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
Irwin Soonachan
Board of Directors
Treasurer
Caroline Neufeld
Board of Directors
Member at Large
With a diverse background spanning government relations, television, and the arts, I bring a deep commitment 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—a shift that allowed me to blend strategic thinking with storytelling.
Throughout my career, I’ve maintained a strong passion for the arts and community development. I’ve worked with a wide range of non-profit and private sector organizations across North America, including Evergreen Brick Works (Toronto), Project for Public Spaces (New York), GRB Television (Los Angeles), and locally with Eastside Arts, ACCESS: Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society, Simon Fraser University, Holborn Properties, Taurean Global Properties, K Holdings Inc., Firelight TV Inc., Affiliated Computer Services Inc., Alliance for Arts and Culture, and Westbank Development.
For over 14 years, I’ve been proud to call Vancouver’s vibrant and diverse Strathcona neighborhood home. I’m deeply involved in local initiatives through the Strathcona Residents Association, Strathcona Community Garden, and our neighborhood Food Security Program. I currently serve as Co-Chair of the Strathcona Community Gardens Society.
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 for five years, helping to grow one of Canada’s most dynamic cross-cultural arts festivals.
From grassroots organizing to city-wide initiatives, my work continues to be guided by a belief in the power of creativity, collaboration, and inclusive community development.
Iain MacDonald
Board of Directors
Member at Large