Thủy means “water” in Vietnamese. Like water, cultures travel, transform and meet, without ever losing their source.
Throughout the evening, performances will unfold like waves. They will invite us to explore our origins, the journeys that have shaped us, the identities we carry today, and what we can create when our stories come together.
Spontaneity remains at the heart of the Open Mic. While artists are brought together around a common thread, the evening leaves room for the unexpected, the impulses of the moment, and the exchanges that emerge on stage.
Professional and emerging artists will share the same space in a spirit of solidarity and reciprocity. By offering their presence, experience and art, more established artists help nurture an artistic community where new voices can find their place, be heard and flourish.
Music, spoken word, dance, storytelling and other forms of expression will give voice to artists from diverse Asian communities.
Carefully chosen, Maison des Éclusiers naturally echoes the theme of Thủy, its currents, its crossings, and the encounters they make possible.
The evening will be coordinated and hosted by Claudia Chan Tak and Rich Ly, who will accompany artists and audiences from one wave to the next.
Claudia Chan Tak
Claudia Chan Tak is a multidisciplinary artist trained in visual arts (Concordia University, Bachelor’s degree with distinction, 2009) and contemporary dance (UQAM, Bachelor’s degree, 2012; Master’s degree, 2017). She is recognized for her work as a choreographer and performer, as well as for her community-based and curatorial work, which earned her the Envol Dance Award in 2022. Her creations have been presented on several stages in Quebec and internationally, including in France and Belgium.
In recognition of the quality of her artistic work, she received the Kesar Scholarship in 2025, the Mécènes investis pour les arts Award in 2018, and the William Douglas Award in 2015. The themes explored in her projects include identity, immigration, family, and self-portraiture. In addition to serving on artistic juries and helping organize numerous events—including the Asian Open Mics, which she co-created with Rich Ly in 2023—she was a member of the Coalition asiatique pour une relève émancipatrice (La CARÉ), a collective that received the 2020–2021 Prix Coup de cœur de la diversité Paul-Gérin-Lajoie.
She has also worked as an independent curator for several years and has been invited to collaborate closely with the Maison de la culture Parc-Extension and the Phénomena Festival.
Rich Ly
Rich Ly is a Montreal-based singer and cultural entrepreneur of Chinese descent. He first became known to the general public through his participation in the 2009 edition of Star Académie, where he shared the stage with artists including Céline Dion, Bryan Adams, and Isabelle Boulay. In 2014, he expanded his career internationally by joining Jenifer’s team on the French version of The Voice. Beyond his artistic practice, Rich Ly has developed a strong interest in communications and cultural mediation.
In 2019, he collaborated with ELLE Québec as a content creator and with SOUK, where he contributed to promoting Quebec design. In 2022, his work as a screenwriter and fashion consultant for the television program Kekou la Mode (Productions Toros) earned him a Gémeaux Award nomination. Seeking to contribute to greater representation of Asian communities within Quebec’s cultural sector, he co-founded Asian Open Mic (OMA) in 2023.
Across all of his activities, Rich Ly has developed a practice at the intersection of artistic creation, community engagement, and cultural outreach.
