I am extremely grateful to have been awarded the Dean Of Arts Development Fund for my internship with Suoni Per Il Popolo festival this year. As an Anthropology and Psychology major and lifelong musicophile, this internship was a perfect for both my personal and academic interests. I am also involved in grassroots organizing and activism communities, whose values align with those of the festival. Good music and strong values, along with the opportunity to learn about the back end of music festival production motivated me to pursue this internship.
The festival schedule chalkboard in the Suoni office.
Suoni Per Il Popolo is a festival put on each June in Montreal that showcases different forms of art including theatre, music, dance, printmaking, and radio. Each night there are multiple performances, along with some workshops and artist talks in the afternoon. The goal of the festival is to bridge connections between artists and the public in the form of awareness-raising activities and cultural mediation.
As an intern, I was assigned a wide range of tasks. Pre-festival, I worked with staff in the office to help update the website and social media platforms as performers and events were being announced. I also assisted in gathering all information of events and partners to create a physical festival program. Once the festival began, I was assigned to a show each night where I would assist in setting up the venue, support artists during soundchecks, sell tickets at the door, sell artists鈥� merchandise, and take on any last-minute tasks.
Making envelopes for Cat Kidd鈥檚 poetry book titled Cat Kidd. Art on the cover is by Kiva Stimac.
Although not directly related to my academic concentrations, my major in anthropology allowed me to engage with the festival in a deeper way. The DIY nature of the event, along with the lineup of artists from diverse cultural backgrounds and political movements, created the perfect environment for observing cultural exchange and expression. I was able to apply an anthropological lens to understand how art, music, and activism intersect to shape community identity.
The Suoni office!
Each night of the festival, between soundchecks and performances, staff and performers would all gather to eat dinner that was prepared by my internship host, Kiva. This was one of the many highlights of my internship as it was the perfect time to take a break and get to know the performers. One night, I had a pleasant conversation with drummer Mineo Kawasaki in Japanese. His performance was incredible as well!
During the festival, there were times where I struggled with finding tasks to do as, unlike the promotion phase of the festival, tasks were not directly assigned to me. However, I quickly adapted by taking initiative and looking for ways to contribute, rather than waiting for directions.
The office kitchen before hosting the program launch party.
Working at Suoni Per Il Popolo has has helped clarify the direction I want to take in both my academic and professional career. As an Anthropology and Psychology major, I鈥檓 interested in how cultural spaces support mental well-being and social connection. Working with organizers, artists, and community members showed me the role grassroots initiatives can play in shaping inclusive, supportive environments.
The funds from the award allowed me to take a break from my other jobs and put my focus into enjoying and working hard for the festival.
Thank you so much to the Faculty of Arts Internship Awards for supporting me for this unforgettable experience.
