BIOGRAPHY

Cheryl Braganza is a Montreal artist, poet, writer and musician who works actively with organizations that focus on human rights, in particular, women's rights.

She was born in Bombay, lived and studied in Lahore, Rome and London where she began to paint in 1965, her main influence being Francis Newton Souza of the India Progressive Artists Group whom she met in London.

Since 1966, she has lived in Montreal where regular solo exhibitions of her works have been held. She offers her art, writing and musical talents to diverse organizations and groups such as Rights & Democracy, Teesri Dunya Theatre, the Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan, the West Island Palliative Care Center, AMI Quebec, Literacy Unlimited, Hope & Cope for cancer, ZONTA, the Salvation Army, the Hudson Artists Association, McGill Center for Research & Teaching on Women, and 3 organizations at McGill University, namely SAWA (South Asian Women's Aid, South Asian Congress and SEDE (Social Equity & Diversity Education, the Montreal Council of Women, the Montreal Children's Library).

In November 2008, she was named MONTREAL WOMAN OF THE YEAR by the Montreal Council of Women for creating awareness of the plight of immigrant women. Through her art, she has helped them to integrate, to be empowered and to be involved in human rights.

Cheryl Braganza is a member of the Women's Arts Society, QWF (Quebec Writers Federation, ELAN (English Language Arts Network), the Montreal Council of Women, the Women's Canadian Club of Montreal and the IWWG (International Women Writers Guild). She is also on the Board of the Montreal Council of Women and the Montreal Children's Library - November 2009.

EMAIL: cheryl@cherylbraganza.com

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