Simon Foster has been appointed as the new chair of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) following the end of Rita Davies’ nine-year term in July.

Foster was initially appointed to the board in 2023. He is the founder and CEO of Chatter Research, a real-time customer feedback company for retail and hospitality businesses.

Foster spent five years at Blue Ant Media beginning as SVP, digital publishing and business development, before his promotion to SVP, corporate development.

He is also the co-founder and chair of the Framework Foundation, a charity that mobilizes young adults to become involved in their community. The Framework Foundation has invested close to $1 million in the careers of artists.

From 2007 to 2012, Foster served on the board of Canada’s National Ballet School and, in 2011, was the recipient of the Business/Arts’ Arnold Edenborough Award, which recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the arts sector.

OAC CEO Michael Murray said Foster’s “vision and leadership will inspire transformative change across Ontario’s vibrant arts community” in a statement. “With a deep commitment to fostering creativity and driving innovation, Simon is uniquely poised to guide the Ontario Arts Council into an exciting new chapter.”

Photo courtesy of OAC