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The ArtStarts team is driven by the fact that the arts are essential. We are committed to serving communities across British Columbia, continuously improving our programs and offerings, and exploring what is possible when young people engage in arts-based learning.

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ArtStarts in Schools
808 Richards Street
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6B 3A7 (map)

Phone: 604-336-0626
Toll-free: 1-855-292-7826
Fax: 604-683-0501

Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4:30pm
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Watch Navida's talk at PechaKucha Night Vancouver.

Navida Nuraney

Executive Director
604-336-0626 ext 107
navida@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

ArtStarts' strategic plan
Board/Committee membership
Knowledge Philanthropy projects
Employment opportunities

The diversity of my professional and academic experiences have aligned in my leadership role at ArtStarts. The combination of my MBA from the Sauder School of Business and previous academic training in digital arts, architecture and social sciences, manifests in a fusion of both the art and business genes. I value the opportunity to impact the careers and professional growth of my team — together we have fostered a creative work environment that encourages us to practice what we promote. The arts truly are an essential part of life and ultimately help us better understand the world and better understand ourselves.

Rekha Pavanantharajah

Director of Engagement & Development
604-336-0626 ext 103
rekha@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

Case for support for arts in education
Sponsorship Opportunities
Third party events

I believe that the arts have the power to transform our lives. It fills me with joy to share that I have dedicated the majority of my career to cultivating the role of the arts for young people. It was at Simon Fraser University, where I acquired my BA in Sociology, where I began to understand how art and culture are integral to creating sustainable, healthy and thriving societies. When I found ArtStarts, I was thrilled to be able to apply my passion for building community through the arts. As the Director of Engagement & Development, I’m able to collaborate with our community to explore what is possible for young people when the arts are considered essential in society.

Emily Beam

Director of Programs
604-336-0626 ext 110
emily@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

As the Director of Programs, I lead the planning, collaboration, and evaluation of ArtStarts programs as well as overseeing our grants. I'm proud to support arts experiences for young people as theatre and dance were such a prevalent part of my childhood. I am passionate about supporting community organizations, schools and artists to access resources and build capacity. I am a detail-oriented achiever masquerading in a world of creativity and imagination. I have worked as a grantor, lender and facilitator for various non-profits, foundations and social enterprises. I hold a certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement from Simon Fraser University and Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo.

Ayesha Kanjee

Director of Finance & Administration
604-336-0626 ext 104
ayesha@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

Strategic Financial Planning
Payments
Billing

For years, I grew in an environment where art was considered extra. In school, I was the traditional learner who thrived from routine and structure, but when my second daughter entered my life, my perspectives on art in society began to change. As she went through school, I quickly understood that she was in need of an alternate approach to learning. Early on I began to notice significant changes in her engagement and the impact to her creative spirit. Today, I'm thrilled to be in place where there is so much potential to nurture every type of learner through an arts-based approach in education. I believe in the power of the arts and am committed to raising my children in a society where the arts are considered essential. I am honored to be a part of the ArtStarts team and excited to support a mission that I truly believe in.

Laurie Buckley

Communications Manager
604-336-0626 ext 109
laurie@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

Media and Communications
Digital Marketing
How you can support ArtStarts

I was born and rasied on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people and have been a grateful and active guest on these lands as my father worked with community members of the Musqueam and Squamish Nations. While I was enrolled at BCIT for Marketing Communications, I was also on the board of directors of a small theatrical society where making art and dance accessible was a main priority because wanted Vancouver to be creative (and a little weird)! Music and theatre have always been a part of my life so it was only natural to want to be involved with an organization that is deeply rooted in the arts in some capacity.

Pavan Thind

Program Manager
604-336-0626 ext 105
pavan@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

Booking and Touring
Artists on Tour Directory
ArtStarts Showcase
Artists in Education grants for school districts

After graduating with a BA in Communications, I found my way into the nonprofit sector where I worked directly with young people wanting to make a difference in their communities. I saw first hand the inspiring change youth are able to make when they are provided with the appropriate tools and support. I am humbled to be a part of an organization that recognizes the importance of exploring each young person’s creative potential and the positive impact this has on the world we live in.

Leah Horlick

Program Manager
604-336-0626 ext 106
leah@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

I'm a professional writer and community organizer who grew up as a settler on Treaty Six Cree territory in Saskatchewan. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC and co-curated REVERB, Vancouver's only anti-oppressive reading series for LGBTQ artists, from 2012-2017. With my background in peer-led and museum-based social justice education, I'm passionate about the ways that multidisciplinary arts can transform dominant narratives and power structures. I'm thrilled about ArtStarts' mission to bring arts integration to learners and educators, and I look forward to supporting local artists as they build capacity for change in their own practices and communities.

Lily Cryan

Program Coordinator
604-336-0626 ext 111
lily@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

I grew up on Duwamish territory in what is now known as Seattle, WA and moved to BC to complete a BFA in Dance and Communications at Simon Fraser University. Coming from a Dance and Theatre background, I use choreography and the audience perspective in creating workshops, gallery showings, events, and more! I love seeing the spark of excitement in young people when they find something new and exciting to try, especially in an arts context. I am excited to help bring art into educational contexts across the province to help students become more empathetic, curious, and creative learners.

Hannah Jarvis

Program Coordinator
604-336-0626 ext 102
hannah@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

Booking and Touring
Invoices and Payments

I grew up on the lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation, also known as Squamish, BC, where I was very connected to the performing arts and music community. While completing my Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Major at Simon Fraser University I began doing anti violence work for feminist nonprofits in Vancouver. In doing this work I was keenly interested in how marginalized groups can use art as a means of resistance and connection. I am so excited to be supporting artists as well as ensuring that youth all over BC can gain access to the arts in meaningful ways.

Darcie Dyer

Office Coordinator
604-336-0626 ext 108
darcie@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

ArtStarts general queries
Facility Rentals
Volunteering
Invoices and Payments

Since I was little, all I wanted to do was create. Whether it was working with beads, hot glue, or coloring, I was interested. Art became the perfect way to express my experience of the world. Today, this spirit remains a great part of me and motivates me to support the arts and cultural community. It is a true pleasure to be on the ArtStarts team and connect all youth with the opportunity to get creative.

Kay Slater

Preparator
kay@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

ArtStarts Gallery exhibitions
Gallery tours and the ArtStarts Gallery as a resource
Community engagement, Cultural Events and Weekend Family Programs

I am proud to be a multidisciplinary artist in Vancouver. Each art space brings new challenges for me to consider the best solutions for the artwork and the audience. I’m proud to join ArtStarts where their core values, diversity and accessibility, overlap with mine. The organization and community inspire me. People of all ages and abilities can engage with the arts! In my fine art practice I explore value, perception, time, the act of playing and the discarded. I love language and the art of communication. J'ai hâte de vous recevoir une fin de semaine lorsque je suis au bureau.

Maira Ramirez

Special Events Coordinator
maira@artstarts.com

Ask me about:

Special Events
Weekend Family Programs

My perspective on the arts constantly changes as I continue to work towards my BA of Early Childhood Education at Capilano University. It was not until I started this program that I realized how much of an impact the arts has on people’s lives, especially on the lives of children. I believe that art and education are inseparable and have the potential to shape and transform the way curriculum and pedagogy are approached. By integrating the arts, I feel that we can express ourselves through various mediums that may not always be possible through formal education. My experiences with children and the arts have demonstrated how much that is imagined becomes possible when it is valued and acknowledged in our everyday lives. I feel honored to be part of a team that advocates for the arts while also working towards removing any barriers or oppression towards the arts in society.

Tom Fijal

ArtStarts Showcase Production Manager
tomfixx@whidbey.com

Tom Fijal is a freelance Production Manager who has been working in the arts and entertainment industry for over 25 years. After touring North America and beyond with theatre and dance productions, and marvellous musical artists Fred Penner, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Al Simmons and others, Tom settled in Vancouver where he works locally and regionally, producing events large and small. From 200-seat clubs to arenas and outdoor concerts for 40,000, he brings to the task an enthusiasm for making experiences special, and strives to facilitate the best possible relationship between artist and audience. Tom has produced the ArtStarts Showcase since 1996, and touts it as one of his favourite events.

Our Volunteers

We are lucky to have amazing volunteers at ArtStarts! Meet a Community Art Star is a regular interview series showcasing ArtStarts' amazing group of volunteers who are passionate, enthusiastic arts champions. Learn more about volunteering with ArtStarts.

Our Board

We are proud of our Board of Directors who are all passionate advocates for the importance of arts in education. We appreciate their dedication to this cause and to forwarding ArtStarts' mission and vision.

808 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 3A7, Canada

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