PuSh International Performing Arts Festival

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
Name	PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
Location	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
First	2003
Frequency	Annual
Founders	David Dower; Kristian Seltun
Genre	Performing arts, multidisciplinary, contemporary

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is an annual multidisciplinary arts festival held in Vancouver that presents contemporary theatre, dance, performance art, and music from local and international artists. Founded in 2003, the festival has grown into a focal point for experimental and cross-disciplinary work, drawing participants and audiences from across Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Australia, and other regions. The organization collaborates with cultural institutions, presenters, and funding bodies to curate a season of premieres, commissions, and touring productions.

History

The festival was established in 2003 amid discussions involving figures from the Vancouver Playhouse scene, arts producers, and independent curators, responding to programming trends exemplified by events such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Avignonnais, and the Next Wave Festival. Early leadership included producers influenced by models from the Lincoln Center Festival and the Sydney Festival, and programming choices reflected connections to presenters like the Centre Pompidou, Sadler's Wells, and Tate Modern. Over subsequent seasons the organization collaborated with touring companies including Complicite, Rimini Protokoll, Gob Squad, Ariadne auf Naxos, and choreographers associated with Pina Bausch-influenced ensembles. Institutional partnerships expanded to include venues and festivals such as the Vancouver Art Gallery, Orpheum Theatre, and the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Programming and Artistic Direction

Artistic direction has emphasized cross-border exchange, commissioning models seen at the Battersea Arts Centre, and multidisciplinary curation exemplified by festivals like Performa and CTG (Center Theatre Group). Programs typically span dance works by companies with lineage to Merce Cunningham and William Forsythe, theatre rooted in practices related to Bertolt Brecht and Robert Lepage, music performances invoking traditions from John Cage to contemporary ensembles like Ensemble Modern, and visual-performance hybrids in conversation with institutions such as MoMA and Whitney Museum of American Art. The festival has commissioned site-specific works and digital presentations adopting methods used by National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Court Theatre.

Notable Productions and Artists

Past seasons have presented international artists including directors and companies like Robert Lepage, Forced Entertainment, Rimini Protokoll, Complicité, Gob Squad, and choreographers connected to Pina Bausch and Akram Khan. Musical projects have featured performers in lineages with Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich, and ensembles comparable to London Sinfonietta and BASCO Contemporary. Canadian and regional participants include artists associated with Bard on the Beach, Vancouver Opera, Arts Club Theatre Company, and independent creators linked to Theatre Replacement and Rumble Theatre. Productions have won recognition paralleling awards such as the Siminovitch Prize, the Governor General's Award, and international festival prizes at Venice Biennale-related platforms.

Venues and Locations

The festival utilizes a network of venues across Vancouver including the Vancouver Playhouse, Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver Art Gallery, Firehall Arts Centre, Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver, and independent spaces akin to The Cultch. It often partners with academic and cultural institutions such as Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and community hubs resembling Granville Island arts spaces. Touring partnerships have extended programming into venues modeled after Sadler's Wells, Barbican Centre, and regional presenting networks across British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest.

Community Engagement and Education

Outreach and education initiatives have included talkbacks, workshops, and mentorships mirroring practices at the Young Vic, the Royal Court Theatre youth programs, and community learning initiatives like Lincoln Center Education. The festival runs public programming engaging students and elders, connecting with organizations such as Vancouver School Board arts programs, SFU Woodward's initiatives, and community arts groups similar to Community Arts Council of Vancouver. Artist residencies and professional development labs have paralleled models used by the Midwinter Arts Festival and the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Funding and Organization Structure

Funding sources include municipal, provincial, and federal arts bodies comparable to Canada Council for the Arts, British Columbia Arts Council, and the City of Vancouver cultural grants, alongside corporate sponsors and philanthropic foundations similar to Canada Life and the Vancouver Foundation. Governance is overseen by a board of directors with volunteer and staff roles that mirror structures at organizations like the National Arts Centre and the Canadian Stage Company. The festival leverages earned revenue from ticket sales through partnerships with ticketing platforms and donor programs analogous to those at Soulpepper and Shaw Festival.

Category:Festivals in Vancouver