Mandeq Hassan
I have spent years working extensively in the film industry. I started my career at TIFF Next Wave as a youth programmer, and participated in Telluride Film Festival’s Student Symposium in 2018 and since June 2019, have been a key member of the Toronto-based distribution company Sisterhood Media. As Programs and Acquisitions Director, I connect audiences to films and filmmakers across Ontario and the world. My credits include popular works Gay Mean Girls (co-writer) and The Regent Park Project (co-writer, actress). I am the lead writer and creative producer for Kick Start Arts Creative Team. I also received the 2019 Director’s Guild of Canada New Visions Award.
Ben Lee (he/him)
I have worked as a music and creative arts educator for the past 8 years, developing projects with a wide variety of participants including people in marginalized communities and people with special needs. Puppetry, stage performance, and music are all areas of my training and craft and in each of those disciplines; I am most passionate about improvisation! When working with participants, I love drawing from people’s stories and experiences, developing art that is personal to each individual and giving participants full agency over how they express themselves. In the classroom, fun and spontaneity play a huge role in engaging with students and whether it’s music, visual art, or theatre, I have found playfulness to be the best catalyst for bringing out the best in students. Growing up, I watched far too many cartoons and the Muppets taught me everything I know about life.
Shelley MacDonald (she/her)
I am an award winning performing artist, filmmaker and artist educator who is of Mi’kmaw (Ugpi’Ganjig, Eel River New Brunswick) and Scottish Ancestry. I have spent the last 25 years working across Turtle Island collaborating with different school districts, universities, artists, Elders, television networks, film productions and community organizations both in person and virtually. I am passionate about creating meaningful arts and culture experiences that focus on social justice issues to help create systemic change. I believe that the arts are a way of bringing people together and a bridge to reconciling our shared history to create a brighter future for all. Since arriving here in Nova Scotia, I have continued on this path of Reconcili-ACTION through the Arts. I co-directed the film Nutuwiek? Can You Hear Us? and designed a decolonized collaboration rehearsal process for the Nova Scotia Choral Federation’s 2021 Youth Choir with conductor Christina Murray. Christina and I also co-directed Phase 1 of Ki’kwa’ju, A reimagining of Prokofiev’s Peter and The Wolf for The Fountain School, Dalhousie University in collaboration with local Mi’kmaw artists and Elders. I will be directing the film version for stage two in July 2022.
Paula Wing (she/her)
I am a playwright/actor/translator and facilitator and I’ve been exploring the world artistically for more than 20 years. I adore working with the fresh minds and unparalleled creativity of young people. Nothing makes me happier than serving their visions, in classroom or community work I am flexible, responsive, inspired by collaboration and up for whatever ambles along. My many cherished collaborators say they like working with me because we laugh a lot, there are never any mistakes (only informative digressions), and there’s room for all voices.
Abby Zotz (she/her)
I’ve been creating with and learning from kids and young adults for 25 years. I approach each project in the spirit of collaboration with beginner’s mind. As a songwriter and choir leader, my joy is finding harmony – literally and figuratively – between each contributing member, because each has a voice and gift to share. As an actor my passion is story-telling and emotion exploration. Whether we are writing songs, exploring soundscapes or finding new meaning in an old tale or tune, my work focuses on building the self through the community. I love working with other artists, teachers and community organizers to deepen the meaning-making that is at the heart of artistic experiences for me. When i’m not performing or teaching, i help my partner to steward 10 acres of off-the-grid, eco-friendly farmland in Northumberland County where we keep chickens, geese and bees.