Sirish Rao has always sought adventure, whether scaling the Himalayan peaks or navigating the ever-evolving world of arts and culture. Born in Bangalore, India, his path was never a straight line but a thrilling ascent, shaped by creativity, risk-taking, and a deep reverence for the natural world. His work is a testament to the power of storytelling, art, and dialogue in shaping communities and challenging perspectives.
In a 2023 interview with The Tyee, Sirish spoke of his belief that ‘the feast’ is at the core of culture. Beyond food, a feast signifies gathering, conversation, and an act of hospitality. The principles of the feast remain unchanged, whether it involves inviting people to engage in discussion, share in music, or experience visual art. For Sirish, this concept extends beyond the table—it is a guiding philosophy in his work as a cultural programmer and artist.
Vancouver presents both economic and cultural challenges to fostering such gatherings. A thriving arts scene requires affordable housing for artists and accessible spaces for creation, yet the city remains an especially difficult place to sustain artistic practice. Beyond these structural barriers, Vancouver is also a city of silos. Despite being one of the most diverse cities in the world, its cultural communities, artistic disciplines, and age groups often remain disconnected.
Drawing from his experience in India, where artistic engagement is more multidisciplinary and multigenerational, Sirish seeks to bridge these divides. He applies the concept of the feast to his work, bringing ideas, concepts, and practices from previous artistic traditions into the visual art world. One aspect he finds particularly compelling is how visual art differs from music or the performing arts in its engagement with an audience. While other art forms often involve a stationary audience and moving performers, visual art remains fixed while the audience moves. This dynamic opens unique opportunities for spatial storytelling—an approach that informs Sirish’s creative practice and his vision for a more interconnected cultural landscape.
BUILDING A LEGACY
Sirish began his journey as the Director of Tara Books, a fledgling publishing house that he transformed into one of India’s most celebrated. Under his leadership, Tara Books gained international recognition, collaborating with institutions such as the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Kunsthal in Rotterdam, and the Museum of London. His ability to merge artistic tradition with contemporary storytelling set him apart as a visionary cultural leader.
SHAPING VANCOUVER’S ARTS
“Vancouver is on just about the opposite side of the planet from my hometown of Bangalore. This is true both geographically and culturally.”
“What brought me to Vancouver was love – my wife Laura Byspalko and I met in India. She was doing her Masters in Publishing studies at SFU, and chose to do her thesis on Tara Books – the publishing house I was Director of in Southern India. The rest is history – for several years we lived a nomadic life between Canada and India, and started a festival of arts and ideas (Indian Summer Festival) that brought our two worlds together.”
“Through the festival, we were able to build cultural bridges, and invite writers, thinkers and musicians to travel between the two, opening new perspectives for audiences on both sides of the planet. Then our daughter was born here, and over time, Vancouver has become truly home. So that’s the lens I see Vancouver through – a place I love first and foremost because the people I love are here. And of course, the people I love now includes a vast and wonderful community.”
“I knew almost no one when I got here fifteen years ago, and now I feel very enfolded by the city, and feel a responsibility towards it as well.”
Even when the world was in a pandemic lockdown, Sirish envisioned a project that merged art with wellness, and launched ‘Artist as Healer.’ This groundbreaking initiative connected artists in Metro Vancouver with medical professionals to develop creative healing methodologies. His belief in art’s transformative power has continuously driven his work, proving that creativity is more than just expression—it is a force for change and restoration.
LEADERSHIP AND INFLUENCE
As the Senior Director of Public Engagement & Learning at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Sirish is dedicated to making art more accessible, thought-provoking, and deeply connected to people’s lives. In this role, he leads efforts to bring diverse perspectives into the Gallery and build stronger connections with the community.
Working closely with the CEO and Program Leadership team, Sirish ensures that programs invite meaningful dialogue and participation. He collaborates across all areas of the Gallery, shaping its long-term vision while fostering a work environment where staff feel supported and inspired. His goal is to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the arts, encourage philanthropy, and create spaces where everyone feels welcome to engage with art in new and meaningful ways.
