Initiated by the BANDISH Network and CAPACOA, with curation leadership by Nina Buddhdev, the Classical & Heritage Arts Initiative (CHAI) is a collaborative networking and professional development program designed to build stronger connection and understanding about these specialized art forms.
Canadian presenters, programmers, and artists interested in advancing these cultural arts are invited to join the Classical and Heritage Arts Initiative (CHAI) at any time.
Online Sessions
During online meetings, presenters, programmers, and artists are invited to take part in conversations encouraging greater connections between those interested in supporting the classical and heritage arts across Canada and beyond. Led by Nina Buddhdev, sessions will collaboratively explore engagement models, resources, and strategies to strengthen touring infrastructure and cultural partnerships, with the goal of enhancing the programming of both Canadian and international heritage artists through intentional collaboration and strategic planning.
Key Discussion Areas:
- Engaging new audiences through integrated seasonal planning
- Building capacity for synergistic touring models
- Building network allies
- Increasing access to Canadian and international classical and heritage arts artists through compatible community presenter partnerships
- Exploring shared cost models, cohesive scheduling, and strategic routing
- Networking & knowledge sharing
Hear insights from Canadian presenters on successful partnerships, network alignment, and how national planning can expand access to exceptional Canadian and international artists, moving beyond one-off concerts toward more sustainable and integrated cultural engagement.
Program Registration
To receive reminders about upcoming sessions, please send an email to:
Announcements about upcoming sessions will also be listed on CAPACOA’s Event Calendar and through social media and networking channels.
Video Recordings
Partial recordings of previous sessions are available in the CHAI video folder on CAPACOA’s Vimeo account.
Resources
- Curated Social Media Updates: Follow both the BANDISH Network Facebook Page and the CAPACOA Facebook Page for curated posts, news, and highlights.
- Daily Networking Opportunities: Join the the BANDISH Network Facebook Group Page, for open discussions, ongoing conversations, and the chance to connect with peers.
- Sectoral Information: Subscribe to CAPACOA’s All Access Newsletter for regular updates and insights.
Program Curator & Curatorial Vision
Nina Buddhdev, Curatorial Lead, Canada
As the curator of the Classical & Heritage Arts Initiative, Nina plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of heritage arts. A leader and a deep listener, Nina leverages her expertise in engagement, loyalty, and cultural communications to foster enduring relationships with communities and strategic partners alike.
A passionate advocate for genuine allyship, Nina excels at identifying subtle, often overlooked needs, working collaboratively to design transformative and meaningful experiences. The BANDISH Network, a 7,000+ member network that she initiatied, stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to elevating accurate representation, collaboration, and the celebration of classical and heritage arts from the Indus Valley and Pan-South Asian cultures. Nina's dedication to advancing heritage arts is rooted in the principles of belonging, adaptation, and respectful representation of living cultures.
Nina Buddhdev is a cultural innovator with a prolific track record of advancing projects to new heights, recognized by esteemed institutions such as BBC Proms, the Arts Council of England (Revenue Client), AMC, the Southbank Centre, the Royal College of Art, and the House of Commons Canada.
Curatorial Vision
Navigating the Canadian Market: Evolving Pathways for Classical and Heritage Artists
By Nina Buddhdev
Canada continues to rise as a fertile ground for international classical and heritage artists—not only as a presenting market but as a meaningful space for cultural co-creation, long-term dialogue, and shared leadership. With its vibrant diasporic communities, institutional interest in global traditions, and a growing appetite for programming that reflects the plurality of lived experiences, the Canadian cultural sector is becoming more than receptive—it is becoming responsive.
Yet, success here isn’t merely about crossing borders to perform. It requires thoughtful alignment: of vision, values, and narrative. Artists who thrive in Canada do so through relationship-building, community presence, and a long-view investment in ecosystem fluency. The most impactful outcomes we’ve seen are not transactional, but transformational - emerging from the co-creation of pathways rooted in cultural resonance. Through CHAI (Classical & Heritage Arts Initiative) sessions and the work of The BANDISH Network, we are seeing this shift materialize across the country. Heritage and classical artists are increasingly being woven into seasonal programming, presenter residencies, touring circuits, and interdisciplinary collaborations—not as token additions, but as foundational voices.
These advances are the result of intentional work to foster compatible partnerships between presenters and community leaders. By centering artists as co-authors in the engagement process—and not just subjects of it—presenters are designing offerings that are not only artistically compelling but also socially grounded. The CHAI model supports this shift by bridging underrepresented artistic excellence with sector knowledge, audience-building, and cultural capacity.
In recent years, the BANDISH Network has catalyzed integrated programming models with several Canadian organizations. These models have successfully engaged new community members—many of whom had previously felt outside of the "mainstream" arts dialogue. Now, these same individuals feel seen, included, and empowered to return, participate, and champion work beyond their immediate cultural reference points. The result is a deepening of public engagement that transcends ethnic identifiers and instead focuses on the universality of shared values and artistic curiosity.
This approach is helping dismantle siloed structures that have historically limited cultural representation. The change is evident as:
- Cross-cultural audiences are attending centre programming for the first time,
- Presenters are co-designing with elders and international collectives,
- Season planning includes long-neglected artistic voices that now stand at the heart of institutional offerings.
This is not symbolic inclusion—it’s operational evolution. From the stage to the boardroom, cultural engagement in Canada is becoming more integrated, more intersectional, and more intentionally designed.
At the centre of this transformation is a call for cultural leadership that resists extractive consultation models and instead champions reciprocity, care, and shared growth. Artists and presenters are stepping forward as co-creators of a future that is rooted in community stewardship, access, and cultural agency.
As Canada’s cultural tapestry continues to evolve, the call for equitable, integrated programming grows louder. CHAI is proud to support this momentum, building bridges between international excellence and Canadian inclusion—one session, one story, and one partnership at a time.
Programming and co-created vision are helping reshape what cultural access, equity, and artistic diplomacy look like. Teaming together, we can support each other as artists and presenters alike, and better navigate these shifts in the future - with confidence, insight, and care.
Partners
