SAVAC Team
Staff — This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Indu Vashist, Executive Director
Sharlene Bamboat, Artistic Director
Aliya Pabani, Communications and Outreach Coordinator
Ghufran M. Sallay, Bookkeeper
Board of Directors —
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Fayiaz Chunara, Chair
Ananya Ohri, Treasurer
Preethy Sivakumar, Secretary
Jit Dhaliwal
Noni Kaur
Programming committee
Noni Kaur
Osheen Harruthoonyan
Reeta Saeed
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A NOTE FROM INDU VASHIST, OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It is a privilege to introduce myself as the Executive Director of the South Asian Visual Arts Centre. I have admired SAVAC’s work from afar, and now am excited to join the wonderful team that brings innovative programs that showcase the dynamic world of South Asian arts.
I hold a Master of Arts from Concordia University in Montreal. My master’s thesis was called, “Between Canadian Racism and Indian Repression: The Air India Bombing and filmic representations of Sikh Diasporic identity in Canada”. I have taught at both McGill University and Concordia University in Montreal. For five years, I worked as a staff person at a non-profit organization in Montréal. My main role at the Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG McGill) was to support a variety of programming, as well as collectively manage the organization. During this time, not only did I hone my abilities to design, implement, support, and manage projects, but I also worked to develop solid board, administrative and financial management. These skills will transfer perfectly to the world of the artist-run center.
For the last three years, I have been equally splitting my time between India and Canada. I have been actively engaged in both the diaspora and India itself. In Montreal, I programmed and hosted a weekly South Asian arts and culture radio show on CKUT 90.3. In India, I have been working mainly with artist, queer and feminist circles in Delhi, Bombay and Madras. Specifically, I have been involved with Bombay-based Queer Nazariya International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and Madras-based Marappacchi Theatre Group. I can confidently say that I am well aware of much of the art scene in India and through this, to the international South Asian arts world, whose practitioners circulate between much of North America, Europe and South Asia.
SAVAC is entering a new phase of its organizational life. In this 20th year of its existence, we are looking to grow our membership as well as provide even more support to our existing members. We are looking for strengthen and reinvigorate our ties to South Asian communities both here and abroad. Lastly, we are looking to draw strength and inspiration from our own history.
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CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS
We're now accepting applications and nominations for SAVAC's Board of Directors. If you're interested in applying, please complete this form, save it as a PDF, and email it to Indu Vashist at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
