Town of Cobourg Awards Role of Artistic and Creative Consultant

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: City Hall

Antonio Sarmiento set to develop a strategic and operational plan for the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall.

The Town of Cobourg’s Community Services Division is pleased to announce the recent hiring of Antonio Sarmiento, who will act as an Artistic and Creative Consultant over the next year to develop a strategic and operational plan for the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall.

Mr. Sarmiento has over twenty years’ experience in similar roles across a variety of national and international theatre and performing arts centres, with his most recent positions being at the Cameco Capitol Arts Centre as the Artistic Director and General Manager, and at Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation as the Head of Production.

Antonio has produced a variety of live theatre productions and received a number of awards and accolades for his achievements from the Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce and the Business Achievement Awards.

“The Concert Hall has been a significant cultural asset for the Town and surrounding region for almost 160 years,” said Dean Hustwick, Director of Community Services for The Town of Cobourg.

“Antonio Sarmiento has been a cultural and artistic leader in this area for many years and has had many great achievements throughout his career. Together, along with our Community Services Division staff, we will position the Concert Hall for even greater success as a cultural anchor in this community.”

The Concert Hall at Victoria Hall provides a central venue for plays, concerts and musical theatre, performed by both local, national and international guest artists including local folk singer, Angus Finnan, and Canadian country music star Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo fame.

In order to build on the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall’s historic past, significant achievements and to better position it for the future, the Community Services Division will be launching a thorough review to better position it for the future.

In alignment with the impending Cultural Master Plan, Sarmiento will be leading this review over the next year with the support and leadership of the Community Services’ Division staff.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue my creative career in the Town of Cobourg, the place my family and I have been so lucky to call our home for 10 years now,” said Mr. Sarmiento.

“The Concert Hall at Victoria Hall is a magnificent venue that’s central to our community. I look forward to engaging Council, Town staff and citizens on how we can continue to deliver innovative artistic experiences we can all be proud of.”

Antonio holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre/Fine Arts from Fordham University at Lincoln Center in New York and is also a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy & College, the Hollywood Film Institute and the Disney Institute.

 

Hustwick added,”Antonio went through a recruitment process for a similar position, and it was determined that his unique experience and skills-set were ideal for leading the Concert Hall’s review. It is only a one-year contract that is being fully offset financially by another management position vacancy that will remain vacant during the contract period. The Director and Deputy Director are assuming the remaining responsibilities of the vacant position.”