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Arts and Culture


Goodbye to Vancouver

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Pacific Arts Market is official closing the Gallery on June 30th.

Come join us for a farewell event as we bid adieu to the beautiful city of Vancouver!

It's been a wonderful and amazing 5.5 years. This event is our chance to show our appreciation to our supporters and all of our wonderful artists.

At this event you will find great deals on artwork crafts and display materials so don't miss out!

We hope you will join us for a toast. The great news is that we are continuing business on Vancouver Island! This includes Pop-Up events and our NEW location.

Date and Time: June 28th 1 pm - 5 pm
Location: Pacific Arts Market (1450 West Broadway​)
Cost: Free or by donations 

*Everyone who donates to the event will receive a free gift bag and a lot of gratitude!
Get your tickets here

Vancouver Mural Festival

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VMF is an independent, non-profit arts organization dedicated to artistic and cultural development in our city. We create experiences that connect people through art.

Vancouver Mural Festival is an annual outdoor celebration of public art designed to connect, reflect and celebrate our diverse communities through art and live events.

Explore the creative side of Vancouver’s great outdoors and discover your new favourite murals, artists, performers, communities, neighbours and more!


Festival Features:
  • Interactive festival
  • Temporary public exhibitions pop-up around the city
  • Designed by acclaimed xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Weaver and Designer, Debra Sparrow in collaboration with VMF

Dates: August 8 - 11, 2024
Locations: Various locations around Vancouver
Email: [email protected]
Winter Arts Festival

"I'm Seeing Things" Screening + Afterparty

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Join us for an unforgettable cinematic journey into the depths of addiction and the triumph of recovery with Ty Javos presenting... "I'M SEEING THINGS" - a free film anthology showcasing powerful independent works such as "A Cast of Shade," "Violent Skin," "LOVER," and many more!
​
Prepare to be moved and inspired as these films delve into the complexities of addiction and the human spirit's resilience. Admission is free, so gather your friends and loved ones for an afternoon of thought-provoking cinema.
Following the screening, continue the conversation and connection at our Afterparty & Mixer starting at 4:00pm at Honey Brew Bar. Dress to impress and mingle with fellow film enthusiasts in a relaxed atmosphere.
Don't miss out on this unique event blending art, storytelling, and community. See you there!

Dates and times: June 23 / 2 pm
Location: The Cinematheque | 1131 Howe St
Cost: Free
Pop-Up Poetry

Pop-Up Poetry

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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. 

Other Events at Pandora's Collective:
  • Twisted Poets Literary Salon
  • Art & Poetry in the Gallery
  • Poetry on the Move
  • Poetic Parings
  • And more!
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Upcoming Dates:​​​
  • Check back later for the upcoming event
Location: TBA
Email: [email protected]
Pop-Up Poetry

Talaysay Tours

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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. 

Details:
  • Locations vary by tour
  • Ticket prices and availability vary, please see website
  • Some tours require 1-2 km of walking, and are exposed to the elements
  • Online options are available

Hours: 6 days per week (Office closed on Mondays)
Location: 334 Skawshen Rd, West Vancouver
Email: [email protected]
Toll Free: 1-800-605-4643
Phone: 604-628-8555

Talaysay Tours

Accessible Pricing Nights at The Improv Centre

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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:
  • 90 minutes in length and include an intermission
  • Shows are rated PG and may not be suitable for all audiences

Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 604-738-7013

Dates and Times: 
  • Doors at 6:30 pm
  • Show at 7:30 pm
Location: 1502 Duranleau St., Vancouver
Cost: Tickets are pay-what-you-can, starting at $10
Buy Tickets Here

Contemporary Art Gallery

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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. 

