Numbers
13 venues
168 artists from 31 cities
30 events
12 sold out events
5 Art Exhibitions
216 volunteers donating donating 3808.5 hours
7,270 total attendance
396,264 people engaged
Total: 67,023 attendees (average)
Indian Summer produces some of Vancouver’s most distinctive arts + culture events. We present acclaimed international and local artists, connecting Vancouver to itself and the world. We offer our audiences multi-arts experiences of exceptional caliber, curating through a South Asian lens and centering the exciting work of culturally diverse artists. Programming across literature, music, visual arts and the performing arts, we connect rich and complex pasts with the emerging future.
13 venues
168 artists from 31 cities
30 events
12 sold out events
5 Art Exhibitions
216 volunteers donating donating 3808.5 hours
7,270 total attendance
396,264 people engaged
Total: 67,023 attendees (average)
More than 60% of our festival events free or “by donation” to the public.
100% of Indian Summer Festival’s 2019 indoor venues were accessible to people using mobility aids
Partnership with VocalEye to increase the accessibility of our programming to audience members who are blind and partially sighted
Special concert with Amjad Ali Khan, the undisputed master of the sarod, and one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, joined by his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash.
University of British Columbia joins as the festival’s Major Partner
Beginning of ISF+, our year-round programming, with Arundhati Roy and M.G Vassanji
8,675 attendees
420,000 people engaged
11 days
195 artists from 20 cities
31 events
12 sold out
22 free
209 volunteers
90% growth in sponsorships
Vikram Chandra’s ‘Sacred Games’ launched to much acclaim on Netflix
Michael Ondaatje won the Golden Booker Prize, recognizing the best Booker Prizewinning novel of the last fifty years
A extremely rare concert presenting a true icon of Indian music, Hariprasad Chaurasia
One of the defining features of ISF2018 was the expanded potential, reach, and depth of engagement of our free programming through the introduction of the PAUSE Pavilion.
Tiffin Talks weekday ideas series brings South Asian and Indigenous thought leaders into conversation every day for five days
Langara College joins as the festival’s Major Partner
7,641 attendees
23 events
5 sold out
5 free art exhibitions
380,000 people engaged
168 volunteers
10 days
142 artists from 23 cities
2.7 million social media impressions
50% growth in donations
Roster of artists features two Booker Prize winners, two Grammy Award winners, as well as a winner each of the Giller Prize, Governor General’s Award, Dora Award, Trillium Award, Juno Award, and the Mercury Prize among many many others.
Indian Summer Festival introduces a multi-year project called ‘Taike,’ (pronounced tay-kay) intended to foster positive intercultural interaction between South Asian and Indigenous communities through the arts. This project aims to build our capacity over a number of years to bring together South Asian and Indigenous artists in meaningful artistic collaborations and conversations.
Implementation of an Indigenous Community Ticketing program, making events available for free to Indigenous individuals interested in accessing our ticketed programs.
11,105 attendees
256% audience growth
19 events
11 sold out
12 venues
10 days
108 artists from 24 cities
5 public art exhibitions
393,711 people engaged
Collaboration between Vancouver-based musicians and Sufi music supergroup Rajasthan Josh from India
Line up includes Juno Award-winning musician Kinnie Starr, Lil’wat Nation composer Russell Wallace and the Sarah McLachlan School of Music Youth Choir, among others
Our team grows to five year-round team members, as well as recurring seasonal staff.
