SCA | Quick News | May 25, 2026
Outten's Monologue: Whispers Against the Current and in Simorgh: a self-portrait
Go see SCA MFA student Christopher Outten's solo presentation Monologue: Whispers Against the Current, which is at Artspeak (233 Carrall St., Vancouver) until July 4, 2026. More HERE. Also, Outten joins Wyldie Bracewell, Andrew Curtis, Alex Calcagno, Carlo Marchet, and Taha Saraei in Simorgh: a self-portrait, which runs to July 18, 2026, at the Audain Gallery here at the SCA (149 W. Hastings St., Vancouver). More HERE.
Dancing Through to the Other Side
The SCA's Justine A. Chambers and SCA alumnus Luciana Freire D’Anunciação join Tanya Lukin Linklater, Andrea Nann, and Dreamwalker in Dancing Through to the Other Side, curated by Charo Neville, which runs May 30 – September 12, 2026, at the Kamloops Art Gallery (101 - 465 Victoria St., Kamloops), with a Panel Discussion with Neville, Chambers, D’Anunciação, and the Libby Leshgold Gallery's Vanessa (VK) Kwan, and Reception on Saturday, May 30, beginning with a Welcome Prayer and Remarks at 5:30 PM. More HERE.
Marks talks Tiny machine-learning models, or none at all
The SCA's Laura U. Marks is presenting the online talk "Tiny machine-learning models, or none at all: a provocation on the environment impact of machine learning" as part of "Does AI Make Us Feel? The Ecology, Politics, and Aesthetics of AI Art," which is Section 1 of Reconfiguring Sensation: AI and Contemporary Art Aesthetics, the 2026 TechArt Conference, running May 27 – 30, 2026. More HERE.
Dérive – Horizont Stadt: 26 Artists for 26 Years
The SCA's Sabine Bitter and her longtime collaborator Helmut Weber are part of the exhibition Dérive – Horizont Stadt: 26 Artists for 26 Years, "celebrating a quarter of a century of urban research" by the journal dérive, running May 13 – 31, 2026, at a number of different locations, with Bitter & Weber's work at Sehsaal, Zentagasse 38, 1050 Wien. More HERE.
Building the World Anew: An Evening with Noura Erakat
The SCA is one of the academic sponsors of the upcoming Edward W. Said Memorial Lecture with renowned human rights lawyer, professor, and Noura Erakat on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 6:00 PM, at UBC's Chan Centre (6265 Crescent Rd, Vancouver), presented by SFU's Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies. As the event page for the talk describes, Erakat will be drawing "from her forthcoming co-authored book with John Reynolds to argue that the decolonization of Palestine is not only a struggle for justice in one land, but the very heart of a livable, equitable future for all of humanity." Erakat will be in conversation with discussants Dania Majid, Sara Kishawi, and Dr. Adel Iskandar after her talk. More HERE.
Toward a sustainable future for critical dance writing in Canada: A survey for the dance community
Please complete this survey to help inform a discussion as part of an online roundtable, with Shanny Rann (moderator), FCAT's Tessa Perkins Deneault, Emily Pettet, Alana Gerecke, and SCA alumnus Carolina Bergonzoni, at the Canadian Association for Theatre Research (CATR) conference in June, and to inform future discussions and directions for dance publications in Canada. Find the survey HERE.
Franca is Margot
SCA alumnus Maraya Franca is playing Margot in Metro Theatre's presentation of Legally Blonde – The Musical, running to June 7, 2026 (1370 Marine Dr SW, Vancouver). More HERE.
Stir on Corporeal Imago's Drift
Read Stir on Corporeal Imago's Drift, with SCA alumnus Vanessa Goodman and frequent SCA Sessional Instructor Nicole Rose Bond as two of the performers, which ran May 21 – 23, 2026, at The Dance Centre. Read it HERE.
Artists in Conversation: Contemporary Landscape in Canadian Art
SCA alumnus Michelle Sound joins Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka, Sky Glabush, and curator John Geoghegan for "a panel discussion on landscape in contemporary Canadian art," on May 24, 2026, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection (10365 Islington Ave., Kleinburg, ON). More HERE.
Jade Circle at Kay Meek
Running May 20 – 22, 2026, in the McEwen Theatre at the Kay Meek Arts Centre (1700 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver), Jasmine Chen's Jade Circle had many SCA alumni behind the scenes, including Derek Chan (Director), Johnny Wu (Translator and Cultural Consultant), Daniel O’Shea (Video Designer), Sapphire Haze / Cindy Kao and Aysha Dulong (Sound Designers), and Jonathan Kim (Lighting Designer).