Check out current exhibits

Cost: Free
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday | 12 pm - 6 pm
Email: [email protected]
Location: 555 Nelson St., Vancouver 
Explore The Contemporary Art Gallery

Events at Vancouver Public Libraries

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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:​
  • Summer Reading Club Launch
  • Canadian Workplace Culture and Communication 
  • Photoshop Basics: Fun Effects

Location: Online and in-person at VPL locations around Vancouver 
Cost: Free registration with VPL card 
VPL Events

Beaty Nocturnal

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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.
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Details:
  • A screening of the film Raising Big Blue will start at 5:30 in the auditorium
  •  7:00 pm - Under the Whale, part of the Half-Hour Collections Highlight

Dates: Third Thursday or each month
Hours: 5 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: 2212 Main Mall, UBC Vancouver Campus
Price: By donation/pay-what-you-can
Beaty Nocturnal Nights

AFDS - Cultural Teachings

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:
  • Addiction
  • Homelessness
  • Poverty
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The cultural program includes:
  • Talking circles
  • Drumming
  • Singing
  • Beadwork
  • Cedar weaving
  • Drum manufacturing
  • Well-being talking circles

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-697-5662
Fax: 604-336-9049
Location: 384 Main St, Vancouver
Join Cultural Healing Program

Langara College Theatre Performances

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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:
  • Theatre door remaining open and the ability for patrons to exit and enter the theatre freely during the show
  • The house lights will be at half; meaning that the seating area is not as dark as a typical show
  • Bright lighting on stage will be softened
  • Sounds on stage will be reduced, including yelling from actors
  • The theatre will be at half capacity
  • Patrons may freely move around the theatre as needed
  • Communication boards and use of other technology (with the audio off) is welcome

Location: 100 West 49th Ave., Vancouver

Langara College Theatre

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art

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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.

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions:
  • ​Formline Calligraphy
  • September 2024 - February 2025
    • Combined with a sense of humour and playfulness, the exhibition reveals an exciting spirit of experimentation, Bill and Bob's mutual commitment to excellence, and their ongoing influence on artists today.​​​
Cost:
  • Admission is free on the first Friday of each month from 2 pm to 5 pm.
  • Admission for students studying at Simon Fraser University is free every day. A valid piece of ID is required as proof of eligibility.
  • Admission is always free for gallery members and for Indigenous Peoples.

Location: 639 Hornby Street Vancouver
​Fall Hours: 10 am - 5 pm
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Bill Reid Gallery

Capture Photography Festival

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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. 



Capture Exhibitions and Info

Vancouver Art Gallery: Free Nights

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​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 pm - 8 pm
Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby St., Vancouver
Cost: Free admission
Registration: Tickets are limited, registration is recommended to guarantee a spot
Free Nights at the VAG

Firehall Arts Centre: Pay-What-You-Can Shows

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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.

Current & Upcoming Performances:
  • Reflections on Crooked Walking
  • Pants
  • Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen
  • Moi - Momentum of Isolation
  • And more!

Details:
  •  Tickets are sliding scale
  • Pay-what-you-can shows are held Tuesday evenings and Wednesday matinees, with tickets being released one hour before showtime
  • Feature artists from BC and across Canada
    ​
Location: 280 East Cordova St., Vancouver  
Firehall Arts Centre

Poetic Justice Readings

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Poetic Justice is a poetry reading event showcasing emerging and established poets. The event features scheduled poetry readings as well as open mic readings. 

Online Events:
  • Sundays, except on holidays
  • Free to attend
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In-Person New Westminster Events:
  • Sundays, except on holidays
  • Admission is by donation

Poetic Justice Events

Brahm's Tams Drum Circle

Brahm's Tams Drum Circle
 An informal drum jam that promotes "Love of Unity, Rhythm and Community".
​
This is an unlicensed event and as such to keep it civil some rules have developed over the years.

The general rules are:
  • No making fires or fire spinning
  • LNT-Leave no trace of Litter
  • Don't drink alcohol openly or act like a fool
  • Don't play ball games or rough-house in the circle
  • Don't smoke cigarettes or joints in or near the circle...go away from the circle to do this.
  • No dogs allowed

Note: Marijuana is usually smoked at event, so it may not be suitable for families.

Frequency: Every sunny Tuesday night from March through September
Location: Third Beach, Stanley Park
Cost: Free


Join Brahm's Tams Drum Circle

New Chinatown Storytelling Centre

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.

