Our founder: Subashini Ganesan

Subashini Ganesan is an artist, arts administrator, and the Creative Laureate of Portland. As an artist, Ganesan founded Natya Leela Academy where she choreographs and performs potent and universally relevant expressions in Bharathatyam.  Since 2008 has received multiple Regional Arts & Culture Council Grants. She often collaborates with local choreographers like Mike Barber (Founder, Ten Tiny Dances) and Michelle Fujii (UNIT SOUZOU). Her works are often showcased at local & regional festivals including PICA’s annual Time-Based Art Festival, Conduit’s Dance+, Ten Tiny Dances Beaverton, NW Folk Life Festival, & the Salem Library's "World of Music." 

As the Founder and Executive Director of New Expressive Works (N.E.W.) she stewards a vibrant performing arts venue in Portland, that celebrates and supports multi-cultural independent performing artists to teach, be in residency, and create bold new works. Since inception in 2012, N.E.W. has been grounded in equity and access driving artistic expression and excellence. N.E.W.’s positive and uplifting programming provides equal access to and visibility for diverse art-forms. N.E.W. is also the home to an intensive urban residency program that annually offers 8 choreographers 6 months of free rehearsal space, a modest stipend, and a culminating performance opportunity to showcase their new creations. N.E.W. and its founder Subashini Ganesan are honored to have received RACC’a 2018 Juice! Award and White Bird’s 2019 Community Engagement Award, for making affordable space possible to artists and arts organizations

Ganesan is a member of the Teacher Advisory Council of the Portland Art Museum and is a Community Advisory Committee member of the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center's (IFCC). She serves as a Board of Director for the James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation and the Portland Parks Foundation. As the Creative Laureate of Portland, Ganesan serves as the official ambassador for the broader creative community in Portland.   

Some links:-

https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-creative-laureate-subashini-ganesan-interview/

http://www.asianreporter.com/stories/local/2018/09-suba.htm

http://www.orartswatch.org/new-expressive-works-boundary-pushing/
 

https://www.opb.org/radio/programs/state-of-wonder/article/subashini-ganesan-oluyinka-akinjiolaignite-new-expressive-works-studio2-portland-oregon/