Warm hello!
I’m Heather Kelly.
Lovely to meet you.
Everything I do is serving and strengthening the arts sector. I am a culture sector leader, superconnector, entrepreneur, and arts & culture marketing expert. I’m the Founder & CEO of HKC Marketing Inc., Owner/Director of Akimbo Art Promotions Ltd., founder of the Bloor St. Culture Corridor, and leader of the Arts Pros Connect network.
I am dedicated to helping arts professionals, cultural organizations and creative entrepreneurs have more impact – and ripple effect – with the good they do in the world.
I love helping arts leaders and creative entrepreneurs to clarify and expand ideas, raise profile, cultivate relationships, attract attendance and clients, and generate revenue. I connect people with each other and with opportunities, and bring people together for professional development, professional collaboration, and at exhibitions, performances, festivals, and events. I’ve led a wide range of arts and culture communications projects, and offer special expertise in major facility launches and intercultural marketing communications that celebrate, spotlight, and amplify the creative voices of people from a wide range of countries and cultures.
“I was impressed by her vision, ability to inspire collaboration, creativity, and boundless energy. Her passion for championing support for the arts and culture sector continues to this day.”
I founded HKC Marketing in 2002.
HKC Marketing acquired Akimbo Art Promotions & Consulting in 2021.
I am currently a Member of the Board of Directors of East End Arts, a collaborator with NACDI (North American Cultural Diplomacy Initiative), a member of the Creative Cities Network (Canada), and a member of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. I have been Co-Chair of the Juno Awards Classical Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of The Bentway Conservancy, Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Craft Ontario, Toronto Blues Society, Marketing Advisory for the Downtown Yonge BIA, and a Fellow of the Toronto Arts Council Cultural Leaders Lab.
I’m also a writer, poet and publisher at Aitchkay Books, and hands-on wildlife caregiver. I am a member of the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.