PuSh Festival's last board members to step down and make way for new leadership
Camyar Chai has already come forward to lead a new slate of voices at AGM March 7
Photo by Benjamin Child
Camyar Chaichian has put out a call for a new, diverse slate.
THE PUSH INTERNATIONAL Performing Arts Festival board’s last remaining five members will resign at the AGM on March 7.
The board of directors is dissolving in the hopes new leadership will step in, PuSh announced this morning via its website and social media.
And one high-profile member of the arts community has already publicly thrown his hat in the ring.
Five board directors had remained after several resigned in the wake of controversy at the fest last spring. That’s when the organization cut the jobs of two high-ranking female staff members of colour, sparking an outcry in the community. That was quickly followed by the board announcing that its recently installed artistic director Franco Boni was “no longer employed”, sparking a further backlash. Five is reportedly the minimum number of board members that the nonprofit society required for quorum.
“At the upcoming, March 7, AGM these remaining directors will also step aside to make space for new voices, experiences and expertise, to usher the organization forward,” PuSh said in the announcement. “PuSh thanks these five individuals for their dedication and tremendous contributions as volunteers.
“We welcome those who wish to contribute to PuSh’s future and plan to ensure there are many opportunities for input in the weeks ahead. One immediate way to participate is to step forward as a candidate for the board or support others who do, at the upcoming AGM,” it continued. “The AGM notice along with a request for expressions of interest in serving on the board will be circulated on February 12.”
PuSh, whose festival would normally be in full swing right now, is in the midst of running a reduced program of streamed performances until February 6.
Camyar Chaichian, a theatre artist and cofounder of Neworld Theatre, has already announced a proposal to run as interim board chair, and he’s put a call out to people to join his slate. He currently works as program manager in Community Cultural Development at the City of Richmond, and is in the midst of completing training as a board-related Certified Non-Profit Lifecycles consultant.
“It’s been eight months since this whole public reckoning of the original structure began and I just believe it’s time for change right now,” he told Stir this week. “This can’t continue to be dragged out. Reconciliation and justice has to be from all the stakeholders. I’m not going to support anyone who’s going to burn down PuSh under the guise of justice.”
In his formal anouncement he stressed that time is of the essence, outlining a six-month interim-board cycle. His plan calls for, among other things, continuing the organizational review launched in fall 2020, finalizing a resolution with the staff members who had been let go, and bringing in an interim artistic team. (You can read his proposal in full below this article.) He describes his proposed role as something akin to an interim leader of a political party, before an election can take place.
Chaichian’s motivation? “PuSh is an important Cultural asset. How the future of the organization is determined impacts a diverse array of artists, arts organizations and audience members,” he writes. “Since the organizational challenges of PuSh became exposed in the public square, discussions surrounding the organization have embodied symbolism that reverberates beyond PuSh to our general cultural practice, certainly in BC, if not all of Canada. So, it is even more crucial that the outcome – whether transformation or dissolution – is conducted with professionalism, empathy and grace. If we aspire to revenge and destruction rather than justice and transformation, there will be a wound on all of us that will never heal. And a cultural asset will be lost. Circumstances have led me to be involved in the discussions. Because I value arts and culture, I have decided to commit to the action I have been advocating for with words.”
Chaichian has stepped down from the organizational review advisory committee that PuSh set up in the fall, to avoid any appearance of conflict with running for the board, he said.
PuSh has also announced that it is changing the entire structure of the Advisory Group, after consulting with advisory members. “It was determined that each individual could be more effective working independently rather than in a group,” the organization said in today’s announcement. “Kenji Maeda and Kaen Valoise will continue to act as independent advisors to provide feedback and perspectives to the board and staff. Camyar Chaichian and Jeanette Kotowich have both stepped down from their roles as advisors.”
In its announcement, the fest said it was still committed to the equity, justice, and diversity framework developed in the review’s Summary Report.
Chaichian has been a vocal critic of the heated discourse taking place on social media around PuSh—an issue that came to the forefront again last week when a video that theatre artist Carmen Aguirre posted against cancel culture went viral.
Chaichian says he agrees with her idea of calling for a “commons”, where conflict can be discussed in the open.
Aguirre’s speech was originally commissioned for the PuSh Rally, a symposium that sought to tackle some of the debate around race, board structures, and other topics that PuSh was facing head-on. It was abruptly cancelled in January, just two weeks before it was scheduled to begin. The announcement hinted that some of the discussion topics had referred to “ruptures” at the festival too “directly”: “We were thinking of the Rally as bigger-picture and outward-looking and hoped it would be a platform to foster conversation, but we failed to take into account how this would affect people we care about in our local artistic community.” No one has provided further clarification on the public record.
“I felt very sad that we’re not able to have conversations around these things,” commented Chaichian. “That’s the message the Rally cancelling sent to me: the environment is not healthy enough to have discussions.
“I am trying not to operate on fear, I’m trying to operate on vision,” he added. “We’re all going through COVID: I’m appealing to everybody to be empathetic with each other….Intentional chaos is the last thing PuSh needs.”
