“Heather uses the two drums on her body, the eardrum and the heart.”
“Heather is a talented and inspiring arts leader. An effective communicator and strategic thinker, she is a natural at building relationships and bringing people from across the arts sector together. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her on many Bloor Culture Corridor initiatives and other joint projects.”
“Heather Kelly never walks alone but rather brings people along on her many journeys of life. Heather uses the two drums on her body, the eardrum and the heart. We know this as witnessed by her listening skills which translate into meaningful projects. Heather is a doer and action oriented as she takes simple ideas and creatively weaves them into an extensive network. From east to west, north to south Heather has demonstrated the ability to bring the cultural sectors together to imagine, innovate and inspire.”
“Thank you Heather, for your professionalism and your disponibility. Heather was able to adapt to our requests and work efficiently despite the tight deadlines. I hope we have the opportunity to work together again.”
“Heather was invaluable in teaching me about the Toronto market, and introduced me to countless people in the business .... We went from zero ticket buyers to over 50,000 annually... Heather’s taste and instincts never failed to elevate what we were trying to accomplish.”
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In September 2009, Koerner Hall opened to critical and public acclaim. Just six months prior to that the Royal Conservatory had no team in place to program or market the concerts. I had done much of the programming from afar but had no idea who the audience would be, or what their tastes, finances, and consumer preferences were. I needed a partner to guide me and the new venture. Heather and I started on the same day and got to work. She was invaluable in teaching me about the Toronto market, and introduced me to countless people in the business and, together we launched a 45-concert inaugural season. Everything from ticket pricing to design to branding to community partnerships and collaboration with established organizations had to be developed from scratch with no room for error in a very short time span.
Koerner Hall's offerings have grown over time and now include 100+ events per year plus an additional 100+ third party rental events. We went from zero ticket buyers to over 50,000 annually and brought in music lovers from across the GTA and Southern Ontario. Livestreams were added pre-Covid and we were one of the few concert halls that were fully prepared for the pandemic.
The values of the RCM and the architectural elegance of Koerner Hall had to be seen in the concerts we presented and the branding & marketing we developed. Heather's taste and instincts never failed to elevate what we were trying to accomplish. 16 seasons later, her successor and I still rely on those aesthetics with every new concert or season. Heather remains a friend of the organization and a trusted consultant whenever we need her.
— Mervon Mehta, Performing Arts, The Royal Conservatory of Music
“Heather’s marketing prowess is nothing short of remarkable. Her strategic acumen, honed through years of experience, has helped her craft captivating narratives that resonate deeply with arts lovers, leaving an indelible mark on their hearts and minds. As a mentor, she is a beacon of inspiration. She doesn’t just lead; she collaborates, listens, and empowers. Beyond her professional achievements, Heather’s warmth and authenticity make her a transformative leader who invests in people’s growth and is a catalyst for positive change.”
“Heather Kelly established the Bloor Street Culture Corridor a decade ago to raise the profile of the many cultural venues and associations along Bloor Street West and ignite collaboration among them. 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.”
“In my career I wear multiple hats every day, whether they be different roles or different clients. It’s rewarding to have such a diversity of work to dive into, but can at times be chaotic! I was able to speak with Heather, and she was able to clarify what my core offerings are no matter the role or client, how to differentiate these offerings in my day-to-day, and most importantly, how to communicate them in a clear and focused way for current and prospective clients. This is invaluable!”
“Heather assisted my business in developing a detailed advertising and social media strategy. The work Heather completed both in preparing our package as well as researching and learning our unique industry was invaluable. Meeting with her via virtual calls, she was able to efficiently and effectively share the plan with us and ensure our understanding to implement. I highly recommend Heather to any businesses looking to greatly improve their marketing strategies and processes.”
“Heather Kelly is a seasoned and highly skilled communications specialist. For ten years, she worked with our team to establish and develop the brand identity of the Ryerson Image Centre and promote our exhibitions and other programs here in Toronto and internationally—via traditional and digital media, as well as beneficial press partnerships, robust tourism marketing, and well-placed advertising. Heather’s a perceptive advisor, she’s really well connected, and she’s a total joy to work with. She is, without a doubt, one of the finest professionals I’ve worked with in my career.”
“Heather Kelly is a fantastic person to work with. She is quick to respond, always super positive, and full of both practical and creative ideas. Heather recently drafted an online presence inventory and a social media content strategy which were both impressive in their scope, clarity and concision. Over a short period of time she has become indispensable to me. She is always ready and fully capable to answer those nagging questions about how to best be visible before going on stage.”
“When we identified the need for a new strategic communications plan and a major programmatic relaunch campaign, approaching Heather was the obvious choice. She delivers equally strong messages towards the public as well as to industry audiences in the cultural field. Especially, the ongoing consultancy and support she gave made all the difference. But most importantly, she is a sheer pleasure to work with, overflowing with creative energy.”
“Her strategy read like a customized “how to run a successful campaign” hand book - it was brilliant! It was so well received by the Director and Heads of Department that it was sent to the Steering Committee in Geneva and became the AKM’s basis for our Marketing Department and future hires.”
“Heather Kelly is the best in her field, supported by years of experience.”
“Heather Kelly fulfilled all of the goals. She clearly achieved the messaging and positioning objectives, delivered a total marketing value of more than 2.5 times the original budget, and generated media value worth millions of dollars.”
“Heather is always very positive, professional and creative and she continually demonstrates great leadership and strategic marketing skills.”
“Heather completes projects on time and on budget and achieves the desired results. She is innovative, industry-savvy, works well independently and as part of a team and is as generous with her time as she is with her outgoing personality.”
“Heather’s strategy proved effective in garnering international attention.”