August 18, 2020 (Vancouver, BC) – Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF) kicks off Year 5 with an ambitious 3-week festival – August 18 through September 7 – featuring over 60 new murals; brand new VMF Mobile App; VMF Pop-Up Patio ticketed live performance series; Art Shows; Daily Mural Tours; Talks, and more!
60+ NEW MURALS | 9 NEIGHBOURHOODS | 3 WEEKS
This summer looks different. We can’t come together in the same way for Vancouver Mural Festival’s massive street party so we’ve adapted and expanded across the city. Spreading murals to more neighbourhoods brings art to more communities while allowing more space to explore the city-wide murals.
Over the next 3 weeks, artists will paint 60 murals in 9 neighbourhoods across the city. This year’s diverse artist line-up includes:
- Mount Pleasant: Abbey Pierson, Animalitoland, Anthony Joseph, ARISE, Cara Guri, Carole Mathys, Jennifer Clark, Oakland Galbraith, Ocean Hyland, OWES, Steve Smith, Tabouli, WRUES, ZEDEK
- South Granville: Carrielynn Victor, Mega McGrath, Nadine Nevitt, Tafui
- Robson: Chris Perez, Edge, Katie So, Ovila Mailhot, WKNDRS
- West End: Annie Chen, Carson Ting, Mandy Tsung, Margaret August, Pearl Low
- Downtown: Frazer Adams, James Harry, Kari Kristensen, Lauren Brevner, Luke Ramsey, Sarah Delaney
- Strathcona: Annie Chen, Jnasty & Theme, Laura Kwok, Rafael Mayani, Thomas Cannell
- Gastown: Tyler Toews
- River District: Alex Fowkes, Arty Guava, Caitlin Donagh, David Camisa, Extra Crunchy, Fernanda Ribiero, John Velten, Lukas Lundberg, Rory Doyle
- Marpole: Rachel Wada, Vanessa Taylor
Find and learn about Vancouver’s open-air gallery of 250+ murals (including over 60 this year) with the brand new Vancouver Mural Festival Mobile App. Download the VMF App free from the App Store or Google Play for mural locations, artist details, photos, interactive maps with filters, plus curated collections highlighting Indigenous art, massive walls, community projects, family fun and more!
In addition to murals, enjoy Vancouver Mural Festival’s full calendar featuring live and online events over the next 3 weeks.
VMF SCHEDULE:
Vancouver Mural Festival Mobile App
Date: Launches Aug.18
Details: Get access to Vancouver’s open-air gallery of murals at your fingertips with the VMF Mobile App. Locate all 250+ murals with the interactive map, learn about the artists, filter by location or interest, save favourites, and check out curated collections.
Link: Download the free VMF Mobile App: App Store / Google Play
VMF Pop-Up Patio presented by Granville Island Brewing
Dates: Aug.18-Sept.7
Details: Ticketed sit-down live shows in an open air pop-up patio. Live performance series with twice-nightly, ticketed shows featuring some of the city’s favourite local curators and collectives. Sit back and enjoy the show with drinks and snacks in a 19+ outdoor venue. Ticketed shows include: Burlesque (Tue), Drag (Wed), Comedy (Thur), Live Music (Sat/Sun plus closing night Mon). Or reserve a free table and celebrate the weekend with drinks at Weekend Open Sessions, all day Friday plus Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Location: 123 E.6th Avenue
Link: Buy Tickets
VMF: Year 5 Art Exhibit
Date: Aug.18-Sept.7
Details: Virtual gallery featuring 100+ original works of art by a curated collection of VMF alumni and local artists. Originals and limited reproduction prints will be available for sale.
Location: Online
Link: Visit Art Show
VMF Curator Talk
Date: Aug.18
Details: Learn about VMF’s curation process with Lead Curator Drew Young, Graffiti Curator Scott Sueme and 2020 Guest Curators, Krystal Paraboo and Sierra Tasi Baker
Location: Online
Link: Register here (free)
VMF Mural Tours presented by Herschel Supply
Dates: Aug.18-Sept.7 (daily: 2PM / 4PM)
Details: Discover and learn about Mount Pleasant’s murals on free, daily VMF Mural Tours presented by Herschel Supply. Join official VMF mural tour guides, DeTours, for guided walking tours to explore new and existing murals, and learn about the social history of Mount Pleasant and how it became the hub for this community-driven public art festival.
Location: Mount Pleasant (register online for details and meeting point)
Link: Register here (free)
Downtown Shopfront Mural Exhibit
Dates: Aug.18-Sept.18
Details: Select original plywood mural installations plus photography exhibit by Gabriel Martins featuring downtown Vancouver’s #MakeArtWhileApart murals.
Location: Pendulum Gallery
Link: Details here (free)
VMF Artist Talk: Celebrating Black Resurgence
Date: Aug.25
Details: Since its first year, VMF has made the engagement and inclusion of Indigenous and POC artists and curators a high priority. Yet, the VMF and other Vancouver cultural organizations, have had a poor track record in creating opportunities for Black artists. What needs to happen for this to change? What are the barriers? How might muralism combat Anti-Black racism in public spaces?
Location: Online
Link: TBD – visit https://vanmuralfest.ca/ for update and registration
Gastown Murals of Gratitude Outdoor Gallery
Dates: Now – September 30
Details: Free, outdoor gallery honouring the healthcare heroes who helped us through the COVID-19 pandemic. The public exhibition is made up of 35 murals created for the shops of Gastown during the peak of the pandemic.
Location: Alleyway (along the railway track) behind Water St. between Carrall and Abbott St.
Link: Details here (free)
Artist Mural Painting
Date: Now – September 7
Details: See artists in action as they paint 60+ murals throughout the city.
Locations: Various locations in Mount Pleasant, South Granville, Downtown, Robson, West End, Gastown, Strathcona, River District, Marpole
Link: Download the VMF Mobile App for specific locations (App Store / Google Play)
If all that isn’t enough to inspire your mural hunting, Vancouver Mural Festival has a contest to win prizes from each of the nine VMF 2020 neighbourhoods. Download the VMF App to find the murals. Visit the neighbourhoods. Post your favourite murals to Instagram. Tag @vanmural fest and hashtag #exploreVMF to enter.
This year, we may not be able to celebrate in the same way but we’re excited to share the spirit of VMF with even more communities across the city. We’re grateful to create public art and experiences that connect communities while supporting local artists and businesses. Safety for our artists and the public is a top priority. We invite everyone to enjoy the art and performances but please respect each other and follow all health and safety guidelines.
Visit vanmuralfest.ca and follow @vanmuralfest on Facebook and Instagram for details and updates.
