June 20, 2013
Dear Friends of SAWCC,
Last August, as we set up the paintings, drawings, photographs, installations, and videos of more than fifty South Asian women artists and stacked the books of nearly eighty South Asian women authors in a pink and red room at the Queens Museum of Art, it was phenomenal to see how far the South Asian Women’s Creative Collective (SAWCC) had come in fifteen years. Works of art had been sent to us from around the US and across the world to be displayed in our fifteenth year anniversary exhibition, Her Stories. In his New York Times review of Her Stories, Holland Cotter wrote, “By providing strength-in-numbers support and access to resources, the collective helped move a generation of artists ahead, as this small power generator of an anniversary survey demonstrates.â€
Over our sixteen year history, SAWCC has nurtured the development of South Asian women in a wide range of creative disciplines and supported the careers of artists such as Chitra Ganesh, Swati Khurana, Bushra Rehman, and DJ Rekha.  We’ve showcased the work of now-formidable artists, writers, performers, and culture workers such as Shazia Sikander, Jhumpa Lahiri, D’Lo, Gurinder Chadha, Seema Agnani of Chaya CDC, and Prerana Reddy of the Queens Museum. Our programs have provided space for both emerging and established South Asian women artists to foment their imagination, hone their purpose, and launch their spirits.
Last year, we curated Her Stories; organized Creative Commons; a two-day, multi-venue transmedia literary festival; put together a successful art auction; and hired our first staff member, Shruti Parekh. This year, we protested against sexual assault through a creative action called Freedom, Safety, NOW! Â at the Indian Consulate and the United Nations; organized a gallery show called Be/Longing in Washington, DC, took the Her Stories show to the Taubman Museum in Roanoke, VA, and hosted two incredibly popular proposal-writing workshops led by writer Minal Hajratwala.
In store for 2013 are even more exciting programs: a launch party to celebrate first-time novelist Bushra Rehman’s new book, Corona; Process/Practice/Portfolio, a weekend seminar for emerging artists to bring their practice to the next level; a continuation of Freedom. Safety. NOW! with a series of dance and movement workshops; and a visual arts exhibition at the Queens Museum.
To see these initiatives through, we rely on our friends for support. Our goal is to raise $10,000 by Saturday, July 20. Because most of our programs are free or seek small voluntary donations, your help is critical.
We hope that you—our friends, members, and supporters—will make a tax-deductible donation to SAWCC today to help us continue showcasing and supporting the work of South Asian women artists. Any amount, be it small or large, will help us in our mission. To donate, please fill out this donation form and donate through PayPal, or you may send a check to the address below.  Donors giving $500 or more will be acknowledged on our website. Donations of $1000 or more will also be acknowledged in our printed program materials, press releases, and advertising.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at info@sawcc.org. You may obtain a copy of the South Asian Women’s Creative Collective’s financial report by requesting it from us or from the Attorney General.  We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization and our Tax ID number is 13-4026767.
We greatly appreciate your support and involvement in our community, and we look forward to seeing you at this year’s events!
With sincere thanks,
Anjali Goyal and Marcy Chevali, SAWCC Board Co-Chairs
On behalf of the SAWCC Board:
Jaishri Abichandani, Shelly Bahl, Monica Jahan Bose, Marcy Chevali, Anjali Goyal, Amita Manghnani, Sunita Mukhi, Josheen Oberoi, Roshani Thakore, and Jasmine Wahi
How to donate:
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Please fill out the donation form
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Or send checks to:
   SAWCC
   110-112 West 27th Street, Suite 603
   New York, NY 10001