75 Canadian artists performed at the festival
195 days of Orijit Sen’s mural from Punjab with love at Surrey Art Gallery
5,332 tickets sold
255 days of ISF public art
1 million overall Social Media reach
250+ media mentions and 50 feature stories
Mayor Robertson declares the second week of July 2015 Indian Summer Festival Week
Nobel Prize-Winner Dr. Harold Varmus comes to Indian Summer Festival
Partnerships formed with major institutions: Vancouver Art Gallery, VSO, Banff Centre, Surrey Art Gallery & Vancouver Biennale
255 days of free public art
Indian Summer Festival launches year-round Supper Club
52 artists
3,147 likes on Facebook
8 days
1.5mln people reached through marketing campaigns
9 free public events
2,400 volunteer hours
Indian Summer Arts Society becomes a registered charity & establishes a permanent office with a year-round team
Arundhati Roy comes to Vancouver for the 1st time and is received by 1000+ sold out ISF crowd
Graphic artist Orijit Sen’s mural showcases the folk tales, mythology & landscapes of Punjab – on display in Vancouver & Surrey
150 artists
2037 likes on facebook
4 declarations of love for Shabana Azmi during q&a
10 DAYS
7 sold-out shows
500 million tv viewers watch superchef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Vancouver episode
37% growth in ticket sales since 2012
9 free public events
1.5 million people reached through marketing campaign
37 workshops, performances & events
Rajasthan Josh & East Vancouver artists wow audiences with their collaboration
Film legend Shabana Azmi gets an honorary degree from SFU
Filmmaker Deepa Mehta & Booker Prize nominated author Jeet Thayil chat on stage about identity and art
11 days filled with 35 events
100+ performers, artists, chefs & speakers
1 festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces
Vancouver & Surrey events
month-long community cafe at festival hub
6 free dance classes
3 free public art installations
84% overall attendance
6,000+ attendees & thousands of onlookers
reaching 1.5+ million Lower Mainlanders
300+ features & listings across media, valued at $800k
6-week targeted ad campaign, valued at $500k
Lit & Sound Cabaret presents a Rungh Magazine retrospective, bringing together local South Asian thinkers and artists
Dinner by Starlight is held at East India Carpets’ warehouse, with film icon Sharmila Tagore
10 days filled with 25 events
1 main festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces
50+ performers, artists & speakers
84% overall attendance
3,000 people passed through the festival hub
8,000 people attended a free outdoor concert in Stanley Park
5 receptions were sold out & numerous full houses
Indian Summer Arts Society is born
Simon Fraser University joins as a Founding Partner & the festival hub is established at SFU Woodward’s
Life of Pi author Yann Martel & Bollywood star Tabu meet for the first time on the ISF stage
Vancouver’s own celebrity chef Vikram Vij tantalizes the taste buds of guests at the opening gala
13 venues
168 artists from 31 cities
30 events
12 sold out events
5 Art Exhibitions
216 volunteers donating donating 3808.5 hours
7,270 total attendance
396,264 people engaged
Total: 67,023 attendees (average)
Explore our 2019 festival page.
More than 60% of our festival events free or “by donation” to the public.
100% of Indian Summer Festival’s 2019 indoor venues were accessible to people using mobility aids
Partnership with VocalEye to increase the accessibility of our programming to audience members who are blind and partially sighted
Special concert with Amjad Ali Khan, the undisputed master of the sarod, and one of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, joined by his sons Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash.
University of British Columbia joins as the festival’s Major Partner
Beginning of ISF+, our year-round programming, with Arundhati Roy and M.G Vassanji
8,675 attendees
420,000 people engaged
11 days
195 artists from 20 cities
31 events
12 sold out
22 free
209 volunteers
90% growth in sponsorships
Explore our 2018 festival page.
Vikram Chandra’s ‘Sacred Games’ launched to much acclaim on Netflix
Michael Ondaatje won the Golden Booker Prize, recognizing the best Booker Prizewinning novel of the last fifty years
A extremely rare concert presenting a true icon of Indian music, Hariprasad Chaurasia
One of the defining features of ISF2018 was the expanded potential, reach, and depth of engagement of our free programming through the introduction of the PAUSE Pavilion.
Tiffin Talks weekday ideas series brings South Asian and Indigenous thought leaders into conversation every day for five days
Langara College joins as the festival’s Major Partner
7,641 attendees
23 events
5 sold out
5 free art exhibitions
380,000 people engaged
168 volunteers
10 days
142 artists from 23 cities
2.7 million social media impressions
50% growth in donations
Explore our 2017 festival page.
Roster of artists features two Booker Prize winners, two Grammy Award winners, as well as a winner each of the Giller Prize, Governor General’s Award, Dora Award, Trillium Award, Juno Award, and the Mercury Prize among many many others.
