Vancouver Mural Festival returns August 7-11
NEW MURALS // POP-UP EVENTS // MOUNT PLEASANT STREET PARTY // VMF AFTER DARK // MURAL TOURS
The Vancouver Mural Festival, our city's favourite splash of colour, is back for another year of fun. Join VMF from August 7 to 11, 2024 to celebrate Vancouver’s diverse communities through art and live events. We’re inviting attendees to discover new murals throughout Vancouver and enjoy an exciting line-up of live performances.
At the heart of the festival is the vibrant Mount Pleasant Street Party, taking place from August 8 to 11. Daily programming at the City Centre Artist Lodge features a fully licensed site with DJs, live performances, food vendors, craft beer tasting, non-alcoholic features, kids zone, artisan markets, live painting, and more. Some highlights of this year’s Street Party programming include special curation by Ricecake, Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC), and Craft and Canvas Corner presented by the BC Ale Trail.
VMF is also thrilled to bring back the official VMF Mural Tours presented by Herschel Supply Co and provided by Vancouver DeTours and Curated Tastes, VMF Artist Talk & Tunes presented by Container Brewing, The Oasis presented by Granville Island Brewing, and a brand new experience: The Zero Zone presented by Rize, featuring zero-proof cocktails and locally made non-alcoholic craft beer.
“Our goal is to bring people together through the power of public art, amplifying voices and creating platforms for diverse artists. This year, we are expanding with murals all over the city and beyond, integrating ways for audiences to interact with the art, and presenting over 60 performances.”
EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS
As part of VMF’s dedication to honouring diversity in all its forms, attendees can look forward to the festival’s third collaboration with Ricecake, Vancouver's year-round, non-stop celebration of Queer Asian Pride. This year, they will be highlighting the best of Vancouver’s Asian talent on two stages and throughout a night market on Thursday, August 8.
VMF After Dark brings two nights of art, music and dancing at The Bunker. On August 9, VMF After Dark is partnering with Drill Events, a QTBIPOC-led electronic party series, focusing on groovier tunes like House and UK Garage. On August 10, VMF After Dark will also be collaborating with Monstercat, one of Vancouver’s most influential independent record labels, curating a lineup of electronic artists from the leading dance music label. Tickets for both After Dark events go on sale July 2 and are available on Eventbrite.
The East Van breweries are making a grand return to VMF on August 10 and 11, thanks to BC Ale Trail. Over ten local breweries are coming together for an unforgettable craft beer tasting experience. Attendees can sip and savour while enjoying live graffiti art, with walls being transformed as part of the 7th Annual Holden Courage Graffiti Jam.
On Sunday, August 11 the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC) is excited to host their Festa Plural for the first time at VMF. This event celebrates Latin American culture's cool, colourful vibes here in Vancouver, and showcases young and upcoming Latinx artists’ incredible talents through dance, music, and visual art. TROPA will be creating a lively Brazilian Musical Parade, or BLOCO, which encourages everyone to join in feeling the heartbeat rhythm of Brazil. TROPA is a Rio de Janeiro, Brazil based NGO, focusing on empowering marginalized people in Rio and creating Canada/Brazil connections and awareness through music, art and celebration.
“We can’t wait to see the smiles, awe, and inspiration this year’s festival will bring to Vancouver.”
EMERGING ARTISTS PROGRAM
Continuing the iconic yearly programming at River District, VMF is curating the production of five new murals adding to the 23 murals made there since 2018 by local emerging artists presented by Wesgroup Properties. Activating the pedestrian pathway near the waterfront, the public will be invited to continue their stroll while enjoying and engaging with new murals.
This year's curatorial theme, ‘Familiar Faces’, will include portrait murals that aim to reflect the multicultural residents and visitors of River District, creating moments of self-reflection and opportunities to connect the public with art.
Through their Emerging Artists Program, VMF strives to shine a spotlight on fresh talent in public art, largely from equity-deserving communities. VMF’s Board of Directors has generously pledged $10,000 in matching donations to support emerging artists in the 2024 festival.
Donate today to help support the best and brightest emerging talent in the visual art space!
Follow us at @vanmuralfest for more announcements about Vancouver Mural Festival 2024!
