Staff and Board of Directors
Yuri Arajs
Staff
Artistic Director and Curator
Yuri Arajs is a dedicated artist, curator, and advocate whose career spans over two decades of championing underrepresented voices in the arts—particularly artists with disabilities and those working outside traditional frameworks. His lifelong connection to art began in childhood, when his mother would take him on weekend trips to New York City to explore museums and immerse him in culture. Those early experiences sparked a deep appreciation for the power of visual art and shaped the inclusive, community-driven ethos that defines his career today.
Based in Vancouver, BC, Yuri is the Artistic Director and Curator of Outsiders and Others, a contemporary art gallery focused on self-taught and non-traditional artists. He previously served as Artistic Director of Kickstart Disability Arts and Culture, helping to expand the visibility and opportunities for artists with disabilities across Canada.
Yuri’s work is rooted in advocacy—creating platforms for artists who have historically been excluded from mainstream institutions. Through curatorial projects, gallery leadership, and community-building, he fosters public exposure, professional development, and fair compensation for self-taught, outsider, and disabled artists throughout North America.
Over the past 20 years, he has founded and led multiple arts organizations and galleries in both the U.S. and Canada. His contributions have been widely recognized: in 2008, Minnesota Monthly named him "Most Influential Curator," and he has received numerous awards for his arts leadership and curatorial vision.
In addition to his curatorial work, Yuri is an accomplished visual artist. He holds three art degrees, including a Master of Fine Arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art. His artwork is held in private and public collections throughout North America.
Suzy Sabla
Board of Directors
President
Suzy Sabla is an art advisor, writer, curator, and the CEO of Art Novel, a limited-edition fine art print publishing house and art advisory based in Vancouver, BC. With over 15 years of experience collaborating with artists, collectors, and galleries worldwide, she has developed a distinctive voice and sharp eye across multiple disciplines. Her true passion lies in writing, storytelling, and vision development—within the arts and beyond.
Suzy dedicates herself to nurturing artists’ careers and helping them achieve their creative and professional goals. She offers thoughtful, hands-on guidance—whether shaping portfolios, refining proposals, or mapping out future projects. Her advisory work reflects her deep appreciation for contemporary art and her commitment to collaboration throughout the creative process.
Her approach is rooted in storytelling and synthesis. Whether she’s working with artists to distill their ideas into compelling narratives, curating a collection, or guiding a first-time collector toward pieces that truly resonate, she bridges vision with clarity and connection.
Suzy splits her time between Vancouver, New York City, and wherever the next fair, gallery, or studio visit takes her—avidly exploring new artists and experiences, and continually growing her creative network.
A first-generation Canadian with Central European roots, Suzy has long felt a deep connection to outsider art, inspired by her early exposure to Slovakian folklore, painting, and ceramics. As an ardent art collector, her walls proudly display a diverse collection of works from untrained and eclectic artists spanning the globe.
On why they joined the board, Suzy shares:
"I was first drawn to Outsiders and Others after seeing the gallery was showing Scotty Colin, an artist I had long believed deserved a platform—and whose work I now proudly have in my personal collection. It was clear to me that this was a welcoming and inspiring space for artists who are too often overlooked. After many years working in the commercial art world, I felt ready to contribute in a different way—one rooted in community, generosity, and a simple desire to support artists without agenda. I believe Outsiders and Others is integral to Vancouver’s cultural fabric, and helping it thrive—however I can—brings me both joy and a deep sense of purpose."
Carl Baird
Board of Directors
Vice President
Carl Baird is a Cayuga Indigenous Canadian artist and musician, born in England. He works across painting, drawing, performance, media art, and scenic design, creating a multidisciplinary practice rooted in both cultural identity and urban experience.
Baird’s work explores the idea of public space, particularly spaces that are non-privately owned, economically marginal, and open to spontaneous use—places where anyone can do anything at any moment. Within these themes, he engages with popular culture and recurring motifs such as sexuality, violence, and urbanity.
His paintings and drawings often incorporate symbols and text, constructing playful yet subversive visual worlds where conventional rules are challenged. Through a strong emphasis on aesthetics, Baird draws the viewer into moments of tension and balance—intervals that break the flow of daily life to reveal its poetic and existential undercurrents.
Architecture, landscape, and basic elements of living are frequent subjects in his practice. He often works with reclaimed materials from urban environments, bringing a tactile, grounded presence to his explorations of space and form.
In addition to his independent art practice, Carl Baird is a scenic artist and member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 891. His film and television credits include Pirates of the Caribbean, the Planet of the Apes franchise, and projects for Disney, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, ABC, NBC, and CBS.
www.instagram.com/artist_carl_baird
On why they joined the board, Carl shares:
“The reason I want to be on the Board of Directors is because visual art, from a challenging perspective, inspires me. My background in the film industry has opened my perspective on the mission of giving back and helping to sustain a place for all people and artists to thrive”
Alannah Klamp
Board of Directors
Secretary
Alannah brings diverse skills to her role as Director of Public Art at Ballard Fine Art, combining her experience in business analysis, strategic planning, marketing, art management, and digital technology with her interest in cultural issues and passion for art and interdisciplinary contemporary art practice. Alannah's research interests consider the intersection of technology, economics, and visual art in contributing to innovative and engaging public spaces that resonate within both the artistic and broader societal spheres.
Alannah earned a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from Concordia University, and a Bachelor's in Fine Arts in Photography from Emily Carr University of Art and Design and Master of Fine Art from the Glasgow School of Art. Outside of work, Alannah is a photographer and enjoys exploring The Pacific Northwest.
Irwin Soonachan
Board of Directors
Treasurer
Irwin Soonachan is a technology industry veteran, former journalist, and longtime advocate for underserved communities in the U.S. and Canada. He has held marketing leadership roles at several high-tech companies and is currently a brand and product marketing strategist with a creative agency. Irwin previously served as a board member for The Peninsula College Fund, helping first-generation college students in the San Francisco Bay Area achieve academic success. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and resides in Vancouver, BC.
On why he joined the board, Irwin shares:
“Outsiders and Others provides a platform for local artists who might otherwise be overlooked, and it’s a vibrant part of Vancouver’s arts culture.”
Caroline Neufeld
Board of Directors
Member at Large
I have a diverse background spanning government relations, television, and the arts and am deeply committed to community, culture, and city-building. I spent many years working in government relations in both Winnipeg and Vancouver before transitioning into television research and writing.
My commitment to the arts is long-standing. While in Winnipeg, I served on the boards of the West End Cultural Centre, the Winnipeg Arts Council, Partners in the Park, and Jazz Winnipeg. After relocating to Vancouver, I continued that work as Chair of the Indian Summer Arts Society, helping to grow one of Canada’s most dynamic cross-cultural arts festivals.
For over 14 years, I have been a resident of the vibrant and diverse Strathcona neighborhood. I work with the Strathcona Residents Association, the Strathcona Community Centre Food Security Program and currently serve as Co-Chair of the Strathcona Community Gardeners Society.
Iain MacDonald
Board of Directors
Member at Large
Iain Macdonald majored in English and minored in Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University. He began his association with administrative law in March 1986 when he was appointed to the Workers’ Compensation Review Board. Mr. Macdonald was appointed in March 2003 as a vice chair of WCAT. In December 2010 he joined the Advocacy Department at what is now the British Columbia General Employees Union (BCGEU), before retiring as a Director in January 2024. In 1999, he was elected Treasurer of the British Columbia Council of Administrative Tribunals (BCCAT) and served for six years and completed a term as President. In June 2024, Mr. Macdonald returned to WCAT as a vice chair.