Bio-Resumé: John McLachlan
John McLachlan a one-person graphic design and arts marketing company specializing in services to artists and arts organizations.
1980s
His background stretches back to the 1980s when he began as a professional touring singer/songwriter after leaving the Capilano College Commercial Music Program. He presented live performances for community presenters and over 400 performances in schools throughout British Columbia as well as in many other provinces in Canada. He even presented his original songs about BC history in Bogota, Colombia in 1989.
1990s
By the mid 1990s John began learning graphic design and exploring the new area of web site design when he was hired by the BC Touring Council to create its first website. While at the BC Touring Council John furthered his interest in using the new technology to develop membership relationships within an organization. When he was offered the job of Executive Director of the BC Touring Council he implemented numerous innovative marketing plans that rejuvenated the membership and grew the organization. These included building relationships with members, growing the network and introducing new initiatives at Pacific Contact, its annual marketing and development conference.
2001 – 2004
He left the BC Touring Council in 2001 to consult and focus on design work. In 2002 he helped launch the Creative City Network of Canada and was its first Executive Director until 2004. During this time, he oversaw three national conferences, in Vancouver, St. John’s and Regina.
2004 – Now
Since 2004, John has been hard at work with a balance of work that spans both arts management as well as web and print design. In 2008 and 2009 he coordinated Community Presenters Assistance (a program of the BC Arts Council which delivers grants totalling $280,000 to community performing arts presenters in BC) and, also in 2008, he prepared a research document for 2010 Legacies Now on the status of arts service organizations in BC.
On the design side, John created web sites, posters, advertisements, annual reports, programs, business cards, signage and more to organizations such as Creative City Network of Canada, AMSSA (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC), ArtStarts in Schools, BC Touring Council, Centre for Sustainability, Centre of Expertise on Culture and Communities (at SFU), CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association), Kicking Horse Culture, Assembly of BC Arts Councils, Freehand Books, Terrace Concert Society, Prince Rupert Concert Society, and artists such as Sal Ferreras, Karin Plato, Brenda Fedoruk, Elizabeth Brodovitch and Sun.Ergos a company of theatre and dance, to name a few.
John has sat on various non-profit boards including roles as the Chair of the Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Chair of the Alliance for Arts and Culture and Treasurer of the Creative City Network of Canada. He is currently Chair of the Advisory Panel of the Digital Graphic Design program at Vancouver Community College. He has also been an invited member on advisory juries for two intakes of the Catalyst grants program of 2010 Legacies Now in 2006 and 2009.
Why people hire John McLachlan
- John is a motivated individual and is passionate about the role of the arts.
- The scope of his activities since the 1980s gives him a broad-based perspective that he brings to both his design and arts management activities. John “gets it.” From touring as a performing artist to all regions of BC, to leading two arts service organizations (provincial and national) and all the miles in between, he sees the whole picture.
- He has been a leader, a motivator and a collaborator, and is a strong proponent of the power of the network. He loves bringing people together,engaging them to discover new possibilities.
