Support Spokane Arts’ work to foster creativity & culture in our region for years to come by donating today! Your gift of any amount helps us continue impactful programs, public art projects, and direct granting to artists, arts organizations, & creative businesses! Learn more about all the ways to support here!

Grantee: South Asia Cultural Association (SACA)

Project Title: Svara Mañjarī - A Bouquet of Musical Notes
Year awarded: 2026, Round 2

South Asia Cultural Association provides Spokane audiences access to authentic South Indian vocal, string, and percussion performances from the classical traditions of India. With violin, mridangam (double-headed drum), ghatam (clay pot), and morsing (mouth harp) these cultural offerings are both whimsical and transcendent. SACA’s new events feature a South Indian Classical vocal concert followed by Thala Vadya Kacheri (percussion ensemble) on October 9th, with a free educational workshop by the artists at Shadle Library. On October 10th, the full orchestra and vocal concert will be presented at Unity Spiritual Center.

South Asia Cultural Association was founded to promote and educate the citizenry of Spokane and the outlying areas about the rich heritage, traditions, and cultures of South Asia. Sreedharani Nandagopal, SACA’s volunteer President, has been instrumental in bringing cultural programs from India to Spokane for more than 35 years, and SACA has previously received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, WESTAF, Spokane Arts, Rotary 21 of Spokane, and the City of Spokane, among others. SAGA funding will support artist honorariums, boarding and lodging, venue rental, event insurance.