Indian Summer Arts Society
We are a not-for-profit secular arts organization and registered charity based in Vancouver on the unceded Coast Salish territories of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
What We Do
We produce some of Vancouver’s most vital and distinctive arts + culture events. Indian Summer is dedicated to the exceptional creativity of South Asian arts and artists. Through our programming, we push boundaries and merge worlds. Our approach to programming is unique and embraces the complex diversity of South Asian voices and cultures. Curating through a South Asian lens, we centre and amplify diverse South Asian artists in conversation with BIMPOC artists, especially those from Black and Indigenous communities. Driven by care and curiosity, we nurture artistic exploration and innovation, expanding the possibilities of South Asian art and performance.
Our Story, Our Journey
Indian Summer Arts Society was founded to address a gap in Vancouver’s cultural landscape and to break stereotypical perceptions of South Asian art as ossified, traditional, and nostalgic. The festival has since grown to serve as a meeting place for many more cultures and has seen a programmatic evolution from an expression of diasporic South Asian identity in British Columbia to its current shape as a festival that takes a decidedly pluralistic approach, welcoming and exploring issues that lie at the intersections of multiple communities, through a South Asian lens.
Widely acknowledged as the pre-eminent presenter of South Asian arts and ideas in Canada, the festival believes in the transformative power of the arts to build bridges and foster dialogue. Each year, the festival presents provocative arts events that feature some of the finest artists and visionaries from Canada, South Asia, and beyond. From novelists to performance artists, social changemakers to movie stars, Indian Summer Festival has presented emerging artists as well as Nobel, Booker, Grammy, Juno, and Oscar prize winners on its stages. ISF 2024 will be our 14th Annual Festival Edition.
Arts events like ours have multiple critical roles in creating a robust societal fabric, and in combating prejudice and racism. Our festival always has a strong discursive line running alongside the conceptual, by way of panels, ideas series, and artist talks, supported by a distinct curatorial theme each year. We act as a vital contributor to Vancouver, positioning the city as a dynamic harbour of international ideas and global perspectives.
A Statement of Values
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Exuberance and delight are essential. We envision our work as a feast for the senses, as an invitation to a long table where new friendships are formed and old friends meet.
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Art is a healing and transformative force. We reignite opportunities for immersion in one’s culture and that of others.
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We partner with our audiences to create spaces for free and proud expression. We give sanctuary to difficult conversations.
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Our success lies in the strength of relationships and in building brave places of welcome. We support people to be their diverse selves in the spaces we create.
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Safety comes in many forms. Nourishing work includes safe conditions, paying artists fairly, and ensuring that arts workers have sustainable livelihoods.
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We know that lands and people meet in complex ways. We invite people to explore a textured and nuanced sense of ‘home’ – be it Turtle Island, ancestral homelands, or this planet.
Our Vision
An inclusive, diverse, and culturally rich society that values the transformative power of the arts.
Our Mission
Indian Summer offers multi-art experiences of exceptional caliber, thoughtfully curated through a South Asian lens. We connect rich and complex pasts with the emerging future, delighting audiences while provoking necessary dialogue and debate.
Laura June Albert
Executive Managing Director
Am Johal
Curator in Residence
Our Founders
In 2011, co-founders Sirish Rao and Laura Byspalko launched the Indian Summer Arts Society with a bold vision: to create a dynamic, cross-cultural platform for South Asian arts and ideas in Canada. Over more than a decade of inspired leadership, they transformed the Indian Summer Festival from an emerging organization into one of Vancouver’s most celebrated cultural events, a gathering place where Nobel, Booker, Grammy, and Oscar award-winners have shared the stage with boundary-pushing emerging talent. Thanks to their curatorial brilliance, luminaries like Arundhati Roy, Bhajju Shyam, and Hariprasad Chaurasia made their Vancouver debuts, while local artists such as Sandeep Johal and Jag Nagra found a home and launchpad for their creative work. The festival also catalyzed unique collaborations like Jhalaak, the transcendent musical offering by Ruby Singh and Rajasthan Josh. “We thought we were building a small bridge for our own curiosities,” says Sirish, “but bridges have a way of connecting vast worlds.” With deep gratitude and a touch of bittersweet pride, Sirish and Laura now pass the baton as the festival enters its next chapter—stronger than ever, with a brilliant team, a vibrant community, and a global reputation rooted in the daring, joyful spirit they sparked. Their legacy is a richer, more interconnected arts landscape—here in Vancouver and far beyond.
Support Our Mission
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PATRONS CIRCLE
Your $1,000+ donation fuels the festival and uplifts artists. Join our Patrons Circle and get exclusive perks while making a lasting impact.
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SUPPORTERS
Your $25+ donation helps amplify diverse voices through bold, relevant art. Join our Supporters Program and enjoy meaningful benefits while making a real impact.
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ATTEND AN EVENT
Celebrate with us in person! Grab your tickets to #ISF2025 and experience bold art, music, and ideas that bring us together.
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VOLUNTEER
Passionate about creating a diverse space for arts, food, and culture? Volunteer for #ISF2025 and help bring it all to life! We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to join our team.