Arts Presenting, Translated Into a Convening of Relationships:
To Host is to Create the Welcome
Most of us, at some point, have been welcomed into a home that is not our own, be it for a meal or an overnight stay. To “host” is to play this role of welcoming and of facilitating an experience among family, friends, and strangers. It’s a role that becomes all the more important when people arrive from other lands and communities, to create a space of welcome.
The Red Poppy Art House produces over 140 performances annually, all of which are facilitated by a team of Hosts. These are the people that craft the space, setting up seating and sound equipment, adjusting the lighting, and presenting the artists to the public. They manage the volunteers and make sure the artists are appropriately paid at the end of the night. Without them, there would be no performance. The Poppy’s hosting structure, in fact, is one of its most innovative organizational practices. From it, we’ve created a program that continually cultivates and trains new hosts as a kind of hands-on immersive incubator for individuals wanting to develop skills and experience in community-engaged arts presenting. If you want to find out more about our Hosting Program or are interested in joining the team, click here!
 | Dina Zarif | Artistic & Managing Director Dina is an Iranian immigrant, performer, designer, and vocalist who combines Western classical singing with Middle Eastern styles inspired by her Persian roots. Some of her credits include SF International Arts Festival, Palace of Fine Art, San Jose Stage, Golden Thread Productions at Brava Theater, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, and the staged reading of Layla & Majnun at BAMPFA as part of the symposium with Mark Morris Dance Group and the Silk Road Ensemble. She tours both nationally and internationally as a costume designer and actress in the shadow light production Feathers of Fire. Dina is also a part-time architect and holds an MA in Landscape Architecture from the University of Tehran’s College of Fine Arts.
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 | Andrew Scott | Sound / Performance Host / House Manager Andrew Scott, born in London, has been an active musician, producer, and audio engineer in the Bay Area for the past 30 years. His journey is deeply rooted in a family history marked by resilience; his mother, a Holocaust survivor from Berlin, endured the loss of 29 family members in Auschwitz. Andrew’s professional career is as diverse as his heritage, encompassing roles as a college instructor at the University of London and San Francisco State University, as well as positions as a public policy advocate and non-profit administrator. Andrew was the executive at three Bay Area-based non-profits – YMCA of San Francisco, Campfire of Alameda/Contra Costa, California School Age Consortium. He is the proud owner of Studio 401, a recording studio in San Francisco, where he offers a wide range of services, including audio and video tracking, mixing, production, post-production, and live sound for clubs, festivals, and events. Andrew’s work has garnered recognition both locally in the San Francisco Bay Area and internationally in London, Brazil, and Argentina. Before his career in music, Andrew spent 35 years working in child development and community roles. He worked with several nonprofits in the Bay Area, including the YMCA of San Francisco, Campfire of Alameda/Contra Costa, and the California School Age Consortium. In London, he served as the Director of Youth Programs for the Wandsworth Borough. Andrew has also shared his expertise as an instructor in early childhood, adolescent, and community development at institutions like San Francisco State University and the University of London. Beyond his professional endeavors, Andrew’s personal journey is enriched by his family. His wife Pauline is a highly-regarded local artist, and their children, Chloë and Jody, are talented musicians in the local scene. You can learn more about Andrew and Studio 401 on our website: www.thestudio401.com.”
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 | Verda Bursal | Host & Operations Assistant Verda Bursal is a Turkish American artist and software engineer. She creates visual art (fiber arts, drawing, painting), as well as events like scavenger hunts that connect communities with their history and environment. She is passionate about education and sharing knowledge in art, language, STEM, and beyond. A lifelong maker, Verda has altered and created clothing for over a decade. When not volunteering or hosting at Red Poppy (and sometimes while doing so), she can be found knitting, crocheting, embroidering, or sewing. |