We are pleased to invite emerging artists and creatives from Latin America to Punto de Encuentro, an evening of creative community-building through art making. Join us on Saturday, December 9, at 6:00 pm at the Canucks Family Education Centre at Britannia Community and Services Centre.

Punto de Encuentro invites you to bid adiós to 2023 by reflecting together (individually or collectively) about this year’s milestones and teachings, and build anticipation/intentionality for the new year by sharing what we’re excited to work on, develop or experience in 2024. This is an opportunity for artists and creatives to (re)connect with each other, broaden their networks and inspire creative collaborations while engaging in playful arts-based activities. You can expect an evening filled with music, art, laughter, meaningful conversations, and delicious food from Don Oso.

Punto de Encuentro will also be an opportunity to share your thoughts related to what barriers and challenges emerging Latin American creatives are facing in their professional journey. The Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre is interested in learning more about the needs of our creative community so we can ideate programs that effectively support emerging artists in the coming years.

This event is free, but registration is required. Please use the following link to save your spot:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/punto-de-encuentro-a-meetup-for-latin-american-creatives-tickets-759890722607?aff=oddtdtcreator

Date: Saturday, December 9
Time: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Canuck Family Education Centre – 1655 William Street (by Grandview Park)

Facilitators:

Maria Cecilia Saba (she/her) is a Peruvian-Brazilian artist, curator, educator and program manager with 12 years of experience working in the intersections of arts education and community engagement. Her multicultural upbringing nurtured a profound respect for cultural diversity and a passion for creative expression, which led her to earn a BA in Communications, a diploma in Arts and Cultural Management, and an MA in Comparative Media Arts.

Since moving to Vancouver in 2014, Maria Cecilia has worked at the Reel 2 Real Film Festival for Youth, the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement, and Emily Carr University of Art + Design, where she served as Manager of Youth + Community Programs in the Continuing Studies department.

Throughout her career, Maria Cecilia has actively sought to work with organizations committed to amplifying diverse and underrepresented voices. As a curator, educator and program manager, Maria Cecilia strives to create engaging social experiences that foster curiosity, critical thinking, creative experimentation, respectful dialogue, social connection and community-building.

Sandra Suasnabar (she/her/ella) is a queer, cisgender, migrant, Latinx, Indigenous woman and mother. Sandra was born in Lima, Peru to her Andean migrant family. She holds an MA in Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychology, and has 15+ years of experience supporting diverse communities affected by complex inter-generational trauma, violence, and systemic oppression.

Sandra describes her professional path as both unique and generous. Through the diversity of her experience and the communities she has served, Sandra has contributed to and been influenced by a wise textile of wisdom. Sandra’s practice has taken place in community-based, non-profit, social justice, education, and health-based settings in Canada.

She has worked as a therapeutic counsellor, advocate, manager, educator, and consultant; with each role being deeply informed by her lived experience and intersecting identities. In recent years, Sandra and her family have lived and worked in rural-northern Indigenous communities. Sandra remains deeply connected to her ancestors’ knowledge, culture and worldviews as she contributes to her community and raises her new baby.