Creative, curious, energetic youth and seniors to take part in a year-long artist-led project that explores multiculturalism, diversity, racism, and discrimination through storytelling, acting, visual art, and performance.
Mosaic Firefly: Migration Stories Richmond Edition
An ensemble of Richmond youth and seniors in a "Guided Play" theatrical performance focused on their personal migration stories. This final culminating performance is part of Mosaic Firefly: Richmond Edition, a year-long, community-engaged artist project that explored topics such as multiculturalism, cultural diversity, racism, and discrimination through a variety of artistic mediums, including storytelling, performing arts, and visual arts.
The performances happened at the Richmond Cultural Centre, Performance Hall at 7700 Minoru Gate. The play was followed by a panel discussion with the artist team and project participants.
Performances Details:
- Sunday, October 15, 3:00-4:30PM – Culture Days Performance
- Friday, October 27, 4:30-6:00PM – Diversity Symposium Performance
Mosaic Firefly in Richmond News
Richmond News Interview with Nikhat Qureshi, Mosaic Firefly Project Coordinator, please read here.
Mosaic Firefly Videos:
Watch the Mosaic Firefly videos:
Project Blog:
The project duration is from October 2022 to October 2023. To learn more and follow the progress of the project, please see the blog.
Project Applicants:
Mosaic Firefly invites youth (13 to 18 years old) and seniors (aged 55+) to create and share original stories together through theatre, literary and visual arts. Through games and exercises, artists will guide participants to discover their own voices, capture their personal migration stories in writing, and act them out with the group. Mosaic Firefly invites and encourages participants to be vulnerable, playful, and creative in a safe and inclusive environment.
Seniors (aged 55+)
The project offers the opportunity to:
• develop skills to combat racism and discrimination that can be applied in everyday life
• develop skills in storytelling and how to engage in productive conversations about multiculturalism, diversity, racism, and intersectionality
• connect socially through cultural exchange
• challenge biases and stereotypes
• pursue individual and collaborative creative expression through the arts
Youth (13 to18 years old)
The project offers the opportunity to:
• develop and learn leadership, teamwork, and project planning skills while getting to know other youth in the community
• develop skills in storytelling and how to engage in productive conversations about multiculturalism, diversity, racism, and intersectionality
• develop a personal “voice” to challenge stereotypes
• develop skills to combat racism and discrimination that can be applied in everyday life
• pursue individual and collaborative creative expression through the arts
• contribute to the community while earning volunteer hours
Time commitment
Participants are required to attend the following sessions from October 2022 to October 2023.
At the end of the project:
• your story will be included in a publication you can share with others
• your creative contributions will be part of a portable backdrop used at a public presentation you will participate in with the artists
Artist team
Manami Hara
Manami immigrated from Japan to pursue a theatre career in North America. She is an award-winning actor, playwright, instructor, interpreter/translator, dramaturge, producer, and director who is passionate about teaching the magic of storytelling and collaborative processes to students of all ages.
Derek Chan
Derek grew up in colonial Hong Kong. An award-winning multilingual playwright, director, translator, and performer, he is the Managing Artistic Director of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre.
Linda Carson
Linda is a graduate of Studio 58 and a professional actor, writer, and teacher. Her writing credits include Dying to Be Thin, Mom’s the Word (co-writer), and Driving Me Crazy (co-writer). She was last seen acting in Where the Wild Things Are and Learning and Forgetting at Presentation House Theatre.
Lynna Goldhar Smith
Lynna is a multi-disciplinary artist who divides her time between her visual art practice and creating live theatre. Her work in both disciplines has been seen throughout North America and parts of Europe. She identifies as mixed ancestry and her tangled ethnic roots, are more and more becoming a part of her artistic practice.
Patti Allan
Patti is a graduate of the Simon Fraser University School for the Contemporary Arts and a multi-award-winning actor, instructor, writer, and singer. She has appeared in film, TV, and theatre productions locally and across the country and has performed on numerous radio dramas for CBC radio.
If you require assistance to complete the application or have any questions, please contact Nikhat Qureshi, Project Coordinator, Richmond Multicultural Community Services at nikhat@rmcs.bc.ca or 604-279-7160. For more information: www.rmcs.bc.ca
Presented in collaboration with Presentation House Theatre and Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre.
