DIRECTOR
Miki Aurora
Miki Aurora is a multidisciplinary artist who previously worked as a harm reductionist. Her work in the latter field began as a way to serve the community she was part of when she was homeless and living on the street after escaping domestic violence, an experience that profoundly shaped the institutional critique central to her current work.
She has a robust portfolio of exhibitions, interdisciplinary projects and public talks, including her 2023 solo exhibit that brought discussion of Vancouver’s opioid crisis to the US. She’s participated in group shows at galleries like the Surrey Art Gallery and Robert Lynds Gallery (who also represented her during their active years).
Aside from her solo art practice, Miki has a background in community event organizing. She has received grants for her social practice art projects including the Community Action Grant from Vancouver Status of Women (for the Social Sculpture Foundation) and the Downtown Eastside Small Arts Grant from the Vancouver Foundation for her feminist performance art work. She’s also contributed to the arts community as a former board member of The James Black Gallery and archiving committee member of Unit/Pitt (formerly Helen/Pitt Gallery) and presently as an art instructor at the International Arts Academy. Her work reflects her enduring commitment to uncovering the myriad ways that art can shift the cultural zeitgeist, and in doing so be instrumental in our future emancipation.
www.mikiaurora.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Jim Sigmund
Growing up in Vancouver’s punk rock music scene Jim Sigmund’s life has always been focused on advocating for change. As a person with lived/living experience with substance use and recovery, a big part of that has been advocating for substance user’s human rights. He has worked with MHSU Services with Vancouver Coastal Health 19 years ago, starting with his time at WDMSservices in Vancouver Detox and Daytox. After 5 years of this he worked on Vancouver’sDowntown Eastside with a Primary Care Team supporting folks that live in DTES single room units. He was then involved in the DTES redesign and when the team he was on was dissolved he took a Coordinator position with VCH Peer Program supporting the SMART Recovery Program and Harm Reduction Services working alongside the VCH Harm Reduction Peer team. They collaborate with the Regional Addiction team on anti-stigma work and policies that support humanrights for substance users, and more inclusive services for the community. For the past 2 years he has worked for the Vancouver Junction as one of the core unionized staff. The Junction is a brand new Provincially funded Harm Reduction Recovery Community. As this is the first program of its kind, being part of the core team hired to run it he helped to create a “How To Manuel” for 6 additional Recovery Community Centers which have been funded to open throughout the Province.
Tatyana Olal
Tatyana Achiro-Olal is a Vancouver-based writer, performer and producer. She has performed and been featured at JFL, OFF-JFL and MoMA PopRally amongst others. Tatyana has an extensive background in arts administration and currently works in feature animation.
Richard Trimble
Richard Raghunath is a music producer / DJ, radio host, event organizer, and harm reductionist. They also have served as a recovery facilitator for many years, and previously were a monk. During that period, cooking and distributing meals to people with zero, or limited, funds for food was an important part of their larger spiritual practice. Presently, as a peer harm-reductionist working the front lines of the Vancouver opioid crisis, they advocate for continued safety, and for the advancement of customized recovery opportunities and moments of respite for one of Vancouver’s most at-risk communities.