Arts & Culture
Stand Up For Mental Health - Grad Show
What’s so funny about mental health? As far as Stand Up For Mental Health is concerned – everything! Join the SMH Comedy Society at the 2023 Summer Class Grad show.
Founded by award-winning counsellor and stand-up comic David Granirer who himself suffers from bipolar, Stand Up For Mental Health teaches stand-up comedy to people with mental health issues. Come laugh your head off as the SMH comics explore the lighter side of mental health! Date and Time: December 11, 2023 at 7:00 pm Location: Hastings Racecourse Casino, 188 North Renfrew St., Vancouver Price: Tickets are $10-$20 |
Reflections on Crooked Walking
Firehall Arts Centre is featuring "Reflections on Crooked Walking" for the holiday season. The musical is presented by the McGrain-Pearson Endowment Fund.
This Juno Award-nominated family musical tells the tale of four people who find themselves the only ones awake, surrounded by sleeping townspeople. Their journey in search of a cure for the mysterious sleeping sickness leads them down a surprising path of deeper self-awareness. Dates: December 2-24, 2023 Price: Pay-what-you-can shows are available Location: 280 East Cordova St., Vancouver |
Project EveryBODY - PEBCelebratesLive
Celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the PEBCelebratesLive event. It is a cabaret-style extravaganza that is family-friendly, free, and open-to-the-public, bringing together the vibrant talents of our community.
Led by Open Door Group in collaboration with posAbilities, Project EveryBODY is an impactful project that reflects the collaboration of community and non-profit organizations championing diversity and inclusion. This celebration isn’t just about showcasing talents; it’s about honoring achievements and advocating for thriving, diverse, and inclusive communities. Event Features:
Cost: Free registration, seating is limited Date and time: December 4, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm Location: Roundhouse Arts and Cultural Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver |
Beans & Rice Theatre - Hymn of the Weaver Birds
Join the community for a workshop presentation of a new multilingual theatre work by Johnny Wu and Jocelyn Yuchia Chang, followed by a moderated community discussion.
Working with regional Mandarin and English, Hymn of the Weaver Birds follows the ventures of a group of unidentified strangers, who serendipitously occupy the same address-less abandoned Japanese bathhouse. Date and Time: December 11, 2023 - 6:00 - 7:30 pm Location: Central Library, 350 West Georgia St., Vancouver Cost: Free admission |
Fleurs de Villes: Noel
The fifth annual Fleurs de Villes Noël is happening in Vancouver from December 8 to 17, 2023. The stunning activation creates a “floral art trail” that decorates Vancouver’s downtown core with some of the city’s top florists and local businesses. It features 40 unique festive art displays to discover.
Details:
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PuSh Festival
The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival is a beacon of artistic innovation and cultural reflection. The festival presents an array of personal narratives around resistance, vulnerability, and pressing contemporary themes such as migration, displacement, labor, injustice, and the ever-evolving realm of artificial intelligence.
This year's theme: “Can a live art festival be a ritual for social change? A cultural strategy? A means to rethink history while imagining possible futures?” offers a compelling invitation to explore and engage. Details:
Dates: January 18 - February 4, 2024 Cost:
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Pop-Up Poetry
Enjoy poetry readings in unexpected locations around Vancouver. The event features poetry readings by Kevin Spenst and Celeste Snowber. The exact location of each reading is announced a week before the event.
Upcoming Dates:
Contact Information: Email: blnish@pandorascollective.com Other Events at Pandora's Collective: A Night for Giving: A Special Chapbook Launch and Fundraiser
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Anonymous Art Show
The Anonymous Art Show is November 18th-December 19th, giving you the opportunity to participate in the mystery. If you purchase an 8” by 8” piece of anonymous art, you will be supporting the artist, North Van Arts, and adding to your collection. View the 600 works either online or in our gallery to make your pick. This group exhibition and fundraising event includes both emerging and established artists.
Details:
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Carole Itter Exhibition
Explore the Carole Itter: Only when I'm hauling water do I wonder if I'm getting any stronger exhibition, which brings together a selection of the artist’s multi-disciplinary works and archival materials from the 1960s to the present. Revealing her attention to locality, language and choreography, the title references Itter’s writing and points to her self-reflexive labour as an artist, as a woman and as an inhabitant of shacks, old houses and cooperatives on the West Coast.
Dates: September 5 - December 10, 2023 Cost: Free admission Location: Belkin Art Gallery, 1825 Main Mall (UBC), Vancouver |
Events at the Contemporary Art Gallery
Curatorial Tour with CAG’s Executive Director Matthew Hyland:
Open Studio - Sidney Gordon:
Timelines Talks
Timeline Talks: Harsha Walia
Timeline Talks: Justine A. Chambers and Vanessa Kwan
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Talaysay Tours
Take a tour led by Indigenous guides who are sharing their culture and knowledge with the world. The tours provide land-based learning experiences featuring indigenous culture and unique Indigenous stories from ancestors and descendants, as well as ancient and contemporary histories.