Stir Q&A with Khakpour
Stir Vancouver has a Q&A with SCA alumnus Aryo Khakpour about The Biting School’s Offending the Audience, with SCA alumnus Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg in the cast, which ran May 20 – 24, 2026, at Tyrant Studios (1019 Seymour St, Vancouver). Read it HERE.
The Flash of Fireflies: Writing the Short Story
SCA alumnus Jacquelyn Zong-Li Ross joined Alix Ohlin, Andrea Routley, Shashi Bhat, and Jen Currin for The Flash of Fireflies: Writing the Short Story, a conversation "about the art and craft of this wily and often misunderstood genre," on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library. More HERE.
Stir on Me & The Forest
Read Stir Vancouver on Boca del Lupo and ArtstageSAN (예술무대산)'s co-production of Me & The Forest, running May 29 – 31, 2026, at Ron Basford Park on Granville Island as part of the Vancouver International Children's Festival, featuring SCA alumnus Hiro Kanagawa as the voice of Mitig. Read it HERE.
O’Callaghan wins the Museond Prize for Creativity in Mixed Music
SCA alumnus James O’Callaghan is the first-ever recipient of the Museond Prize for Creativity in Mixed Music. "As part of this award," O’Callaghan "will compose a new 14-minute work with electronics for Quasar," to premiere during Le Vivier's La Semaine du Neuf in March 2027 in Montreal. More HERE.
Neworld Theatre jobs
Neworld Theatre is looking for "Latin American, Spanish-speaking Lighting, Set, and Sound designers and one Stage Manager for our upcoming production of Moonweavings by Ana Lorena Perez." Could this be you? Find out more HERE.
Experiments in Photography: Image and Object
SCA alumni Lucien Durey and Stephanie Gagne are part of the exhibition Experiments in Photography: Image and Object, running to June 5, 2026, at the CityScape Gallery (335 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver), presented as part of the Capture Photography Festival. More HERE.
Mullasheva at Music on Main
Adelya Mullasheva, an SCA Music & Sound student and Artistic Director of the artistic collective Senses, is Music on Main's new Summer Artistic & Administrative Specialist.
Momo's Noguchi Taiso class
Starting May 23, 2026, SCA MFA student Mohammadreza "Momo" Akrami is teaching a weekly online Noguchi Taiso class on Saturdays at 10:15 AM (PT). There are two ways to participate: via a one class pass, or a 10-class pass. Each class will also be available as a video if you miss one, too.
Dancing on the Edge Festival
The 2026 edition of the Dancing on the Edge Festival, running June 4 – 13, not only includes SCA alumni Jonathan Kim (Lighting Designer for O.Dela Arts X Musica Intima's Where You Go), Jack Chipman (Lighting Designer for Dance//Novella's Soft Animals), and Nancy Tam and Samantha Presley (Sound Designer and creative collaborator and performer, respectively, for Method Dance's CHAR), but also SCA alumnus Jennifer Aoki's Eighty Years, which runs June 5 at 8:30 PM & June 7 at 3:00 PM in Studio T here at the School for the Contemporary Arts (149 W. Hastings St., Vancouver), which also has SCA alumni Jenn Edwards and Tomoyo Yamada as performers and Mary Jane Coomber as Composer.
Introduction to Visual Thinking & Graphic Recording
SCA alumnus Adriana Contreras and Michelle Buchholz are hosting a "hands-on, multi-day workshop" about Visual Thinking & Graphic Recording from June 1 – 3, 2026, with the first two days from from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and the third from 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM, all at Heritage Hall (3102 Main St., Vancouver). For prices, more info, and to register, go HERE.
Pulsive Party's Lip Service
Blackout Art Society are presenting Lip Service by Pulsive Party (SCA alumnus Natalie Tin Yin Gan & Ashley Whitehead) on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 7:30 PM, at The Dance Centre (677 Davie St, Vancouver). Get tickets HERE.
Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change
The National Observer and Vancouver Art Gallery collaborated on a great site for the VAG's exhibition, Future Geographies: Art in the Century of Climate Change, running to January 10, 2027, which includes Orinoco Note by SCA alumnus Gabrielle L’Hirondelle Hill. Check it out HERE.
