CGAS RISER Found Festival

Staff

Photo of Whittyn Jason

Whittyn Jason

Festival Director

Whittyn Jason (they/them/theirs) is a queer, non-binary, mixed-race artist of South African and Ukrainian descent. They live and primarily create in amiskwacîwâskahikan (colonially known as Edmonton), where they work as a scenographer/lighting designer and Festival Director for Found Fest (Common Ground Arts Society). Whittyn is a member of the ADC, and holds a BFA in Theatre Design from the University of Alberta.
whittynjason@commongroundarts.ca

Photo of Mac Brock

Mac Brock

Festival Manager

Mac Brock (he/him) is your friendly neighbourhood queer prairie playwright and producer. He’s a words & numbers guy. As the Managing Producer for Common Ground, he oversees Found Festival and RISER Edmonton. He’s worked with Citadel Theatre, Edmonton Fringe Theatre, Globe Theatre, Edmonton Heritage Council, and more. His play Boy Trouble was nominated for Outstanding Fringe Production and Outstanding Independent Production at the Sterling Awards, and he has written a bunch of other gay nonsense too.
macbrock@commongroundarts.ca

Photo of Frances Girard

Frances Girard

Production Manager

Frances Girard (they/them) is a settler and artist on Treaty Six in what is colonially known as Edmonton. As a full-time dabbler and part-time daydreamer, they are happiest when they get to make magic happen. I am honoured to be a part of the Found Festival team and can’t wait to see how it grows in the future. Stay safe and take care friends!

Photo of Sarah Emslie

Sarah Emslie

Associate Producer

Sarah Emslie (they/she) is a queer theatre and circus artist based in amiskwaciwâskahikan, Treaty 6, where Sarah has worked in arts administration and production since 2017. They are the incoming Creative Director of Pandoric Productions, a roving performance company with whom then have been stiltwalking professionally for nearly 6 years. Sarah is an avid gardener and crafter, most recently they’ve taken up crochet.

Photo of Shannon Lin

Shannon Lin

Administrator

Shannon Lin (she/her/hers) holds a BFA in Dance and has been a dance teacher, performer, and choreographer for independent and interdisciplinary projects. She has taken on odd jobs in administration, events and production, and is passionate about moving to music and typing things.

Photo of Jennie Emms

Jennie Emms

Production Assistant

Jennie is a graduate from the University of Alberta’s where she studied Tech Theatre specializing in Stage Management. She is City Manager for Fever Labs, managing their events that launched last summer at various venues; Candlelight Concert Series and Dining in the Dark. Jennie is looking forward to also joining the US team to launch Candlelight Concert Series in Portland, Oregon by the end of the year. Jennie also has a small studio of beginner to intermediate violin students.

Photo of Tynan Boyd

Tynan Boyd

Webmaster/Graphic Designer

Tynan (he/him) has worked with CGAS since its second Found Festival and loves doing “computer stuff” in the arts scene.

We find ourselves in Amiskwaciwâskahikan (ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) on Treaty 6 territory, traditional lands of the Cree, Nakota, Blackfoot, Dene, Saulteaux, Metis, and other indigenous peoples who have made this place home long before we settled here. For thousands of years, people have gathered here to share in story, community, and creative exchange.

We find ourselves thankful: thankful to play a small part in that long-standing tradition, a tradition carried on the shoulders of so many creators, builders, dreamers, agitators, and makers who came before us, and who will come long after us.

We find ourselves inspired: inspired by an evolving community of artists who passionately spark the magic that manifests when we surrender ourselves to the long summer days of this northern place.

We find ourselves grateful: grateful to everyone who rallies around this tiny but mighty Festival — the artists, the volunteers, the staff, the audience, the board, the mentors, the partners and sponsors, the funders, the believers. Found Festival exists because of you.