PuSh Festival

Fertile Gatherings

Late last month, Managing Producer Natalie and Communications/Admin Coordinator Julian were excited as always during a busy PuSh Festival season. In addition to several presentations with their other company, Plastic Orchid Factory (BLEU NÉON and Left of PuSh), they were soaking up lots of knowledge and wisdom at the PuSh Industry Series, and checking out some of the festival performances. Each year, PuSh welcomes 200+ visionary arts workers, including over 30 international performing arts presenters, to engage in professional development and curatorial research activities during the Festival. 

Workshops, artist talks, showcases, and performances had Natalie and Julian racing around the city during industry week, and we wanted to share a little bit of what they got up to. PuSh has been a supporter and partner for several Electric Company shows over the years, as two of our co-founders Kevin Kerr and David Hudgins discussed recently on the PuSh Play Podcast, and the festival always makes the wet winter a little more exciting.

Highlights include:

Quelemia Sparrow’s Traditional Welcome/Keynote spoke on Indigenous Futurism through the lens of her Musqueam culture and creation methodology, a panel of international practitioners invited discussion of solidarity practices (panelists Cecilia Kuska, Reneltta Arluk, Joseph K Kasua Wa Mambwe, Tracy Gentles, and Quito Tembe, moderated by Liliona Quarmyne), 20 artists pitched their work, Left of PuSh gathered community, and Julian’s Artist Walk brought a group of visiting delegates on a slow tour of Historic Chinatown and to our shared studio space Left of Main. We’re already gathering our energy and excitement to take in next year’s festival! 

Stay Electric! ⚡

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