At Mad Pride Festival, being "mad" isn't something to hide, it's something to celebrate

Vancouver’s Mad Pride Festival, presented by Connection Salon Artists Collective, runs from June 25 to July 25, offering a month-long celebration of art by individuals with mental illness, psychiatric disabilities, or lived experiences of 'madness.' Inspired by Toronto’s 1990s Mad Pride movement, the festival challenges stigma by reclaiming the term 'mad' and centering neurodiversity. Events include a parade down Seymour Street, the *Gifts of Madness* exhibition featuring 12 local artists, and performances by poets, comedians, and storytellers like Joseph Dandurand, Trevor Jang, and Wanda John-Kehewin. The festival kicks off with the Mad Arts Coffee House, an Indigenous-led lineup curated by Kagan Goh, showcasing works by artists such as actor Stephen Lytton and storyteller Randy Tait. Workshops like *Theatre for the Living* (led by David Diamond) and *Stand Up for Mental Health* (hosted by comedian David Granirer) provide interactive engagement, while Sandra Yuen discusses her multidisciplinary practice in an artist talk on July 16. Visual arts are highlighted in the *Gifts of Madness* exhibition, running July 3 to August 16, which explores themes of resilience through works by local artists. Film programming at The Cinematheque on July 26 features a double-bill of *Sisters* (Ying Wang) and *Am I the skinniest person you've ever seen?* (Eisha Marjara), both addressing eating disorders through migration and societal expectations, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. The festival concludes with a Mad Pride Parade led by the Carnival Band and a closing cabaret featuring performers Sinéad X Sanders, Magpie Ulysses, Daniela Elza, Jude Neale, and Reid Jamieson & CVM. All events are free, with programming held at various venues across Vancouver. The festival aligns with Connection Salon’s mission to empower underrepresented artists, emphasizing art’s role in healing and community resilience.