“The Vancouver Art Gallery is at an inflection point not unlike the one that the city (or the country) faces. It is an old and venerable institution that holds many cultural memories and treasures. It is also investigating what it means to be a cultural hub in the 21st century, in one of the world’s most diverse cities. Now this is work that calls for creativity, innovation and audacity, and you only need to visit the Gallery today to see that in evidence – from the shapeshifting, time-travelling work of Firelei Báez, one of the most exciting artists of our times, to the thick, tangled forestscapes of Emily Carr, and experimental and subversive art from the Eastern Bloc.”
“Just walking from floor to floor of the Gallery is like travelling to a different world, or a different era. Not many cultural experiences are like that. I also think that most people’s idea of an art gallery or museum is that you come there to see art on the walls, and walk by in hushed silence. What we’re doing at the Gallery is so much more than that – we are a gathering place and a sanctuary for the imagination. Every single day, our incredible team of educators leads groups of schoolchildren through the exhibitions, inviting students to think independently, to approach art with a questioning mind, and encourage their self-expression.”
“Over the course of Black History Month, we have a program called Celebrating Black Futures, during which we have held Hi-fi listening sessions with a DJ, offered a sound bath experience, collaborated with Vancouver International Film Festival to show films, created a reading list with Vancouver Public Library and Noorongji books… the list goes on.”
“In that same time, we have partnered with PuSh festival to show the genre-defying immersive performance work of Chimerik (Canada/Taiwan/UK), an multi-award-winning interdisciplinary company consisting of artists from underrepresented groups and disciplines (film/video, new media, VJ, XR, projection & lighting design, experimental music, visual arts, contemporary dance/theatre performance and spirituality).”
“This is part of our Centre for Global Asias (CGA), a platform dedicated to catalyzing, amplifying and sharing new understandings of modern and contemporary Asian art and thought.”
“The CGA recognizes Vancouver’s unique location on the Pacific Rim, and the cultural and geopolitical connections that radiate from here, thanks to the diverse people who call this region home. Acting as a vital bridge, the CGA aspires to be Canada’s cultural gateway to the world. So, it’s not just about art and walls – in a time of great societal and geopolitical change, I think the Gallery offers people a way to transcend the world we currently inhabit, and with the help of incredible artistic visionaries, imagine new futures together.”
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Sirish also dedicates his time to serving on various boards, including the Vancouver Foundation, the VIFF, and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. As Co-Chair of Simon Fraser University’s India Advisory Council, he strengthens cross-cultural connections and thought leadership.
Sirish’s influence has not gone unnoticed. He is the recipient of an Extraordinary Achievement Award (Darpan) and a Lifetime Achievement Award (Hari Sharma Foundation), was named one of the 20 Most Influential South Asians in Vancouver by Urban Asian and was featured in Vancouver Magazine’s 2025 Power 50 list.
His contributions to Canada earned him the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a testament to his impact on arts, culture, and community. His journey continues, shaped by a fearless commitment to creativity, dialogue, and transformation.
MOVING FORWARD THROUGH STORY
“When I first got here, I saw Vancouver as a young city just forming its identity (this is of course the arrogance of someone who comes from an old culture, where the evidence of history is all around you).”
“After some time, I realized that the old stories here – those of the Indigenous people of the land – had been erased, or ignored, or hidden. And then I realized there were many new stories waiting to be told as well – of people who have made this their home from many parts of the world. So in a sense, Vancouver is a city in search of a story.”
“It contains many complexities, many layers, but these are in need of some weaving. That’s exactly what I try to do through my work – weave people together, create conversations, reasons to gather. What Vancouver has given me is an opportunity to create new community, to experiment with ways of living and talking to each other that are still emerging.”
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury lifestyle niche. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read industry magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and consults with many of the world’s luxury heritage brands. Always seeking new opportunities and challenges, you can email her at [email protected].
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