Types of Talaysay Tours:
Details:
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Accessible Pricing Nights at The Improv Centre
Enjoy improv and live comedy? The Improv Centre hosts accessible pricing nights on Thursdays, called Thursday Presents: Friday Jr. Why not start your weekend early? The host calls the shots in this fast-paced show that proves that “Friday feels” can start on Thursday!
Details:
Dates and Times: Thursdays, Doors at 6:30 pm, Show at 7:30 pm Location: 1502 Duranleau St., Vancouver Price: Tickets are pay-what-you-can, starting at $10 |
Contemporary Art Gallery
The Contemporary Art Gallery is artist-driven and audience-centered, championing art and ideas that invite us to transcend the familiar, reimagine the possible, and explore new ways of understanding ourselves, one another, and the worlds around us. The Gallery strives to be Open, Responsive, Connective, Engaged, and Equitable.
Details:
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Events at Vancouver Public Libraries |
The Vancouver Public Library holds weekly events at its various branches around the city, including events tailored to children, families, and people wanting to learn new skills. VPL also offers online workshops.
Upcoming Events Include:
Location: Online and in-person at VPL locations around Vancouver Cost: Free registration with VPL card |
Beaty Nocturnal |
Enjoy a night at the Beaty Museum! The Beaty Nocturnal event is all-ages and admission is by donation/pay-what-you-can. This gives all members of the Vancouver community an opportunity to check out the exhibits.
Details:
Dates: Third Thursday or each month Hours: 5:00 - 8:30 pm Location: 2212 Main Mall, UBC Vancouver Campus Price: By donation/pay-what-you-can |
AFDS - Cultural Teachings
The Aboriginal Cultural Worker offers basic cultural instruction to those interested in learning more about our culture.
The cultural program is available to people in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside as a first step on their road to recovery from:
Email: info@abfrontdoor.org Phone Number: 604-697-5662 Location: 384 Main St, Vancouver |
Langara College Theatre Performances
Langara College offers a captivating selection of mainstage productions and indie shows showcasing Vancouver’s latest up-and-coming talent. Professional directors and designers are hired to work on each production
Langara offers relaxed performances for individuals who may benefit from a less formal experience and casual theatre environment. Adjustments include:
Location: 100 West 49th Ave., Vancouver Check out the lineup of shows via the button below. |
Art Downtown
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Art Downtown is an outdoor art festival held at various locations in downtown Vancouver during the summer months. You can find:
Dates: June to mid-September Location: Lot 19, 855 West Hastings, Vancouver Cost: Free Contact Information: info@vanvaf.com 604-817-6464 |
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art is a gallery with a small but exceptional collection of West Coast art. Its collection includes wood carvings, bronze works, paintings, Indigenous masks, gold jewelry and sculptures in other mediums.
Details:
Location: 639 Hornby Street Vancouver, BC Fall Hours: 10:00 – 5:00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays |
Capture Photography Festival
The Capture Photography Festival is a public art exhibition around Vancouver and other communities. Its vision is to connect Vancouver to the world through lens-based art and provide a voice to traditionally underrepresented groups. Current installations include the Canada Line Art Program and Curl Mapped by Rebecca Bair at the Anvil Centre in New West.
Current installations around Vancouver are open to the public. Please see the website for more information. Current and Upcoming Exhibitions:
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Vancouver Art Gallery: Free Nights
The Vancouver Art Gallery hosts free evenings on the first Friday of each month. The initiative increases access to art for the entire Vancouver community and is in partnership with BMO. This provides all individuals with the opportunity to view the current exhibitions.
Dates: First Friday of every month Times: 4:00 - 8:00 pm Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby St., Vancouver Cost: Free admission Registration: Tickets are limited, registration is recommended to guarantee a spot |
Firehall Arts Centre: Pay-What-You-Can Shows
The Firehall Theatre Society presents productions, exhibitions, presentations, and artistic performances that connect communities and encourage a greater understanding of Canada’s cultural pluralism. Whether you love theatre, dance, music, comedy, engaging speakers, community events, or visual art, we’ve got you covered.
Upcoming Performances:
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The Canadian Online Art Book Project
The Art Canada Institute is offering open access to six new Canadian art books. The goal of this program is to provide access to Canada's art to everyone, regardless of where they are located or their familiarity with the subject matter. The books will be released over a 9-month period to celebrate and offer ways to promote, study, and enjoy Canadian art.
Six Canadian Books Offered:
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Brahm's Tams Drum Circle
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New Chinatown Storytelling Centre
Explore the vibrant history of Vancouver's Chinatown through interactive exhibits filled with stories from the people who lived, worked, and played there. The Chinatown Storytelling Centre documents and shares the cultural stories of the Chinese Canadian community in Vancouver's Chinatown.
