Indra Mungal Interview - 2025 Arts Seva Award Recipient
Indra Mungal has produced successful arts and cultural events and educational programs and has developed and sustained authentic community engagement opportunities for non-profits throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for decades. She is passionate about working to ensure that Bay Area arts and cultural institutions thrive and that they have a positive impact on surrounding communities. Indra has worked in the education departments at the Asian Art Museum, the Oakland Museum of California, and KQED, as well as many other non-profits. She was most recently the Director of Programs and Exhibitions for the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, where her programs and exhibitions highlighted the diverse and intersectional voices of the Asian diaspora.
Q: You’ve worked with major cultural institutions like the Asian Art Museum, Oakland Museum of California, KQED, and most recently OACC. What has guided your career choices and commitment to arts and culture in the Bay Area?
Indra Mungal: Early in my career I had the good fortune to stumble into City Celebration, Inc. (now World Arts West). I was actually looking to work on their free newspaper City Arts Monthly, and the director, Bruce Davis told me he had an open position working on the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. Little did I know that the job would be one of the most foundational experiences of my life. I have met the most talented and wonderful people – including many master artists, such as Chitresh Das. I found a career path that is truly what Buddhists call “right livelihood.” I still work with many of the dance companies and musicians I met in those early days. I am continually inspired by work of artists who tell stories of their families, cultural histories, struggles and joys.
Q: How do you design programs that both honor traditional cultural practices and engage audiences who may be unfamiliar with them?
Indra Mungal: When I produce programs, I invite artists to present what they want to present, without editing or request for specific content. I think that is the key to honoring and being respectful of traditions. Audiences begin to trust my programming and can always count on seeing authentic work and they take chances on attending programs of artists or cultures with which they may be unfamiliar.
Q: Looking back at your career, which moment or program gave you the clearest sense that your work was positively impacting the community and sustaining cultural traditions?
Indra Mungal: I have had dozens of moments that felt like my work was having positive impacts. But one program that is a highlight was at the Asian Art Museum for Pride month in 2023. In conjunction with an exhibition featuring artwork with traditional dance poses I wanted to showcase artists queering those traditional dances. I included Prumsodun Ok, who had the first Gay dance company in Cambodia, and Ishami Dance Company, a local South Asian dance company, and it took place as new anti-LGBTQ initiatives were being enacted around the country, so it felt even more meaningful. Those two dance companies are grounded in cultural traditions and are evolving the traditions to have meaning in the 21st century. I think rigorous training in traditional arts can exist side by side with evolution and will cultivate new artists and audiences when they experience this kind of authenticity.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Indra Mungal: I have also worked on presenting artists whose work reflects the rich and complex diversity of our communities, including art created by, for, and about people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those representing a range of non-Asian cultural backgrounds. I believe it is important to showcase how multidimensional our communities truly are.
Join us for the award ceremony at the November 8th performance of “Veil of Janki Bai” at ODC Theater at 8pm. Link to get your tickets.