PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Society

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Society (Business Registration Number: 829549948RR0001) is a Canadian nonprofit organization that produces the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, a notable cultural event held annually in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Society is responsible for organizing this multidisciplinary festival which showcases groundbreaking work in the live performing arts.

History and Overview

Founded in 2003 by Norman Armour and Katrina Dunn, the PuSh Festival was conceived as a vibrant mid-winter event to provide opportunities for Vancouver artists to connect with national and international creative communities. The founders envisioned a dynamic interplay among diverse artistic disciplines, arts patrons, and the city's venues to foster innovative collaborations. Over more than two decades, the Festival has become British Columbia’s signature mid-winter cultural event, presenting audacious, contemporary live arts by acclaimed local, national, and international artists.

Cultural Commitment

The PuSh Festival operates on the unceded and traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ First Nations—land historically known as the seasonal and ancestral village of K’emk’emeláy. The Society expresses profound respect and gratitude toward the Indigenous peoples who have cared for this land. PuSh is committed to building reciprocal relationships with Host Nations and Indigenous urban communities of artists and audiences, recognizing the importance of cultural sovereignty and inclusion.

Festival Character

Spanning three weeks each January, the PuSh Festival presents a curated, multidisciplinary program of theatre, dance, multimedia, music, and film. International in scope, it features works that animate culture and accelerate social change through creative risk-taking, reflecting a cultural urgency. The Festival nurtures connections grounded in mutual respect, dignity, and understanding, aiming to facilitate sustainable and reciprocal artistic relationships.

Governance and Leadership

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival Society is governed by a board of directors dedicated to fostering an equitable and just creative governance structure. Norman Armour, one of the co-founders, serves as the Artistic and Executive Director, guiding the artistic vision and administration of the Festival. The governance framework strives to uphold principles of inclusivity and organizational development aligned with the Society’s mission and values.

This nonprofit organization plays a crucial role in Vancouver’s cultural landscape by providing a platform for innovative performing arts and fostering cross-cultural artistic exchanges, making it a flagship event on Canada's arts calendar.