Jesse Wente
Jesse Wente is a Canadian arts journalist and administrator. He was born in Toronto and graduated from the University of Toronto in cinema studies in 1996.[1] He broadcast for CBC Radio One's Metro Morning on films and pop culture for 20 years,[2] and was appointed as chairperson of the Canada Council for the Arts in 2020.[3] Wente identifies himself as Ojibwe and is an outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations, Metis and Inuit art.[4] He is a member of the Serpent River First Nation and a director of the Toronto Arts Council.
Career
Wente is active in a number of areas in the sphere of Canadian media. He has been a culture critic with Metro Morning for more than 20 years and on CBC Radio One's national Unreserved program.[5][6] Wente is actively involved in Canadian film in a number of roles and is an advocate for increasing the presence of underrepresented voices.[7] He previously served as director of film programmes at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, where he oversaw theatrical, Cinematheque and Film Circuit programming.[8]
Wente was named as the first director of Canada's new Indigenous Screen Office in January 2018.[9][10] This program of the Canadian federal government is intended to support the development, production and marketing of Indigenous screen content and storytelling in Canada.[9]
He was appointed to the board of the Canadian Council for the Arts in 2017 and became its chairperson in July 2020.[3]
Awards
References
- Kuprel, Diana (2 February 2018). "Indigenous Rights Advocate Jesse Wente: Turn your passion into your career". University of Toronto. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- "Jesse Wente". CBC. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- "Jesse Wente Appointed Chairperson of Canada Council for the Arts". Canadianart. 28 July 2020.
- "Board Members". Canada Council for the Arts. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- "iN18 Industry: Insider and Outsider: Developing New Collaboration Models". imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- "Jesse Wente - CBC Media Centre". Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- "Jesse Wente awarded first-ever Reelworld Reel Activist award". Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- "Jesse Wente | Broadcaster, Advocate & Diversity Speaker". National Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- "Jesse Wente appointed director of Canada's new Indigenous Screen Office". CBC News. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
- "Jesse Wente appointed Director of Canada's Indigenous Screen Office - eBOSS Canada". eBOSS Canada. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-02-01.