Jenny Yu on immigration, labour, and the Canadian Dream
Read Clara Xu's interview in SFU's The Peak with SCA student (and soon to be alumnus!) Jenny Yu, who was part of Kerplunk!, the BFA Graduating Exhibition, which ran April 16 – May 2, 2026, in the Audain Gallery. Read it HERE.
Work with The Only Animal this summer
The Only Animal, which has SCA alumnus Barbara Adler as Artistic Director, are hiring an Eco-Arts Outreach Project Coordinator, funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program. The application deadline is May 24, 2025. Find out more on their Instagram HERE.
Strom tours In the Shadow of the Pavilions
SCA PhD candidate and Surrey Art Gallery (13750 88 Ave, Surrey) curator Jordan Strom is giving a tour of In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art on Thursday, May 28, at 7:00 PM, to be followed by a "very special Expo 86 inspired chiptunes performance by sonic artist Freaky DNA." More HERE.
Reading Above the Hospital
SCA alumnus Beau Han Bridge will be leading a reading of his new play, Above the Hospital, on May 24, 2026, at 3:30 PM (with a post reading talk back), at The Cultch's Jim Green House Studio (1859 Franklin St, Vancouver), presented as part of Upintheair Theatre's rEvolver Festival. More HERE.
Oakley's Kaleidoscopes and Viewfinders Workshop
SCA alumnus Liz Oakley, who's also the Gibson's Art Studio Lead, held a "Kaleidoscopes and Viewfinders Workshop" on Sunday May 24, 2026, in the Tuey Art Studio at the Gibson Art Museum (8888 University Drive, Burnaby). If you missed this and would like to find out about other great Gibson programming, sign up for their newsletter in the green bar near the bottom of their webpage (scroll on down).
Watt and Crable talk Mayor of the Village
SCA alumnus Douglas Watt will be in conversation with Connor Crable on May 30, 2026, at 12:00 PM, at the Contemporary Art Gallery (555 Nelson St., Vancouver), presented in support Watt’s exhibition Mayor of the Village, which runs to September 13, 2026, at the CAG. RSVP is required! More HERE.
Walker in two
SCA alumnus Taryn Walker has two upcoming exhibitions. First, there's Traffic Noise & Field Notes, which opens May 26, 2026, at the Dundarave Print Workshop & Gallery on Granville Island (640 Johnston St, Vancouver), with an opening reception on May 27 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM. And Second, Walker's presenting a new commissioned work in Varied Editions: Queer Printmakers Exhibition, which runs June 5 – 27, 2026, at the On Main Gallery (268 Keefer St., Vancouver), with an opening reception on June 5 from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
Thiessen collaborates with Jordi and Abdala
Amanda Kachadoorian Jordi's Abeyance Carousel, showing on the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery's Outdoor Screen from May 1 – 31, 2026, was produced in collaboration with Solange Adum Abdala and SCA alumnus Kaleb Thiessen.
Loscil talks to INOTA
While currently on tour (he's coming your way Australia), SCA alumnus Scott Morgan / Loscil had a short interview with Hungary's INOTA Festival in advance of his show with them on August 28, 2026. Read it HERE.
BUTOH JAZZ and on Wreck Beach
Kokoro Dance and Infidels Jazz are co-presenting BUTOH JAZZ, with SCA alumnus Barbara Bourget, Jay Hirabayashi, and special guest Allison Lang dancing, and Tony Wilson, Daniel Kane, Russell Sholberg, and Jesus Caballero playing music, on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 8:00 PM, at KW Studios (111 W Hastings St, Vancouver). Get tickets HERE. Also, Kokoro Dance are holiding their annual Wreck Beach Butoh Performance Workshop from July 3 – 16, 2026, with performances on July 15 & 16, and are calling for participants. More HERE.
Sum's upcoming Comedy Special
SCA alumnus Amanda Sum, who's also a Collaborating Artist and Associate Producer with Theatre Replacement (which has SCA alumnus Maiko Yamamoto as Artistic Director), is working on her latest project, Comedy Special, also with TR. From the looks of the images Sum shared on Instagram so far, it seems SCA alumni Sophie Tang, Daniel O'Shea, Anya Saugstad, and Yamamoto are involved, as well as Matthew Tomkinson. Can't wait for more info
SUMUD: Art for Gaza and Sudan
SCA alumni Alex Tedlie-Stursberg, Elizabeth Milton, Katie Kozak & Lucien Durey, and Michelle Sound, and SCA MFA student Jonathan Middleton have all contributed artwork to the auction صمود SUMUD: Art for Gaza and Sudan, which is running online, but with bidding closing on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, at Kasko Gallery (560 Clark Dr, Vancouver), with all proceeds benefiting the Sameer Project, mutual aid in Gaza, and the Sudan Solidarity Collective. More HERE.
