that encourages the development of the field of arts management through professional development, research, networking and sharing. The Jini Stolk Creative Fellowship Fund was established at the Ontario Arts Foundation and made possible by lead donors Sandra and Jim Pitblado and Tim and Frances Price, as well as many others who contributed to the endowment that supports the fund. Donations to the fund can be made here.
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For more information about the Fellowship:
Sarah Gladki and Kasia Gladki
jinistolkfellowship@gmail.com
www.jinistolkfellowship.ca
For more information about the Ontario Arts Foundation:
Bruce Bennett, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Foundation
416-969-7413 | bbennett@oafdn.ca
Established in 1991, the Ontario Arts Foundation (OAF) is passionately committed to building long-term support for the arts in Ontario. In 2024-2025, the OAF paid $4.8 million in endowment income and $540,000 in awards and grants.