  • The Centre aims to honor the sacrifices and perseverance of the community's ancestors
  • Focus on resilience, sacrifice, and courage
  • Aim to inspire and shape a better future for the community
  • First permanent exhibit space dedicated to telling the stories of the Chinese Canadian journey
    ​
Phone: 604-225-0055
Email: [email protected]
Location: 168 East Pender Street, Vancouver
Hours: Daily , 10 am - 5 pm
​
​*Ticket Prices vary based on availability*
Discover Chinatown Stories

Tightrope Theatre 

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Tightrope Impro Theatre is a company specializing in the art of Improvisation. We produce professional improvised theatre and provide a variety of training rooted in Impro.

Weekly improv shows, improv classes, workshops, and other events. 

Shows are committed to upholding the values of justice, inclusion, equity, and diversity.

Dates: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays​
Cost: $15 - $20
Location: 2343 Main St., Vancouver 
Class/workshop Email: [email protected] 

​Some shows contain adult subject matter, please see website for more details
Tightrope Theatre

Great Canadian Short Films

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. 


  • The McGarrigle Sisters, “Log Driver’s Waltz”
  • “Remember Africville”, the little-known account of one of Nova Scotia’s independent black settlements
  • “Supreme Law”, an interactive story of Canada told from perspectives of those who have historically been underrepresented
Discover Award-Winning Shorts

​PHS - InterUrban Art Gallery

​PHS - Inter Urban 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:
  • Exceptional visual art exhibitions
  • Arts programs and seminars
  • Event space
  • Neighborhood activities
  • Multimedia exhibitions

The aim of the InterUrban Gallery is to include the local population and foster cultural exchanges, along with assisting up-and-coming artists.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-683-0073
Location: 9 East Hastings St., Vancouver
Hours: 
  • Mon - Fri | 9 am - 5 pm
  • Sat - Sun | Closed
Explore InterUrban Art Gallery

CIF Art Grant

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The CIF Art Grant provides an opportunity for artists to purchase art supplies. Vancouver residents who are consumers of mental health and/or substance use services are encouraged to apply.


The following 4 criteria must be met:
  1. Adult with lived/living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges
  2. Resident of the City of Vancouver
  3. Have a specific art project in mind
  4. Have not received this grant within the last 2 years

Grant Details
Cost: $85 per grant

Next 2024 Application Deadlines:
  • Aug 9th, Nov 8th
​
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 604-874-7661

Mail to or drop off at:
  • Consumer Initiative Fund Office
  • 200-520 W 6th Ave
  • Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H5
Apply Art Grant

​Treat Show Comedy

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The Treat Show is the perfect weekend entertainment solution to unwind and have a good laugh. Every Saturday, our lineup features 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.

The group also performs at Just For Laughs Vancouver shows!

Location: China Cloud, 524 Main St., Vancouver 
Date & Time: 
Two shows on Saturdays | 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm
Price: $18 or pay-what-you-can
​
Purchase tickets here
Treat Show Comedy

La Boussole

La Boussole - Cultural Activities
La Boussole provides a range of enjoyable activities for people of all ages. These activities encourage interactions, learning the French language, and keeping in contact with francophones from all walks of life.

Upcoming Events:
  • Group art therapy
    MAY 30, 2024 | 4 pm - 5:30 pm
  • Computer workshop
    MAY 27, 2024 | 12 pm - 1 pm
  • Face-to-face English lessons​
    MAY 24, 2024 | 2 pm - 3 pm 

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Recurring events include:
  • Volunteering in community gardens
  • French-English seminars
  • Writing workshops
  • Computer literacy workshops
  • Photography workshops
  • DIY workshops
  • Holiday celebrations

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-683-7337
Location: 217 - 312 Main St, Vancouver 
Join La Boussole Activities

TalkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast 

TalkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast
The TalkBD Bipolar Disorder Podcast brings together global experts to discuss and answer essential questions about living with bipolar disorder.

The podcast includes researchers, people with lived experience, healthcare providers, and top bipolar disorder experts.

TalkBD's first episode was released in early 2020 during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, it has become a top resource for people living with bipolar disorder and their loved ones, generating substantial interest and engagement.
Join TalkBD: The Bipolar Disorder Podcast

Voices of the Street Podcast

Voices of the Street Podcast
The 2021 Voices of the Street anthology is titled "INSIDE we are all the same".