Here is a full printing of PuSh’s statement today:
“As many of you are aware, in June 2020, our board and management undertook significant organizational restructuring, which resulted in hard-hitting questions being asked by the community. As a result, we formed an Advisory Group and started an Organizational Review. We continue to be committed to the JEDI framework developed and reported in the review Summary Report. This work has been ongoing and although some of the actions we want to take have not moved forward swiftly, we are pleased to share some recent updates.
“Changes to the Advisory Group
“We would like to express our gratitude to all Advisory Group members for their commitment and integrity during the first phases of the Organizational Review. After consulting with the group, we collectively decided that changing the structure of the Advisory Group will be in the organization’s best interest moving forward. Recognizing that each advisory member has different levels of capacity, along with areas of interest, it was determined that each individual could be more effective working independently rather than in a group. Kenji Maeda and Kaen Valoise will continue to act as independent advisors to provide feedback and perspectives to the board and staff. Camyar Chaichian and Jeanette Kotowich have both stepped down from their roles as advisors.
“Updates at the board level
“At the end of November, we shared that a number of board members resigned and that five directors agreed to stay on to ensure quorum and steward the organization through to the Annual General Meeting (AGM). At the upcoming, March 7, AGM these remaining directors will also step aside to make space for new voices, experiences and expertise, to usher the organization forward. PuSh thanks these five individuals for their dedication and tremendous contributions as volunteers.
“We welcome those who wish to contribute to PuSh’s future and plan to ensure there are many opportunities for input in the weeks ahead. One immediate way to participate is to step forward as a candidate for the board or support others who do, at the upcoming AGM. The AGM notice along with a request for expressions of interest in serving on the board will be circulated on February 12.
“How you can stay in the know
“To stay up to date with what is happening at PuSh, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitterand turn on post notifications. We will also post regular updates on our website at pushfestival.ca. A report on the Community Conversation held in December will be published before our AGM on March 7.”
Here is a full printing of Chaichian’s announcement:
“I am putting my name forward to volunteer as an Interim Board President for the Board of Directors of the PuSh Festival. Time is of the essence and my proposal frames a 6-month Interim Board cycle that will be followed by a measured review prior to proceeding further.
“My motivation
“PuSh is an important Cultural asset. How the future of the organization is determined impacts a diverse array of artists, arts organizations and audience members. Since the organizational challenges of PuSh became exposed in the public square, discussions surrounding the organization have embodied symbolism that reverberates beyond PuSh to our general cultural practice, certainly in BC, if not all of Canada. So, it is even more crucial that the outcome – whether transformation or dissolution – is conducted with professionalism, empathy and grace. If we aspire to revenge and destruction rather than justice and transformation, there will be a wound on all of us that will never heal. And a cultural asset will be lost. Circumstances have led me to be involved in the discussions. Because I value arts and culture, I have decided to commit to the action I have been advocating for with words.
“Actions I want to lead
“For better or worse, under current structures, a Society must have a quorum of Board members in place. I hold respect for the Board volunteers who have stayed on to complete this current period. If, at the Annual General Meeting, I am elected to that position, my commitment is to:
• Continue the process of organizational review that began in Fall, 2020. This includes clear steps towards establishing administrative, management, governance and resource systems that are Just and equitable while demonstrating sound business and fiduciary responsibility.
• If not already complete by that time, immediately finalize a resolution with Joyce Rosario and Janelle Wong-Moon that is Just and moves all parties towards reconciliation.
• Implement an interim artistic team that can review and advance PuSh programming from a Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) lens. This will further define the leadership structure and qualities required for a transition to permanent leadership.
• Create a sense of unity and common purpose amongst Board, staff and immediate stakeholders. This includes robust internal and external consultation.
• At the end of the interim period, resign and transfer leadership to a permanent Board President that reflects and champions the systematic changes that have begun to take place. I am putting myself forward as a catalyst. Time is of the essence and action needs to take place. It’s crucial that this is an interim leadership position with a relatively swift transfer of power.
What I bring to the table
• My official credentials and experience are outlined in my biography. More importantly, I hold a unique position: I am rooted in the same history as PuSh but removed enough to bring an outside perspective.
• I have experience feeling oppressed and fighting for equity while also recognizing the instances when I have privilege and how I can leverage the accompanying benefits for the greater good.
• I have made mistakes, learned from them, and continue to want to learn more. • I have an unwavering belief that with courage and tenacity reconciliation is achievable.
• I am not interested in long term power and, after an interim period of affecting change, I will step aside.
“Join my slate
“If you think you can be a transformational leader who is willing to roll up your sleeves and bring expertise, heart, courage and wisdom to this endeavour, please send me an email and respond to the official call for Board of Directors. Even if you have different ideas, consider joining me.
“If not, then come forward with an alternative vision and slate. Positive action is needed over opinions and declarations shouted out over toxic social media platforms.
“It’s time for healing and reconciliation.
“It’s time for change and forward momentum.
“It’s time to get back to the business of giving cultural workers good jobs and delivering excellence in the performing arts.
Sincerely,
Camyar Chaichian (Camyar Chai) “
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