SECA COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Discuss the Story of Ram Initiative
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DEPARTMENT: Community Services
SUBMITTED BY: Jake Fiedler, Special Events Coordinator
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Mandala South Asian Performing Arts requested $25,400 in CY26 SECA funds for the Story of Ram initiative. On December 11, 2025, the SECA Commission reached consensus on its unified recommendation, awarding $10,000 in Operations funding; this recommendation was confirmed at the Commission’s January 28, 2026, meeting and approved by City Council on February 17, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
The applicant has submitted an updated plan for review and discussion. The original proposal, Story of Ram, sits closely at the intersection of mythology and religion, several of our artists have expressed hesitation about participating. In light of this, we would be very grateful for your support in considering an alternative proposal centered on nature, community storytelling, and cultural memory through a multi-ethnic Asian performance.
Inspired by human connection to earth and nature, this immersive production by Mandala South Asian Performing Arts brings together rare traditional instruments, movement, and storytelling to explore themes of nature, memory, migration, and belonging. As mentioned, we would interview seniors from the Naperville community about their memories of feeling connected to nature - whether from their places of origin or through their lives in Naperville.
Featuring acclaimed artists including Chamni Sriparam, Saraswathi Ranganathan, Tzu-Tsen Wu, Tatsu Aoki, Bob Garrett, Habib, and the Pak Ngurah Ensemble, the work blends Indian classical ragas, Japanese improvisational aesthetics, Taiwanese string traditions, Thai instrumental and Indonesian gamelan-inspired textures, and contemporary composition into a richly layered sonic and movement experience.
Staff recommends that Mandala South Asian Performing Arts be granted approval to proceed with the updated plan. Because no additional funding has been requested, the SECA Grant Fund Program can accommodate this update without affecting other award allocations.