Simard's Familiar Unknowns
SCA alumnus Amélia Simard is presenting their 2023 short documentary Familiar Unknowns: FrancoQueers in Vancouver Before and After the Year 2000 on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM), in the The Black Box Studio at Cineworks (back lane access - 1131 Howe St., Vancouver), followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. More HERE.
Friedenberg's Interdisciplinary Devising Workshop
SCA alumnus Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg is running a two-day Interdisciplinary Devising Workshop on June 6 & 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, in Room 4525 here at the SFU School for the Contemporary Arts (149 W. Hastings St., Vancouver). Workshop fee: $80 / day or $140 for both days. More HERE.
from ear to breath to sound with Mah
SCA alumnus Alex Mah, who's the EDAM Company Composer, is running from ear to breath to sound, a "listening and score making workshop for curious ears (no music experience needed)," on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM at EDAM (303 East 8th Ave., Vancouver). More HERE.
Dar Golestaneh Synthesized
SCA alumnus Kimia Koochakzadeh-Yazdi just released Dar Golestaneh Synthesized, a new collaboration with Mahmood Schricker, out now on Toronto's Link Music Lab Records. Listen via Bandcamp HERE.
Valentine-Lewis moderates Gibson and Gibson
SCA alumnus and Gordon Smith Gallery Curatorial Fellow Andrea Valentine-Lewis is moderating a conversation between Alex Gibson and Chantal Gibson, who are both part of the Valentine-Lewis-curated exhibition, One Hundred Artists Deep, on June 6, 2026, from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM, at the Gordon Smith Gallery (2121 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver). One Hundred Artists Deep, which also includes SCA alumnus veto monteiro, runs until June 20, 2026, at the Gordon Smith Gallery. RSVP link and more HERE.
Art at Work with Chan and Palad
Zoë Chan and SCA alumnus Maria Filipina Palad, who are, respectively, the Curator and Curatorial Assistant at the Richmond Art Gallery, are holding Art at Work: Art Critiques with Richmond Art Gallery, a "private critique session" on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, at the Richmond Art Gallery (7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond). All registered participants get "10 minutes to introduce your work and receive focused feedback—whether it's a recent piece or a work in progress." More HERE.
Jesuino's Tender City in Kelowna
SCA alumnus Kevin Jesuino's Tender City: The Silent Slow Dance Project is at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art (Unit 103 – 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna) until July 10, 2026. More HERE.
Ross on Books on the Bed
List to SCA alumnus Jacquelyn Zong-Li Ross on the Books on the Bed podcast. Listen HERE.
Touch Me Hold Me Let Me Go with Lee
SCA MFA student Lee Su-Feh is running the workshop Touch Me Hold Me Let Me Go on June 4, 2026, from 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM, at Studio Allegory (386 Powell St., Vancouver). More HERE.
Scott talks Motivated Lighting
SCA alumnus Devan Scott has shared YouTube videos of the first two talks from Film Studies: Motivated Lighting, in a four-part series of talks he's presenting at the VIFF Centre (181 Seymour St, Vancouver), with the last one on Thursday, May 18, at 11:00 AM. Watch "A Brief History of Lighting Motivation in Cinema, Part I: The Silent Era" and "A Brief History of Lighting Motivation in Cinema, Part 2: Classical Hollywood," and find out about the last talk HERE.
MacKay's Borrowed Intimacy
SCA alumnus Chelsea MacKay's exhibition, Borrowed Intimacy - a retrospective of heartbreak and other injuries, is showing by appointment at the Fingerprint Gallery (663A Market Hill, Vancouver). More HERE.
SCA in Community Moves
Method Dance Society's 2026 Community Moves programing, which ran May 17 – 23, featured works by a number of SCA alumni, including Jhoely Triana's Las Mujeronasz, Giselle Liu's Left Unsaid: 盡在不言中 (with Sound Design and Composition produced collaboratively with Charlie Cooper), Anya Saugstad's The Moon, which included Shion Skye Carter as one of the dancers, and Scott Morgan / Loscil provided Sound Design for James Gnam's Entre Chien et Loup. More HERE.