We are thrilled to unveil the What The Pop! Selection Committee, featuring five distinguished leaders from Quebec’s arts and business communities.
The overwhelming number of over 150 high-caliber submissions from artists all over the province has our committee members meticulously reviewing each one. Stay tuned for the big reveal of our selected artists and details on the exciting What the Pop event we have in store coming this September!
But first, let’s get to know the esteemed members of our selection committee:
Marta Barnes of Studio Barn Owl is a Montreal author & illustrator.
A graduate of Concordia’s Honours in English & Creating Writing program, she has independently published two books and one zine. The most recent being a series of interconnected microfictions about misunderstood monsters called The Found Book of Losst. Combining her degree in literature and creative writing with lifelong artistic pursuits, she weaves visual storytelling techniques into a patchwork aesthetic inspired by her travels. Her work celebrates the curiosities of our world through colourful naturalist watercolour and gouache paintings and independent publications.
Lauren Katherine Clinton (she/her/hers) is a singer, comedian, songwriter, producer, and writer.
In Toronto she studied music theatre at Etobicoke School of the Arts before heading west to the University of Victoria for a BFA in Creative Writing. In Montreal she completed an MA in English Literature with a creative writing thesis at McGill. Lauren has built a career performing as Lou Laurence. In 2016, she sang lead vocals and co-wrote on DJ Champion’s album, Best Seller. She has self-released four EP’s, toured Canada and the UK, and performed on TV specials such as, Belle et Bum, Gala Artis, and Gala Célébration. In 2024, she performed at the Toronto, Montreal, and Newfoundland & Labrador Sketch Comedy Festivals. She is now touring her solo show, Love, Sharks & Frenching: a hot date w/ Lou Laurence, across Canada – starting with Montreal Fringe. Lauren is also the Communications Coordinator at the English Language Arts Network (ELAN).
Based in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang (Montreal), Christine ML Lee is a composer, playwright and poet interested in the intersection between music, movement and storytelling.
As a sound designer, she was nominated for a META award for her work on Psycho 6 (Teesri Duniya Theatre). She has also worked on Mizushobai (Table d’hôte Theatre) and Bonnes Bonnes (Nervous Hunter, Théâtre aux écuries).
An alumna of Nightwood Theatre’s Innovators Unit and Tapestry Opera’s LibLab, Christine is currently working on a musical Just a Note, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal. Christine is excited to be part of Centaur Theatre’s upcoming production of Three Women of Swatow.
Yvonne Patel is a multidisciplinary artist who draws inspiration from the various forms of transitions found in nature, identity and culture.
She constructs from her perceptions and experiences and expresses them through poetry, performance, writing, textile, painting, and sketching.
She holds a degree in business administration, and her professional experience spans IT, education, hospitality and event management. Passionate about languages from an early age, and after much reflection during the pandemic, Yvonne decided to move to Montreal in 2021 to begin learning French.
Today she is a cultural worker in Montreal helping artists across disciplines realize their projects. She is especially passionate about helping artists from diverse and immigrant backgrounds, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and those who haven’t had the privilege to access a formal education in the arts.
Alyssa Stokvis-Hauer (she/her) is a curator, researcher, and museum programmer, working at the intersection of contemporary art, cultural heritage, and history.
In her current role as Artistic Director of the Museum of Jewish Montreal, she has worked with and mentored a wide variety of local and international artists, researchers, and emerging creatives across varied disciplines to bring their projects to the public. In her work and practice, she seeks to emphasize storytelling, research-creation, interdisciplinarity, and inclusive community building. Alyssa holds an Hons. B.A. in Art History and Political Science from the University in Toronto and an M.A. in Art History from Concordia University.
This project is funded by:
Media partner: 