The Vancouver Mural Festival returns this summer with an expanded three-week celebration of murals across the city.
Over the past five years, organizers state the VMF has produced over 200 murals in Vancouver and the surrounding area. Now, they say have re-imagined the celebration to include more murals.
This spring, the VMF painted over 60 temporary murals on boarded-up storefronts with the #MakeArtWhileApart project. Afterward, the VMF says it received overwhelmingly positive feedback from people who needed to stay hopeful and connected during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. While people were forced to stay physically distanced, the inspired artwork brought them together through healing, joyful and thought-provoking creations.
Now, VMF has announced the dates for its expanded 3-week festival: Aug. 18 through Sep. 7. It will feature over 60 new murals in 9 neighbourhoods across the city. Plus, a new mobile App to help you discover them all.
"Murals can help transform public spaces and serve as catalysts for addressing many socio-cultural issues. Together, we can help reignite and connect our communities," writes the VMF in a release.
"Our original call for artists was during the month of November 2019 for this summer's festival. That seems like ages ago! In the meantime, we have expanded the festival beyond our original neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant to paint murals in neighbourhoods across the city. This enables more people to celebrate murals within their own communities, while supporting local businesses by encouraging exploration across the city."
This year, instead of a massive Street Party, Vancouver Mural Festival has been reimagined to share the positivity and spirit of VMF with even more people and communities across our city. In addition to its original home in Mount Pleasant, VMF will bring over 60 new murals to 9 neighbourhoods:
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Mount Pleasant
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South Granville
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Robson
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West End
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Downtown
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Strathcona
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Gastown
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River District
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Marpole
VMF is organized by Create Vancouver Society, a Registered Non-Profit dedicated to artistic and cultural development in the Lower Mainland. The annual festival takes place for a week in August in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, and VMF works throughout the year with neighbourhoods around the Lower Mainland to highlight the local culture and vibrance of their area.
Highlights for the 2020 Vancouver Mural Festival include:
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Aug.18: Vancouver Mural Festival mobile App launches
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Aug.18-Sept.7: VMF Pop-Up Patio featuring Live Music, Comedy, Drag, and more. Aug.18-Sept.7: VMF: Year 5 Art Exhibit (online) featuring 100+ original works of art by VMF alumni and local artists. All originals and limited prints will be available for sale.
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Aug.18: VMF Curator Talks (online) - 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.
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Aug.18-Sept.7: Free Daily Mural Tours presented by Herschel Supply.
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Aug.18-Sept.18: Downtown Shopfront Mural Exhibit at the Pendulum Gallery.
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On-going: Artists painting 60+ murals throughout the city
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Find out more information HERE.