WINTER ARTS FESTIVAL'S FULL PROGRAM LIGHTS UP VICTORIA AND VANCOUVER
Winter Arts Festival takes art beyond gallery walls and into the heart of urban environments, infusing city spaces with the magic of sculptures, projection mapping, augmented reality (AR), and live performances.
SAVE THE DATE
Victoria: FEB. 16 - 19, 2024
Vancouver: FEB. 22 - 27, 2024
"The Winter Arts Festival provides a platform for artists to experiment, push boundaries, and inspire the community," said Miriam Esquitín, VMF Executive Director.
“Whether wandering through the illuminated streets of Victoria or celebrating the festival's return to Vancouver, Winter Arts Festival promises an enriching and immersive cultural experience. We invite attendees to rediscover familiar streets and city spaces, forging connections through a diverse array of indoor and outdoor events.”
VICTORIA
Winter Arts Hub
Feb. 16 - 19 | 5:00 - 9:00 PM
(FREE // All-Ages)
Herald Street Brew Works & Circularity Boutique, 506 Herald St.
The Winter Arts Hub serves as a gathering spot to foster community through the celebration of art. You can sample local food vendors and explore artisan booths at the Circularity Boutique curated by Make Good Party, all while enjoying a scheduled program featuring captivating live entertainment. Open throughout the Family Day long weekend, the Hub also features a Kids Zone, outdoor stage, and a mulled wine station thanks to Yellow Tail.
Art Walk
Feb. 16 - 19 | 5:00 - 9:00 PM
(FREE // All-Ages)
Downtown Victoria
Discover over 20 art installations, as well as over a dozen existing pieces of public art from the City of Victoria's collection that will be highlighted along the Art Walk. We also partnered with local businesses, cafes, pubs, and restaurants to provide a place to warm up on the route! You can win driving minutes from Evo Car Share by collecting stamps on the Art Walk Passport, available for pick up and drop off at our Winter Arts Hub on 506 Herald St.
Tour
Feb. 16 - 19 | Starts: 6:30 PM (Ticketed // All-Ages)
Meeting Location: Market Square, 560 Johnson St.
Hear insider stories about the art installations and history of downtown Victoria by going on the official festival Tour! Experienced guides from Discover The Past Tours will lead you to the festival's art installations. Discover something special from local businesses, cafes, pubs, and restaurants along the way. Depending on the time, you might even catch a performance from our Pop-Up Event Series!
VMF After Dark Victoria
Feb. 17 | 9:30 PM 'til late (Ticketed // 19+)
Hermann’s Upstairs Lounge, 753 View St.
Get your TICKETS to VMF After Dark Victoria! A late night dance party that celebrates music, artists and performers, the program is curated by Resonance Collective and the live art is hosted by Crave Fluidity.
The Winter Arts Fest Dialogue: Light & Language
Feb. 18 | 6:00 - 8:30 PM (FREE // All-Ages)
Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville St.
At the the Winter Arts Fest Dialogue, Brett Gaylor (artist), Yam Lau (artist) and Jamila Douhaibi (BC Black History Awareness Society) will join lead curator Natalia Lebedinskaia in conversation on how art, culture, and storytelling are crucial to strengthening the social fabric of a just, healthy, and equitable society.
VANCOUVER
Blanketing the City: Lighting the Way
Feb. 23 - 27 | Sundown to 11:00 PM (FREE // All Ages)
Canada Place • Cathedral Square Park • TELUS Garden • BC Place
Science World • Granville Island • The Biltmore
Blanketing The City: Lighting The Way is an evolution of the ongoing public art series designed by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) weaver and designer, Debra Sparrow in collaboration with VMF. A new addition to this year’s installation is the Thread Runner—an AR “runner” derived from Sparrow’s 2011 piece, which attendees can manipulate to interact with the Coast Salish patterns on the facades of the buildings at each of the seven locations. The series is supported by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.
2024 ARTISTS
Ann K. Chou • Annie Briard • Brett Gaylor (HoloLabs) • Debra Sparrow • France Trépanier Justin Langlois • Kemi Craig • Laura Dutton • Lesley Marshall & Ashley Bowa
Linnea Jericho Watts (estate of) • Monkey C Interactive • MOVE37XR • Nathalie Quagliotto
Nettie Wild & Scott Smith • Phoebe Ke Xin Bei & Stephanie Gagne • Ryan Thompson
Seeroro (Carolyn Wong) • Spark Indigenous • Yam Lau
Winter Arts Festival is a celebration of light, art, and storytelling, featuring sculpture, projection mapping, augmented reality (AR), laser art, performance, and more.
Free to attend, except for select 19+ events, the festival will create a rhythm of indoor and outdoor experiences that inspire a sense of rediscovery of familiar streets and city spaces, providing a series of warm spaces to gather and connect around art and creativity. See you there?
Visit winterartsfest.com for more information.
