Push and pull in the arts

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Gabrielle Martin, Artistic Director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and a leader reshaping how we gather, experience, and make meaning through art. From performing over 1,400 shows as a circus artist to leading one of Canada’s most boundary-pushing festivals, Gabrielle’s work sits at the intersection of creative risk, cultural exchange, and embodied practice. She believes live performance remains one of the last true ritual spaces for connection in a fragmented world. In this conversation, Gabrielle explores the tension between will and agency, the role of art in times of crisis, and what it means to lead with instinct while programming for the “culturally fearless.” A conversation about risk, responsibility, and the power of art to expand how we see the world, and each other. FeaturingGabrielle MartinArtistic DirectorPuSh International Performing Arts Festival Gabrielle Martin is an executive arts and culture leader with over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through transformation. As Artistic Director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, she co-leads this $2M organization, shaping its artistic, strategic, and financial direction. In 2025, she received the Canada Council's John Hobday Award in Arts Management, recognizing her exceptional leadership trajectory. With advanced French proficiency and deep cross-sector expertise, Gabrielle is dedicated to creating purposeful experiences that foster connection, belonging, and imagination—believing live performance remains one of society's vital ritual spaces for renewal.  Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses. —High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highagencypod/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/high-agency-pod/?viewAsMember=trueX: https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod — Presented by Skyrocket Digital Skyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.