Executive
Susan Carey (President)
Paul Barson (Vice President)
Paul Barson has been involved in the Guelph arts scene for the last two decades. First as an singer and guitarist and then as an actor, producer, director and writer. Paul is a board member with with Royal City Musical Productions and has been involved with Guelph Little Theatre and RCMPI as a board member, producer, actor and director. In 2017 Paul co-founded The Downtown Theatre Project where he acts as producer, director, actor and technical director. In 2019 Paul took over as the Festival Coordinator of The Guelph Fringe Festival. Paul has spearheaded other artistic endeavors in Guelph, as the producer of Rhymes with Elf, a winter holiday music CD that raised thousands of dollars for ED Video and the Guelph Youth Music Centre, and also as the producer of “Art in the Park” events, Winter Wonderland Theatre at Riverside Park (2020) and Spider Secrets at Exhibition Park (2021). Paul is also the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for The Outlasters a fun pub-rock band he performs in with his wife, Jen. Paul was also the co-founder and creator of The Southern Ontario Amazing Race, a fundraising event that brought in $1.1 million for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. Paul strongly believes in striving for equity, in the arts and beyond. Paul lives in Downtown Guelph with Jen and his four children.
Erik Grosz (Treasurer)
Erik is a manager at RLB LLP in Guelph. He has worked in public accounting for the past five years serving Guelph and the surrounding area and holds a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. He has always been aware of Guelph’s strong arts culture and is pleased to support the efforts of the Guelph Arts Council.
Preethi Jayanth (Secretary)
Preethi is a passionate advocate for the arts who believes deeply in the ability of the arts to connect, inspire, and strengthen communities. As a board member, she is committed to expanding meaningful, accessible opportunities for arts engagement across all ages and backgrounds.
While not a current performing artist herself, Preethi expresses her creativity through henna design and custom cake artistry. Her early experiences in theatre, piano, and classical Indian dance along with witnessing the transformative impact of the arts through her children’s involvement continue to shape her dedication to fostering vibrant, inclusive, and artist-centered communities.
Directors
Danna Evans (Ex-Officio)
As General Manager of Culture and Recreation for the City of Guelph, Danna and her team manage the River Run Centre, Sleeman Centre, Guelph Museums, Culture programs, Recreation facilities and programs. Danna has worked for the City of Guelph for almost 18 years; starting her City career at the River Run Centre. Danna’s passion for Culture stems from performing arts and special event management. An alumnus of The University of Waterloo, Danna got her start in theatre as an Equity Stage Manager. In 2003, Danna moved from theatre production to theatre administration with the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, assisting event planning, technical supervision and front of house. Danna is actively involved with Girl Guides of Canada as a Volunteer Leader with the Guide program.
Jenn Rosen
Jenn has a lifelong passion for music and has been actively involved in choirs and musical ensembles for many years. She sang with the Guelph Community Singers, and has been a member of the University of Guelph Choir since 2012. In addition to choral work, Jenn performs as both a vocalist and cellist with her folk band, The Non-Commitals.
Beyond music, Jenn is a dedicated fiber artist who enjoys knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and sewing, as well as exploring her creativity through photography.
Jenn is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 25 years of experience supporting preschoolers and their families. She currently works at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Guelph as part of the Preschool Ontario Autism Program. She focuses on fostering joyful, meaningful connections between parents and young children with autism in order to support communication and play development.
Jay Wilson
Jay Wilson is a storyteller, actor, and theatre creator who turns history, humour, and everyday life into unforgettable performances. A lifetime spent in Theatre Administration and Fundraising/Development with the National Tap Dance Company of Canada, Gravenhurst Opera House and Theatre Collingwood, Jay has also enjoyed writing, directing and performing.