The anthology is featured in a special podcast series that includes:
  • Interviews with writers
  • Personal reflections on how lived experiences intersect with the themes of the text

The Voices of the Street podcast is a six-part series for Below the Radar.

It is curated and hosted by participants of Megaphone's Speakers Bureau.

The podcast offers a new perspective on Voices of the Street.
Listen to "Voices of the Street"

Bard On The Beach

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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:
  • As You Like It
  • Julius Caesar
  • Henry V
  • Goblin: Macbeth

Dates: June - September
Location: SEN̓ÁKW/Vanier Park, Vancouver 
Cost: Ticket prices vary 
Accessibility: VocalEye live-audio description available
Check out Bard on the Beach

​Jokes Please! - Fridays at Cambrian Hall

​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.
  • The show has been running for 10 years.
  • Features Vancouver comedians, touring guests, and the odd celebrity guest 
  • Past performances have received praise, with The Georgia Straight calling it "Hilarious".
Don't miss out on the opportunity to enjoy excellent laughs at this venue.

Dates and Times:
Fridays | starting at 8 pm (doors at 7:30pm)
  • Cambrian Hall, 215 East 17th Ave, Vancouver
Saturdays | starting at 8 pm (doors at 7:30pm)
  • The RCC, 2114 West 4th Ave, Vancouver
​Advance Tickets: $16 + fees.
​Door Tickets: $20
Experience Jokes Please!

Free Monthly Poetry Series

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. 
  • Everyone is welcome to join and enjoy poetry, regardless of their familiarity with it.
  • To stay up-to-date with future Lunch Poems events, sign up for the Lunch Poems @ SFU email list. 

​Dates: Third Wednesday of each month
Time: 12 pm - 1 pm
Location: Teck Gallery, 515 West Hastings St., 
Email: [email protected]


Note: Some events are held online, check website to confirm details. ​
Join the SFU Lunch Poems Celebration

Theatre In Video

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!
Explore 800 Hrs of Video Theater

MEC Free Documentary Series

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:
  • Riding across Canada from coast to coast to coast on a fixed gear bicycle
  • Ticking off a truly unique bucket list
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The series is created by three of Canada's leading documentary filmmakers and features raw, genuine portraits of how the outdoors inspires and challenges us. The series focuses on personal triumphs and incredible feats.
Discover Canadian Adventure

The Polygon Gallery

Virtual Tour of Burrard Arts Foundation Gallery
The Polygon is a gallery that features acclaimed Vancouver photographers, world‐renowned as well as emerging artists, and innovative exhibitions of historic and vernacular photography. It prioritizes the work of artists who reflect the diversity of its community.

The gallery is
 committed to inclusivity, accessibility, and providing a welcoming, barrier-free space for everyone. Accessibility options and accommodations are available.


Hours:
  • Wednesdays - 10 am - 5 pm
  • Thursdays - 10 am - 9 pm
  • Fridays - Sundays - 10 am - 5 pm
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Location: 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver 
Phone: 604-986-1351​​
Explore the Polygon Gallery

We Live Here: West End Audio Tour for Covid 19 Times

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.
Experience West End Stories

E-Books and Magazines from The Vancouver Public Library

Read Magazines from Around the World
​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.
Unlock Magazines Now
Download e-Books Now!

CBC Canadian Videos

CBC Canadian Videos
Take in some music history or just sing along to some of the best on-screen musicals.
Explore 20 Music Films Now

​National Arts Centre

​National Arts Centre
​National Arts Centre (website/Facebook)
​Stream free theatre, dance, music, storytelling, talks and workshops as part of #CanadaPerforms.
#ExploreCanadaPerforms

Virtual Museum Tours

Virtual Museum Tours
Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch (Video)
Explore 12 Museums Now!

Be sure to also check out our Music & Movies events.

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​​We at Get Set & Connect acknowledge that our program is based on unceded lands of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), and the Qiqéyt (Qaygayt) Nations.