The Problem

For 20 years, the Sikh Coalition has led the fight for Sikh civil liberties and human rights across the United States. At the heart of this mission is empowering change through courtrooms, classrooms, community, and halls of Congress. With each accumulated victory at the local, state, and federal level, we are making momentous strides in changing the way Sikh Americans are viewed. Despite this progress, we understand that there is still significant work required to educate the American public, and we must do more to create opportunities to tell positive stories about the Sikh faith, traditions, and experience in America.

The Solution

The Sikh Coalition partnered with British photographers Amit and Naroop to develop a landmark photography exhibition. This exhibition, entitled the Sikh Project, features 38 Sikh American portraits taken 15 years after 9/11, embodying the beauty, resilience, and perseverance of Sikh men and women. The Sikh Project was launched in New York City in September 2016 to critical acclaim and featured unique, relatable, and overwhelmingly-positive stories about Sikhs in America.

  • Nearly visitors to the exhibition
  • Approximately M Americans reached through news coverage
  • A total of powerful Sikh American images

Impact

Over the course of eight days, we had nearly 6,600 visitors come through the Sikh Project exhibition during our New York City launch. For many, it was their first experience with the Sikh American community. For others, it was an opportunity to learn more about the religion and community. Through our work to publicize the exhibition, we conservatively estimated that this initial launch reached at least 20 million Americans and millions more internationally. Since then, the Sikh Project has reached nearly 50,000 Americans from coast to coast, including in Maryland, California, Illinois, and Texas. Most recently, the Sikh Project was on display at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles through Fall 2019.

How You Can Help

We have witnessed the success of this exhibition throughout the United States, and we believe that there is enormous value in continuing to take this exhibition across America. The initial investment has already been made, and the institutional knowledge for how to successfully launch this project continues to live within our organization. If you would like to learn more about how you might be able to bring the Sikh Project to your city in the United States, please contact media@communications.org.