Biography
Stephen Borys is the President and CEO of Civic Muse, Inc. For the previous 17 years, he was Director and CEO of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and Qaumajuq (WAG-Q) in Winnipeg, and has long been a fierce advocate for the power of art and culture to create positive change and equity in lives and communities.
Under his leadership, Qaumajuq, Canada’s new Inuit art centre was created, showcasing the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world. During his tenure, the WAG-Q has expanded its role and purpose in the city and province, as well as in the museum and education sectors nationally and globally, with particular attention to the Indigenization and decolonization of the cultural institution.
Dr. Borys holds adjunct professorships at the University of Winnipeg (History and Business) and the University of Manitoba (Art History) where he leads seminars on the idea of the museum, cultural management, and the architectural landscape. He was previously chief curator at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, at which time he held teaching posts at Florida State University and New College.Â
Prior to Sarasota, he was senior curator and lecturer at the Allen Art Museum, Oberlin College, Ohio; and before Oberlin, he was a curator of European & American Art at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, and a curatorial assistant at the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal.
He holds an Executive MBA, a PhD in Art and Architectural History from McGill University, a MA in Art History from the University of Toronto, and a BA Honours in History from the University of Winnipeg. He has organized numerous exhibitions, written accompanying catalogues and scholarly articles, lectured across North America and internationally, and is the recipient of several research and exhibition grants. He is a graduate of the Getty Museum Leadership Institute and the Royal Collections Studies Program.Â
A cultural and community leader, Dr. Borys was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Winnipeg in 2024, the Business and Arts Peter Herrndorf Art Leadership Award in 2023, Order of Manitoba in 2020, and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals in 2022 and 2012.
Stephen brings a deep and sustained record of leadership at the national and international level through his extensive board and advisory service. He has served on several national and international boards, including the Canadian Museums Association (CMA), the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization (CAMDO), and the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD). These are three of the most influential organizations advancing the museum and gallery sector in Canada and North America. His involvement has encompassed strategic planning, policy development, sector-wide advocacy, and governance renewal, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and equity.
Stephen is also a Governor-in-Council appointee to the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board (CCPERB), an independent federal tribunal that plays a critical role in the certification of cultural property for donation and acquisition, and in regulating the export of cultural objects of national importance. His participation in CCPERB reflects his deep knowledge of museum collections, Canadian heritage policy, and cultural diplomacy.
In addition, Stephen served as a board member of Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW), where he contributed his expertise in cultural leadership and city-building to broader civic and economic development goals. His ability to connect cultural institutions with urban revitalization, tourism, education, and innovation initiatives has been a defining feature of his approach to leadership.
Stephen’s cross-sector board experience allows him to offer unique insight into the interplay between governance, public service, institutional growth, and stakeholder engagement. He understands the challenges and opportunities facing boards, executive leadership, and senior staff—and brings tested strategies for enhancing board effectiveness, alignment, and impact.
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