Arts Awards Waterloo Region, 2024

I was recognized as one fo the emerging artists of Waterloo Region at the Arts Awards of Waterloo Region 2024. Here are the reasons why .... 🙂


Megha Birmiwal

• Website: https://www.omeghaspark.ca/home

• Socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/omeghaspark/


About the Nominees Work: 

She was beginning a transition professionally, leaving a very stable career in the tech sector as a Software Engineer for what she knew would be a very rewarding but unpredictable life in the arts sector. As you will see below, she has certainly been on fire with this pursuit in so many different capacities as an artist. She continues to develop herself as a full-time visual artist, dancer and community server, she started generating creative, collaborative, inclusive and cultural sparks in the Waterloo Region and beyond.


In 2024, Megha started the trend of live Indian Paintings at the Indian Cultural Events like Carassauga, Canada's largest Multicultural Festival; Royal City Durga Puja Holi event; Indian Food Carnival 2024 and several other small occasions and events where people could watch her create beautiful Indian paintings live.


When Megha displayed her art at exhibitions and events, she felt the desire in the community members to be able to be a part of something similar. Megha thought of a more inclusive and motivational approach by starting 'Community Art' where people attending an event contributed to a big and beautiful piece of art under her guidance which was then displayed at public places. Example: Cultural Canvas in collab with City of Woodstock, 57th KW Multicultural event etc. Megha has been teaching ethno-cultural art and dance workshops at Women's Prison, Camino Well Being + Mental Health, 3 sisters cultural center, Button Factory Arts and Corporates as her attempt to heal people and spread the beauty of culture and art. City of Kitchener has hired Megha for Art and Dance related classes and workshops which are seniors and rehabilitation group focused.


KPL has been collaborating with Megha for several multicultural events like Diwali, Holi etc bringing to Waterloo Region a non-ticketed, very inclusive platform to not just enhance creativity and showcase talent but also attend it freely as a non-Indian without feeling out of place. Downtown Kitchener BIA and the Kitchener Market are collaborating with Megha to start Indian events as part of DTK programming, again as a joint effort towards making Waterloo Region more inclusive. Megha has been the President of Kitchener Waterloo Society of Artists, did immense work towards successful shows, meaningful meetings, new collaborations and overall improving the technologies, processes, website and culture of the Society towards growth and productivity.


Megha encourages creativity in the Waterloo Region by volunteering her time to Cultural Associations like Tamil Cultural Association, Gujarati Cultural Association, India Canada Association, Bengali Community and Gujarati School and helping them judge, mentor and sometimes collaborate for art contests, rangoli making, puja thali decoration events etc. Megha has collaborated with the City of Waterloo, Belmont Village Bestival, Royal City Durga Puja, Grand River Cultural Association, GCA,TCA, Sakhi Group etc to organize and conduct art contests as a platform to ignite creativity in the community.


About the Nominees Merit: 

Megha formed a non profit group 'Sushila Goyal Group' that is the first one to promote Indian Rajasthani Culture in Waterloo Region and beyond via dances; it provides a platform to kids, teens and everyone to showcase their artistic talent by organizing events and giving them a chance to perform via SGG. It encourages creative women especially homemakers to step up and do something out of the routine chores like choreograph dances, participate and volunteer in community events. Megha has been the first one in Ontario to create an Indian Seniors Performing Dance Group with 85 yrs old members. They have performed at Kitchener Public Library, Seniors Health and Friendship Club events, at Waterloo Public Square at the Food Carnival of India event etc


COMMUNITY EVENTS:


CULTURAL PERFORMANCES:


VISUAL ARTS: