RASU JILANI
A self-described social sculptor, Rasu is expert at convening people, designing cultural experiences, and building synergy around common values and practices. Co-founder of the grassroots lifestyle brand and art collective, Coup d’Etat BROOKLYN, Rasu is a well-established curator, producer, and entrepreneur. Currently, Jilani serves as Curator of Cultural Networks at the Lambent Foundation in which he deploys his deep experience in supporting ecosystems and weaving networks, translating Lambent’s core values and approach to network theory into organizational practice, while cultivating the abundant resources and rich assets of Lambent’s grantee-partners. In his former role as Director of Recruiting and Community Engagement at the New Museum’s NEW INC incubator, Rasu developed and supervised mentorship and alumni programs; designed all aspects of the program’s community culture; and developed a pool of applicants that drew equally from tech, art, and entrepreneurial sectors. rom 2013 through 2016, Jilani worked at MAPP International Productions as the Director of Community Programs. Some highlighted productions at MAPP includes Blink Your Eyes: Sekou Sundiata Revisited – a citywide retrospective; Triple Consciousness: Black Feminism(s) in the Time of Now at Brooklyn Museum; and Days of Art and Ideas at The New School. An early producer of the Afro-Punk Festival, Jilani has taught courses at the New School in theatre, activism, and community engagement.
Photo: Stephanie Mei-ling