Location: 168 East Pender Street, Vancouver Hours: Thursday-Monday, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm *Ticket Prices vary based on availability* |
Tightrope Theatre
Tightrope Theatre presents weekly improv shows, improv classes, workshops, and other events.
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Great Canadian Short Films
The National Film Board of Canada has a long history of award winning shorts. These are a great source of our history and superb entertainment.
Please click the links below to go directly to those films, or click the button to go to the NFB site and choose your own.
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PHS - InterUrban Art Gallery
The InterUrban Art Gallery is a volunteer-driven community art venue that honors the Downtown Eastside's historical and cultural legacy. It provides a welcoming and accessible space for low-income artists and locals to exhibit and further their work. The gallery also offers:
The aim of the InterUrban Gallery is to include the local population and foster cultural exchanges, along with assisting up-and-coming artists. Email: info@phs.ca Phone Number: 604-683-0073 Location: 1 East Hastings St., Vancouver |
CIF Art Grant
Treat Show Comedy
Treat Show: weekend comedy fireworks you crave
The Treat Show is the perfect weekend entertainment solution to unwind and have a good laugh. Every Saturday, our lineup features nine extraordinary improvisers who come together to create a completely new comedy show tailored just for you. These talented comedians boast extensive international experience in the world of improv, and they're thrilled to call the China Cloud their home. Location: China Cloud, 524 Main St., Vancouver Date & Time: Two shows on Saturdays - 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm **Returning September 9th, 2023** Price: $20 |
La Boussole - Cultural Activities
La Boussole provides a range of enjoyable activities for people of all ages. These activities encourage interactions, learning the language, and keeping in contact with francophones from all walks of life.
You are encouraged to take part in a variety of activities, including:
PROVIDER PROFILE Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Email: laboussole@lbv.ca Phone Number: 604-683-7337 Location: 213 - 312 Main St, Vancouver |
TalkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
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Voices of the Street Podcast
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Bard On The Beach
Bard on the Beach is an acclaimed Shakespearean theatre festival that takes place at SEN̓ÁKW/Vanier Park. Performances take place in an open-air theatre with the ocean, mountains, and skyline in the background. Enjoy both classic and contemporary productions.
Current features include:
Dates: June - September Location: SEN̓ÁKW/Vanier Park, Vancouver Cost: Ticket prices vary Accessibility: VocalEye live-audio description available |
Jokes Please! - Fridays at Cambrian Hall
Jokes Please! is a weekly stand-up comedy show in Mount Pleasant. It features comedians from Just For Laughs, Comedy Central, and The Debaters.
DATE&TIME Check More info LOCATION Cambrian Hall, 215 E. 17, Vancouver COST Advance Tickets: $16 + fees. Door Tickets: $20 |
Free Monthly Poetry Series
Lunch Poems at SFU is a monthly poetry celebration in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Everyone is invited to lunch on words and feel their souls, just bring your curiosity, open mind, and a love of words.
Upcoming Performances:
Dates: Third Wednesday of each month Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm Location: Teck Gallery, 515 West Hastings St., Vancouver Note: Some events are held online, check website to confirm details. Email: poetry@sfu.ca |
Theatre In Video
Online access to hundreds of the world’s most important plays, documentaries, interviews, and instructional materials in more than 800 hours of streaming video.
All you need is a Vancouver Public Library card! |
MEC Free Documentary Series
Watch three Canadian adventurers share their unique lived experiences with wild spaces in this documentary series. The adventurers share their adventures, including:
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Virtual Tour of Burrard Arts Foundation Gallery
*Note: The BAF closed its doors on October 28, 2023*
Experience the Burrard Arts Foundation Gallery virtually and all of its exhibits without leaving your home. BAF's Gallery, exhibitions, and programming are welcoming and accessible to all. All of BAF’s projects and programming are designed to connect with the broadest possible cross-section of the Vancouver community, prioritizing low-barrier, inclusive modes of arts presentation, with a keen focus on subject matter that sparks conversations related to urbanism, social justice and cultural identity. Details:
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We Live Here: West End Audio Tour for Covid 19 Times
Whether you'd like to walk this 1 1/2 hour audio tour or listen to the sections from home, these interesting stories about the West End told by various Vancouverites are worth your time.
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E-Books and Magazines from The Vancouver Public Library
If you have a Vancouver library card, you can access e-books and magazines from around the world - on your computer, tablet, or phone. This means there is no waitlist!
The Vancouver Public Library has compiled a list of popular e-books that are available now. You can also read digital magazines on-the-go with the Libby app. Tip for power users: use the "read the articles" mode to easily view individual articles. |
CBC Canadian Videos
National Arts Centre (website/Facebook)
Stream free theatre, dance, music, storytelling, talks and workshops as part of #CanadaPerforms.
Stream free theatre, dance, music, storytelling, talks and workshops as part of #CanadaPerforms.
Virtual Museum Tours
Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video)
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Be sure to also check out our Music & Movies events.