Indian Summer Festival introduces a multi-year project called ‘Taike,’ (pronounced tay-kay) intended to foster positive intercultural interaction between South Asian and Indigenous communities through the arts. This project aims to build our capacity over a number of years to bring together South Asian and Indigenous artists in meaningful artistic collaborations and conversations.
Implementation of an Indigenous Community Ticketing program, making events available for free to Indigenous individuals interested in accessing our ticketed programs.
11,105 attendees
256% audience growth
19 events
11 sold out
12 venues
10 days
108 artists from 24 cities
5 public art exhibitions
393,711 people engaged
Explore our 2016 festival page.
Collaboration between Vancouver-based musicians and Sufi music supergroup Rajasthan Josh from India
Line up includes Juno Award-winning musician Kinnie Starr, Lil’wat Nation composer Russell Wallace and the Sarah McLachlan School of Music Youth Choir, among others
Our team grows to five year-round team members, as well as recurring seasonal staff.
75 Canadian artists performed at the festival
195 days of Orijit Sen’s mural from Punjab with love at Surrey Art Gallery
5,332 tickets sold
255 days of ISF public art
1 million overall Social Media reach
250+ media mentions and 50 feature stories
Explore our 2015 festival page.
Mayor Robertson declares the second week of July 2015 Indian Summer Festival Week
Nobel Prize-Winner Dr. Harold Varmus comes to Indian Summer Festival
Partnerships formed with major institutions: Vancouver Art Gallery, VSO, Banff Centre, Surrey Art Gallery & Vancouver Biennale
255 days of free public art
Indian Summer Festival launches year-round Supper Club
52 artists
3,147 likes on Facebook
8 days
1.5mln people reached through marketing campaigns
9 free public events
2,400 volunteer hours
Explore our 2014 festival page.
Indian Summer Arts Society becomes a registered charity & establishes a permanent office with a year-round team
Arundhati Roy comes to Vancouver for the 1st time and is received by 1000+ sold out ISF crowd
Graphic artist Orijit Sen’s mural showcases the folk tales, mythology & landscapes of Punjab – on display in Vancouver & Surrey
150 artists
2037 likes on facebook
4 declarations of love for Shabana Azmi during q&a
10 DAYS
7 sold-out shows
500 million tv viewers watch superchef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Vancouver episode
37% growth in ticket sales since 2012
9 free public events
1.5 million people reached through marketing campaign
37 workshops, performances & events
Explore our 2013 festival page.
Rajasthan Josh & East Vancouver artists wow audiences with their collaboration
Film legend Shabana Azmi gets an honorary degree from SFU
Filmmaker Deepa Mehta & Booker Prize nominated author Jeet Thayil chat on stage about identity and art
11 days filled with 35 events
100+ performers, artists, chefs & speakers
1 festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces
Vancouver & Surrey events
month-long community cafe at festival hub
6 free dance classes
3 free public art installations
84% overall attendance
6,000+ attendees & thousands of onlookers
reaching 1.5+ million Lower Mainlanders
300+ features & listings across media, valued at $800k
6-week targeted ad campaign, valued at $500k
Explore our 2012 festival page.
Lit & Sound Cabaret presents a Rungh Magazine retrospective, bringing together local South Asian thinkers and artists
Dinner by Starlight is held at East India Carpets’ warehouse, with film icon Sharmila Tagore
10 days filled with 25 events
1 main festival hub with 6 multi-disciplinary spaces
50+ performers, artists & speakers
84% overall attendance
3,000 people passed through the festival hub
8,000 people attended a free outdoor concert in Stanley Park
5 receptions were sold out & numerous full houses
Explore our 2011 festival page.
Indian Summer Arts Society is born
Simon Fraser University joins as a Founding Partner & the festival hub is established at SFU Woodward’s
Life of Pi author Yann Martel & Bollywood star Tabu meet for the first time on the ISF stage
Vancouver’s own celebrity chef Vikram Vij tantalizes the taste buds of guests at the opening gala