Ottawa, March 20, 2009 – The Canada Council for the Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Arash Mohtashami-Maali as the Canada Council’s new Head of Writing and Publishing, effective April20, 2009.
Mr. Mohtashami-Maali is currently the director of Éditions L’Interligne and of the periodical Liaison. Before that, he was co-director of the periodical Virages, la nouvelle en revue and coordinator of
Les muses s’amusent en l’an deux mille, a literary competition. He is chairman of the Regroupement des éditeurs canadiens-français and a member of the Ontario roundtable on writing and publishing. In 2004-05, he was a member of the Executive of the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF).
In 2006, the FCCF awarded Mr. Mohtashami-Maali the Hommage des arts et des industries culturelles prize for his work with Éditions L’Interligne. He has published two collections of poetry,
La Tour du silence followed by Retours fables in 1997, and
Deuils d’automne in 2000. Mr. Mohtashami-Maali holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in French literature from York University and a Master’s degree in French literature from University of Toronto. He has pursued doctoral studies in French literature.
Nicole Doucet, Director of Arts Disciplines, said that
Mr. Mohtashami-Maali’s background in publishing, his understanding of literary issues in Canada and his knowledge of the Canada Council will make him a tremendous asset to the organization.
Mr. Mohtashami-Maali is replacing Melanie Rutledge, who left the Canada Council at the end of 2008 to become a consultant with Everson Public Affairs.
Grace Thrasher
Arts Promotion Coordinator
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 5145
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April Yorke
Public Relations Assistant
1-800-263-5588 or (613) 566-4414, ext. 4133
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