We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Renuka Rajagopalan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Renuka, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I used to have a stable, cushiony corporate job. It was safe, structured, and on paper, it all made sense. However, there was a growing feeling inside me that was consuming me each day. A longing to lead a purposeful life, doing something meaningful that connects with people and brings me joy.
After a trip to India and experiencing a show, I looked at my garage, just an ordinary suburban garage, and thought, what if this could be a space for art? I didn’t have a business plan. I didn’t even know anyone in the local art scene. But I knew two things about myself: my love for creating spaces for people to gather and my curiosity about the arts. So, I decided to turn my garage into a small venue beginning of 2020, a place where artists from different backgrounds could come, perform, and connect with the community.
The first few events were tiny- just a few friends, neighbors, and a couple of curious strangers (friends of friends really) got together. It wasn’t fancy. There was this energy that something genuine was transpiring. It was a curated event, that was refreshing, intimate, and brought down all walls between the artists and the audience. For the first time in a long time, I felt alive.
And then COVID hit. Everything came to a pause. I thought maybe that was it, maybe this little experiment was over. But I didn’t want to let it fade. Artists everywhere were stuck at home, restless, wanting to be seen, to perform again. So we went online. I started organizing virtual dance festivals, and artists from all over the world joined in. Dancers from India, the U.S., and everyone logged in from their living rooms, trying to find light in the middle of chaos.
And things started to grow. Slowly, I began to find my tribe, people who believed in what I was doing. I joined hands with some folks who shared the same passion as I to officially form a board. We then started collaborating, building bridges across cultures, disciplines, and stories. What began in my garage turned into Garage Arts Project, and somehow, it started to mean something to others, too.
Now, when I look back, it feels surreal. We’ve built a community of artists, organized city-wide events, and even won awards — Best Collaborative Group in 2023 (By ArtCentre of Plano) and, recently, Distinguished Nonprofit Leader of the Year, Stardust Awards 2025 by North Texas Performing Arts.
But honestly, the real reward isn’t any of that. It’s when someone comes up to me after an event and says, “I didn’t know something like this existed here.” That’s the moment I know I made the right choice.
It all started with a small risk, the decision to open a garage door and let people in.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m the founder of Garage Arts Project, a nonprofit arts organization in Plano, TX that began, quite literally, in my garage. My goal was to build a space for connection, where artists from different backgrounds could come together, experiment, and share their work with local audiences.
Those first few gatherings were small, it was just friends, neighbors, and curious locals, but they had a certain magic. People stayed back after performances, talking, laughing, sharing stories. That’s when I knew I was onto something special.
Today, Garage Arts Project has grown into a recognized community arts organization in Plano, known for curating unique and collaborative arts experiences. Our programs include:
Bridges Festival – our flagship event celebrating diversity and cultural exchange through music, dance, and visual art collaborations.
Art Salad – a digital platform that showcases emerging and established artists from around the world, blending genres and perspectives.
Artist Showcases – intimate gatherings where local/international artists share their process and perform for small audiences, much like our earliest garage events.
Music in the Chamber – presented in collaboration with PlayFrisco, which brings chamber music to the community in a fresh, contemporary format.

What sets us apart is our emphasis on collaboration, accessibility, and authenticity. Our events are designed to dissolve the distance between artist and audience and to make the arts approachable, human, and alive.
I’m very proud of how far we have come!

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think one of the most important things we can do is understand the value of what artists give us. Behind every performance, exhibition, or creative experience is someone’s time, skill, emotional energy, and often years of training and sacrifice. What the audience sees on stage or on a gallery wall might last an hour, but what it takes to get there is immeasurable.

Too often, art is treated as something that should be done “for exposure” or “for the love of it.” But passion doesn’t pay the rent. Artists need and deserve to be paid for their work, just like any other professional. After I started Garage Arts Project, it gave me a new sense of appreciation for the economics of the invisible machinery behind it. If we want a thriving creative ecosystem, we need to support it intentionally:

– Pay the artists fairly.
– Fund grassroots organizations that create opportunities for them.
– Show up, buy the ticket, share the work, or engage with it.
– And most importantly, never take the experience for granted.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

When I started Garage Arts Project, my goal was to do more than just host performances; it was to build a community. I wanted to make the arts feel close to people, not something reserved for galleries or big stages, but something you could experience right in your neighborhood. What drives me every day is the belief that a performance, a painting, or even a conversation about art can open hearts and bring people together.

Every time an artist from a different background shares their work on our platform, every time an audience member says, “That was moving,” I know we’re living our mission.

For me personally, this journey has also been about rediscovering my own voice as an artist; learning, unlearning, and finding meaning through creativity. I’ve come to see art more than just a form of expression; it’s an opportunity for connection, and healing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.garageartsproject.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garageartsproject
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garageartsproject
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/garageartsproject/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfKRKMPfcNizOAC6I40c_Q

Image Credits

Photopgraphers:

Cory Hines
Brad Sharp
Setsvn Photography
Smitha Gayathri
Michael Garcia
Biswa Nanda