John Green

Dr. John Green, Chair of the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department, was honored as an outstanding ambassador of Indo-American cultural exchange at the May 28 kick-off of the fifth annual Eye on India Festival at the Bridgeport Art Center in Chicago. The gala featured music, fashion, food, and more. The fundraiser’s proceeds of over $20,000 will support EoI’s future collaborations.

“In the past five years we have forged strong partnerships with 50 leading civic, cultural, social and educational institutions in Chicago. And from our home base in Chicago, we have expanded to annual festivals in Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. Today, we are the leading platform for cultural exchange between India and the U.S.,” said EoI Founder and President Anuradha Behari, according to a report in the News India Times. “What has sustained the festival is the joy of discovering India right here in Chicago through local connections. Sharing our stories and journeys with India as a backdrop has brought us all together.”

The 2015 Eye on India Festival runs through June 28 at more than a dozen locations across Chicago, showcasing Indian visual and performing arts. Many events feature conversations with the artists and local authorities on Indian art, providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and cultural understanding. For more information and tickets, click here.

John Green has been serving as Interim Dean of Columbia College Chicago’s School of Fine and Performing Arts for the past two years. Next fall he will return to his position as Chair of the Columbia College Theatre Department.