Artists in Exile is a new series from the Bureau Of Power And Light art collective featuring the art and sharing the stories of artists who have fled their homelands and have settled in Toronto.

Artists In Exile: Tibetans Of Toronto Arts And Culture Festival

September 17-24

Flex Studio 107

Artscape Youngplace

180 Shaw St.

Toronto

Artists in Exile: Tibetans Of Toronto is a weeklong arts festival featuring local Tibetan-born artists Chuchi Dhondup Robatsong, Khydup Gyatso, Lobsang Tenpa, Lungtok Gyatso, and Tsultrim Nyampo.

Having fled their homeland, where their culture has been suppressed by Chinese occupation since the 1950’s, these artists have found refuge here in Toronto, home to one of the largest Tibetan exile communities outside of Nepal and India. This festival is a unique opportunity to hear their stories of life in exile and experience artworks steeped in a distinct cultural and spiritual heritage as presented by contemporary Tibetan-born artists.

The week’s program will feature a standing art exhibition of traditional and contemporary Tibetan art that will be up for viewing the entire week, a Butter Sculpture Workshop, Wild Yaks Storytelling event, an Introduction To Tibetan Buddhism and Meditation led by Khenpo Tsultrim Namdak Rinpoche and a Jayu Speaks panel discussion that includes the exhibiting artists and guests.

As part of the Artscape Youngplace open studio event “Recess”, we will be kicking off the week’s festivities Sept 17 at 5:30pm with an Opening Ceremony And Celebration including a First Nations ceremony led by Kevin Nadjiwon, a Tibetan ceremony led by Sungjang Rinpoche. a message from Cheri DiNovo (MPP for Parkdale-High Park) followed by live performances and traditional Tibetan foods.

This festival is produced by the Bureau Of Power And Light art collective, and Andrea Paras, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Guelph.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our partners Artscape Youngplace, Jayu: Human Rights Film Festival, Coffee Pubs, Centre For Social Innovation, McWood Studios, Shangri-La Restaurant and Annex Improv. We could not have done it without your support!