Photo: VMF/Gabriel Martins
From February 16 – 26, the team behind summer’s Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF) will transform downtown Vancouver into a free and interactive open-air celebration of public art and entertainment across multiple locations for its returning VMF Winter Arts festival.
The third annual winter edition of VMF is bringing together local arts and artists through various live experiences and performances ranging from music, dancing, markets, tours, galleries, parties, food and drink—all to connect the diversity of our city curated through the overarching theme of “Land and Light” as inspired by the darkest time of year.
From our partners:
Over the festival’s 11 days of activities, free art and entertainment can be discovered along the VMF Winter Arts route going from the Vancouver Art Gallery to Bentall Centre and Canada Place.
Photo: VMF/Carrot Nurarihyon
Visitors will find a wide range of light installations, augmented reality, and sculptures by artists from near and far. The festival’s main live venue is headquartered at the Winter Arts Hub. Located at šxwƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (fka Vancouver Art Gallery North Plaza), the Hub will offer a free, family-friendly, outdoor space with a licensed bar, food trucks, interactive art, market vendors, and a covered festival stage area with daily live performances.
New this year, the Bentall Centre Gallery will feature both indoor and outdoor art. The plaza will include laser light animations and sculpture while the indoor space will host an all-ages digital art gallery, bar and charging lounge during the day before transforming on weekend nights into VMF After Dark, a series of late night 19+ ticketed pop-up parties in a re-imagined creative space.
Photo: VMF/Gabriel Martins
Winter Arts Hub
Enjoy the festival’s all-ages, outdoor venue featuring interactive art and free daily live entertainment in a heated, covered outdoor stage area, licensed pop-up bar and café, rotating food trucks, market vendors, and UV face painting.
- Weekdays from 4-10pm; weekends/holidays from 12:30-10pm
- Location: šxwƛ ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵSquare on the north side of the Vancouver Art Galeery
Bentall Centre Gallery
Free, all-ages Bar and Gallery by day; late night pop-up parties on weekends.
- Gallery: daily 4-8pm; VMF After Dark: weekends – Feb. 17-19, 24-25 from 9:30pm
- Location: Bentall Centre Gallery, 555 Burrard Street
- Cost: Gallery & Bar – Free all-ages; VMF After Dark – ticketed 19+
- Bar & Digital Art Gallery – local NFT art showcase, bar and Evo charging lounge
- VMF After Dark – Ticketed 19+ after-parties curated by different crews from the local music and arts scene: AfroQueer YVR, Public Disco, Deep From The Underground, and bside.radio
Art Installations
Discover a variety of augmented reality, light installations, laser animations,e and sculptures by local and international artists.
- Blanketing The City: Lighting The Way – BC Place, Canada Place, and Telus Garden illuminated with large-scale light Coast Salish weaving designs by Debra Sparrow
- Present – Curated by Tafui, the Present exhibition highlights the creativity of the African and Caribbean diaspora through audio, visual and spoken word
- Augmented Reality – Outdoor AR gallery at Canada Place featuring interactive art
Photo: VMF/Gabriel Martins
By bringing together a celebration of art and technology, light becomes a creative force in the city. Take this as an invitation to consider our relationship to the land—as stewards, settlers, immigrants, visitors, and guests. Relish the opportunity to wander downtown lit up at night while surrounded by visual and performing arts.
Visit VMF Winter Arts’ website for a full schedule of events.
By Rick Chung
Source Inside Vancouver
For enquiries, product placements, sponsorships, and collaborations, connect with us at hello@zedista.com. We'd love to hear from you!
Our humans need coffee too! Your support is highly appreciated, thank you!
