Canadian Community Arts Initiative

To unite artists, critics and persons interested in art and allied and related subjects for fellowship and mutual suppport in promoting common aims and to assert the creative importance of art in the national and community life of Canada.

To promote an improvement in the welfare, recognition and professional standing of practicing artists in the community.

To promote activities which will tend to increase the appreciation, enjoyment and use of art and works of art in Canada.

To promote enquiry into the solution of problems related to the growth of Canadian culture and to stimulate public interest in such matters.

To establish, promote, support and encourage art galleries, museums and other institutions and organizations engaged in activities connected with art and art appreciation.

To assist the coordination and encouragement of activities of groups and individuals tending to further the objectives of the Corporation by providing a clearinghouse for information and ideas.

To publish, print, distribute and support books, magazines, pamphlets and publications of all kinds devoted to the interest of arts and artists.

To improve the growth of emerging and established artists through educational activities and programs.

To promote, encourage, give financial assistance to, subscribe to, become a member of and cooperate with societies having similar objectives, in all parts of the world.

To cooperate, with organizations in Canada having similar objectives to those of this Corporation.

To organize, plan, market, produce and hold or participate in events, seminars, conferences, lectures, exhibitions, shows, festivals, workshops and performances relating to or containing any single multidisciplinary or multiple artistic activities including but not limited to visual, performing and literary arts.

To do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the arrangement of the above mentioned objectives.

Board of Directors

Asma Arshad Mahmood was born in Lahore, Pakistan. Asma is a visual artist and art activist. With MFA from York University, Asma is a arts and cultural market expert.. She has previously served on the boards of SAVAC, South Asian Visual Arts Centre, and was Chair for Art City, non for profit art education institute for young youth in St James Town , Toronto and member of Community Editorial board of Toronto Star. Current Chair of Canadian Community Arts Initiative, is member of SAVAC and MAC and a founding Festival director of MOSAIC festival. Curator of number of important show, Asma runs her own private art gallery and owns an arts management business.

Ananta Ahmad is the director and programmer for the CCAI. Ananta Ahmad represents the Bangla community in GTA and has been instrumental is developing programs with Bangali community at various community forums. Ananta has a background in property development and sales and is currently working with Bangladeshi Television as producer.

Ali Adil Khan has been a board member since 2007 and in-charge of programming for the Visual and Interactive Arts of South Asia (VIRSA) for MOSAIC Festival. Ali has also served on the boards of SAVAC, LEAD Canada and OntarioNature. He has served in an advisory capacity to the Royal Ontario Museum and the Ontario Arts Council. As the founder and director of the South Asian Gallery of Art (SAGA) in Toronto, Ali has organized over 25 group exhibitions and 5 solo shows for emerging and established artists. He is an avid collector of South Asian arts and antiquities, and actively promotes South Asian arts, music and culture in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Gustavo Neme Lozano is the Latin Face of the Mosaic Festival and Founder Member of CCAI. Born in Bogota, Colombia. He holds a MBA from the University of Toronto, Degrees in business and Education from the University of Sao Paulo - Brazil. He also board member of other local cultural and charity organizations. Local entrepreneur - owner of consulting firm specialized in coaching / business plan development. He also owner and president of freight forwarder company called www.movingshippingcentre.com

Arshad Mahmood Arshad has banking and marketing background and works in media industry as television host as well. He has served on the board of directors for Canadian National exhibition. His interest in community and development of youth interests has enabled him to help establish MOSAIC festival as a prominent event for the South Asian community. He is the founding director of Canadian Community Arts Initiative and is the finance and logistics director for CCAI. Arshad has advised the Region of Peel in their many initiatives for new immigrants and has worked as the advisor for the Region’s web portal for new immigrants. He was nominated by Canadian Immigrant magazine as one of the promising new immigrants.

Indica Rohan is a programmer and director for CCAI. Indica is a director for SriLanka Day organization and has been involved with Sri Lankan community for a longtime. She works with Government of Ontario in Social services sector and has extensive experience in project development and community programming.

Kamal Ahuja is a senior manager at HSBC in Vancouver. With a masters degree in business and more than 20 yrs work experience Kamal is well traveled and well read. Having lived and worked in many countries in Europe, he has good experience and understanding of the uniqueness of various cultures. Taking the best of what any culture has to offer and fusing it with traditional Asian culture is what excites Kamal. He is therefore a keen proponent of Mosaic- one of the largest cultural festival in Canada and passionate about extending its reach.

Ashish Gandhi has a background in economic and financial planning . He is a well-traveled individual and would like to bring the various aspects of multi cultural experience to CCAI through his experiences of living in many cosmopolitan cities around the world. He would like to help develop the diversity of Canadian culture through this platform.

Nain Amyn has been associated with theatre and various other artistic activities for a number of years. She serves as director for SAVITRI, a non-for profit Mississauga based theatre groups. Her vision and hard work has been recognized by here peers and colleagues on many levels and she is keen to improve the life and understanding of South Asian women in the community. She has traveled extensively around the world and is patron of a primary school for children in Dhaka Bangladesh. She dedicates her time to theatre related activities for Mosaic Festival programming and is responsible for community out reach and youth engagement with theatre.

Shannon Kitchings has been working in the non-profit sector for 20 years. She has served on several Boards of Directors, including the Student Theatre Association Representatives (co-founder and past vice-president) and the Literacy Council of Burlington (past vice-president). Shannon began performing as a stage actor and singer when she was five years old and studied theatre and drama studies at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College. She completed her post-graduate studies at McMaster University in Public Relations. She is a published writer and devotes much of her free time to writing. Shannon is thrilled to be the new Executive Director and help move CCAI into the next phase of evolution.

CCAI Advisory Board

Tahir Aslam Gora is a senior journalist and writer. He is a published author of many books of poetry and fiction. He is a social activist and dedicated to the development of Pluralistic society in Canada.

Ricky Kanwaljit Bajaj is associated with media industry and is passionate abou the development and introduction of excellence in South Asian arts and culture. He feel strongly about lack of community representation in mainstream media and aims ot change that.

Fayazz Walana is an editor of local Urdu language news paper and an instructor of journalism at the Sheridan College. He feels that the challenges of new age journalism cannot be met without reintroducing the integrity and sense of justice in media.