North Van Arts
North Van Arts celebrates arts and culture on Vancouver’s North Shore. Through free, contemporary, and diverse exhibitions, public events, arts classes, art rental, and more, we believe the arts have the power to uplift and connect.
Founded in 1969 as the North Vancouver Community Arts Council, North Van Arts has a mandate to enable emerging and professional artists in all disciplines, to bridge cultures, and to build strong and healthy communities through the arts. North Van Arts advocates for accessible arts and culture on the North Shore, encourage artistic understanding and growth, and promotes the cultural heritage and diversity of this region.
North Van Arts is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our community and local artists, eagerly collaborating and working with multiple and varied partners and stakeholders to create a lively arts and culture scene on the North Shore.
North Van Arts was instrumental in starting an innovative and successful Art Rental Programme, which remains popular today (1972); converting the former City Hall into a hub for arts and culture (1976); and initiating cultural events such as Wildlights Lantern Festival (1999 to 2009), Mountain Mardi Gras (2006), and Trolley Dances (2012 to 2016). In 2000, a Youth Cultural Development Endowment Fund was created. Prominent annual events such as Arts in the Garden, the North Shore Art Crawl and the Anonymous Art show, bring together numerous communities and bridge cultures through art, performance, music, and nature. Over the years, North Van Arts has also organized and fundraised for multiple public artworks on the North Shore.
The latest project, the North Shore Culture Compass, developed in partnership with Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, is a free online map that visualizes the rich cultural offerings of the North Shore. An accessible navigational tool featuring key information about points of interest, the Culture Compass encourages local residents and tourists alike to connect with the history, art, and stories of the North Shore. From museums to natural places, annual festivals to art galleries, the map encompasses the cultural diversity of the region.
North Van Arts believes arts and culture are at the heart of every community, with artists and creatives helping to invigorate and bring colour to neighbourhoods, developing cultural identity. Committed to offering opportunities for everyone to participate in the arts and to have fun, innovate, and grow. Visit northvanarts.ca
From moss art to blown glass, there’s much to discover at the 14th annual event
Free three-day festival offers visitors an insider’s look into the practices of more than 300 artists across North Vancouver and West Vancouver
North Van Arts’ annual outdoor event brings visual artists, musicians, and performers to 10 resplendent outdoor spaces
The textile and visual artist has been a driving force in the Sea to Sky arts scene for more than a decade
Visitors to the salon-style exhibition can choose to rent or buy diverse works made by more than 150 artists
From floral resin goddesses to magazine collages, annual North Van Arts event features diverse roster of more than 150 creatives at 69 venues
At North Van Arts exhibition, Indigenous fashion designer’s works make powerful statements about Canada’s history of systemic flaws
Free in-person and online event is held at 69 venues across the North Shore
Biennial exhibition showcases emerging First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists
Over 400 original artworks for rent or purchase are available to view online and at CityScape Community ArtSpace
Works curated by Saghi Ehteshamzadeh celebrating women’s resilience and their fight for freedom
New exhibition celebrates and gives voice to Iranian women
Word “bash” evokes both celebration and condemnation in works by eight 2SLGBTQ+ artists
Art meets nature at the 24th annual cultural event, taking place in distinct outdoor settings
Live music, visual arts, activities, and performances. take place in garden spaces
The North Van Arts exhibition explores femaleness and mythologies of the skirt
Exhibition features more than 400 works by local artists
The beautiful calendar features 12 images depicting North Shore scenes by local artists
The artists behind hundreds of original 8” x 8” works are only revealed once a purchase is made at this fundraiser for North Van Arts
Brewing North Shore Culture Treasure Hunt features 11 breweries and terrific prizes
More than 150 local artists working in a vast range of media are participating in 88 free venues from Lions Bay to Deep Cove
Sculpture, painting, glass, photography and more on view at artists’ studios, local galleries, cafés, and breweries
Bold new exhibition at North Van Arts unpacks personal experiences of artists who move between Canada and their country of origin
A collective mural, dance that interweaves textile art, and an outdoor art tour focused on decolonization are some of this year’s highlights
North Van Arts’ outdoor celebration of nature across the North Shore includes visual art, live music, dance performances, and more
Programming highlights include Turning Trash Into Treasure and Arts in the Garden
I wanted to go on a space walk but had nothing to wear celebrates achievements of women in science and looks at barriers that have held them back
I wanted to go to on a Space Walk but I had nothing to wear, at CityScape Community ArtSpace exhibit,reflects the theme of 2022 International Women’s Day
From Korean and Persian New Year to the “Festival of Light”, it’s all artfully captured
North Van Arts’ annual festive fundraiser features over 700 artworks to choose from