A North Bay woman has become the first general manager of a Sudbury non-profit urban arts organization called "We Live Up Here."
Jaymie Lathem will be in charge of the "Up Here" urban art and music festival, part of an idea that art can inspire, transform, and help build a better community.
Lathem says she's excited to contribute to the growth and success of the organization.
"I believe in the power of the arts to bring people together and make positive, substantial impacts in our communities, and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish together," she said.
"Lathem brings a wealth of experience as an arts administrator and will draw on her extensive history of working in community-based and non-profit based sectors," according to a news release.
She studied drawing and painting at the Ontario College of Art and Design and the Alberta College of Art and Design, and she received her BFA from Nipissing University in 2011. Prior to joining We Live Up Here, Lathem served as the Executive Director of Creative Industries, an art service organization serving North Bay/Nipissing since 2017.
"We are beyond stoked to have Jaymie join our team at We Live Up Here," said the president of the board of directors, Christian Pelletier. "Her passion for the arts, for the north, and her commitment to community engagement and partnership building make her the perfect fit for this role.
"This is such an important milestone for us. We started this project over 10 years ago around the simple idea that art can playfully reshape our community. We are confident that with Jaymie's leadership, We Live Up Here will continue to thrive and have a meaningful impact on northern Ontario."
We Live Up Here is an urban arts organization formed around the idea that art can inspire, transform, and help build a better community.
In 2015, We Live Up Here announced the creation of Up Here festival, an annual urban art and emerging music event that brings together dozens of muralists, musicians and installation artists to transform downtown Sudbury into an urban art gallery every summer.
For more information about We Live Up Here and its upcoming events, visit weliveuphere.com.
