The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is reporting a 45 percent increase in attendance over last year's event.

About 34,000 people turned out for the recently completed, 20-day interdisciplinary fest, the group said in a release today.

“The 2013 PuSh Festival has surpassed all expectations,” executive director Norman Armour said in a press statement, “and after the trials and tribulations our arts community has been through over the last year, for me it has been particularly poignant to see the festival so triumphantly take centre stage with new audiences, new artists, new works, new partnerships, and new private and public supporters."

"In terms of the depth and quality of programming, media coverage, new audiences, fundraising targets, and community awareness, this year's Festival PuShed
through to a whole new level," PuSh board president Peter Dickinson said in the announcement.

More than 270 volunteers worked thousands of hours to make the festival happen, including the 112 volunteer guides who led blindfolded participants around the city for the one-on-one Do You See What I Mean? show.

PuSh is set to run again next year from January 14 to February 2, 2014.