It’s been a wild journey. From performing as a confused and lost first-year student in 2019, to becoming a Performance Curator in 2020, to finally taking on the role of the Director of Operations in 2021, I really can’t believe I actually made it here. ARTSIDEOUT has truly been with me in every step of my university experience, and I’m so glad that I was able to be a part of it. It’s incredible to see how art can truly connect people from all ends of the globe in ways that little else can. When the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height, and multiple incidents around the world had me feeling like there was nothing good left in this world, music was what kept me going, and writing was the outlet that helped me let out my emotions. Art, in many ways, helps us endure through and through, even when we are at our lowest.

Thank you endless to my fellow team leads, Rachel and Jo Anne, without whom I would have lost my mind several times over. Thank you to the Advisory Board for always helping us stay on track and for providing support whenever we needed it. And thank you so much to all of the artists, workshop facilitators, ambassadors, programmers, and executives who worked hard to make this day possible.

It was an honour to be able to see the beautiful art that has been created for and because of ARTSIDEOUT, and to be inspired, in turn, by it. Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and let your #ARTSIDEOUT.

The prolonged pandemic has made us farther apart from each other and brought many obstacles to our daily lives. In hopes of returning to our life without COVID-19, we must withstand any hardships that are placed upon us and continue adapting. This year’s theme stems from the challenges our world has faced during these difficult times. The artists have come together to shed light on the ways they have coped with situations surpassing the pandemic. From personal to social issues, the artwork shows what endurance means to each artist and the different experiences or achievements they acquired as a result.

This year’s festival and the team have been a great example of endurance, as we were able to join hands from various parts of the world and build this work of art. Through each of our hardships, we collectively came together to showcase the creative voices and strength of multidisciplinary artists. ASO would like everyone to reflect upon the methods of coping that have helped you through the various challenges you may have faced in the past.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to my team, especially Jo Anne and You-Jin, who have persevered and continued to work hard to put this event together. Thank you to the advisory board and partners who have been the greatest support system. Most importantly, thank you to the many artists who without this entire festival would not have been possible. We hope ARTSIDEOUT 2021 brings great positivity and motivation to evolve through these ever-changing times.

ARTSIDEOUT has had to adapt as we all have. That adaptation has what I believe, opened the door for ARTSIDEOUT to be bigger and better than in person, and I hope I can be there to see that even though I am graduating soon. I am proud of my journey with ASO, as unexpected as it may be. I never thought I would love the arts management aspects of my position as I have at ASO. Coming to UTSC in 2018, I had come as a last choice of program and had no idea what Arts Management is. Now I am really embodying all that I was told an Arts Manager does from my first class. I am wearing all the hats, and I am grateful that ARTSIDEOUT is one of those hats. Because of ASO and UTSC, I am where I am. Currently, I hold executive positions in three UTSC clubs, I have co-founded a new non-profit organization (StereoVisual), and of course, I hold the Director of Community Relations and Outreach position at ASO. I am, and forever will be grateful for the time I spent engaging with the arts at ASO and UTSC.

I want to thank my co-leads Rachel and You-Jin. Everything about ARTSIDEOUT for the past two years has had to change for every change in the world. I’m glad to have had them by my side in working for ASO. They both inspire me with the work they do, and the challenges they overcome, and I know this experience will have a huge impact on their futures.

Finally, I want to thank all of our sponsors, partners, workshop collaborators, and general ARTSIDEOUT supporters. We wouldn’t be as awesome without you and we hope you can always be a part of the ARTSIDEOUT family. Make sure to always let your ARTIDEOUT all year round!

I extend my congratulations to the entire ArtSideOut leadership for once again finding a way to stage our student-run festival in spite of the obstacles. Your chosen theme this year, endurance, certainly captures the mood of the moment. We all feel like we've been dealing with the pandemic for longer than we expected. Without understating the impact this has had on us all, I have to say as Chair of Arts, Culture & Media that I have been constantly impressed by our community's capability to adapt. Sometimes I find comfort in stepping back and thinking about all that humans everywhere have endured for centuries, millennia, and how making art has been a solace for us the whole time, as a means for us to hope, to commune, to protest, to cry out, to reveal, to teach, to heal. Here in our community, ArtSideOut has been there to give our students the space for all those experiences, participating in this ancient practice. Thank you for your hard work. It matters.