A Q&A with PuSh Festival Youth Coordinator, Natalie Tin Yin Gan

October 12, 2018

As we approach the launch of the 2019 PuSh Festival, applications are now open with varied opportunities to get involved. One of the most anticipated and exciting opportunities is the Youth Academy, which kicks off at the start of November.

We sat down with PuSh Festival Youth Coordinator, Natalie, to find out what she enjoys most about running the Youth Academy.

Q: First off, can you tell us what the Youth Academy is?

A: The youth academy is a cohort for folks passionate about a life/career in the performing arts and are keen to gain more exposure, more connections, more opportunities, and more engagement with critical discourse.

Q: What do you enjoy most about running the Youth Academy?

A: The YA connects me with the next generation of bright, exceptional thinkers and doers. It’s a meaningful opportunity for me personally to be learning/unlearning from and alongside the group. So many former YA members have become family to me.

Q: What are the benefits to getting involved with PuSh through the Youth Academy?

A: Meeting badass PuSh staff and getting to see all the behind-the-scenes of an international performing arts festival.

Q: Can you share one of your favourite memories from the last few years?

A: Following the Youth Assembly 2016, I decided to head to an SFU film screening. To my surprise, four of the Academy members, despite the incredibly long day, wanted to join. We had to run there. And had midnight pho after. I won’t forget it.

About the Youth Academy

The Youth Academy is a unique opportunity for a small group of professionally minded young people who hope to pursue a life and career immersed in and around the performing arts. The Youth Academy provides a platform to experience, examine and engage in the professional contemporary performing arts community through workshops, discussions and shows, leading up to and during the PuSh Festival in January. Like a book club but for the live performing arts, the Academy meets on a bi-weekly basis.

Meet-up dates

The Youth Academy meet-ups take place on Thursday evenings from November 2018 to February 2019. The first session takes place on November 1. Following dates and times may be subject to change based on group consensus. Meet-ups are held at The Post at 750, unless otherwise discussed.

Apply now

• Youth Academy members are accepted by application only
• You are between the ages of 16 to 24 years old
• Attach a one-page cover letter in the application, introducing yourself and detailing your interests in the performing arts; what youʼd bring to the Academy, and why youʼd like to take part in the program
• The deadline to apply is 5:00PM Monday, October 15, 2018
• Successful applicants will be notified by Friday, October 19, 2018

For more information, contact Youth Coordinator Natalie Tin Yin Gan at youth@pushfestival.ca