The Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF) has set its eyes and paintbrushes on an iconic Vancouver motel for its biggest project yet.
The City Centre Motel in Mount Pleasant is transforming into a 75-room low-cost artists' studio for underrepresented and marginalized artists, with the city's largest mural to-date (30,000 square feet!) wrapping around the building exterior.
The motel will get a new name too: the City Centre Artist Lodge.
“The project will support low barrier access to a public stage for emerging artists, curators and community partners through a variety of upcoming VMF events,” says Nickolas Collinet, VMF Senior Project Manager.
To celebrate, VMF is hosting a free weekend-long party with entertainment, open artist studios, food trucks and a bar. There will be live music and dance performances by Public Disco on the first day and a drag brunch and afternoon Tea Dance by By Felicia on the next day. The City Centre Block Party is open to all ages and will take place at the revamped motel from June 25 to 26.
City Centre will also be the hub for VMF's 10-day summer mural festival which will have live entertainment and mural tours from August 4 to 14.
However, this community landmark will only remain for two to three years before being redeveloped under the pending Broadway Corridor Plan policy.
City Centre Block Party
When: June 25-26, 2022
Where: 2111 Main St, Vancouver
Cost: Free
