VMF transforms City Centre Motel into Vancouver’s newest creative community space
VMF has partnered with Nicola Wealth Real Estate and The Narrow Group to reimagine Mount Pleasant’s iconic City Centre Motel as a temporary community space for art and social connection in Vancouver.
The City Centre project exemplifies VMF's creative and placemaking expertise and vision, and takes it to the next level, combining a full site mural transformation, studio conversions, and live events—all in support of artists and community.
This project transforms an underused and transitional space, that would otherwise sit empty, into a dynamic, much needed public space to connect the community through shared creative experiences.
In 2016, several of Vancouver Mural Festival’s very first murals were painted at the City Centre Motel. Fast forward to 2022—and over 300 murals later—VMF has come full circle to transform the former motel into a dynamic space for the community.
At the end of 2021, we announced our partnership with Nicola Wealth Real Estate (NWRE) and The Narrow Group (TNG) to transform the City Centre Motel into a temporary creative and community space.
As the first step in this temporary multi-year project, the former motel's 75 rooms have been converted into low-cost artist studios by The Narrow Group, with VMF supporting to ensure priority for underrepresented groups.
Next, we have taken over to completely transform the exterior of City Centre (full building façade and parking lot) with our largest mural to-date, covering over 30,000 square feet and creating an immersive environment for art and social connection.
Designed collaboratively by three local artists—Fiona Ackerman, KC Hall, and Joon Lee—the full-wrap mural combines the artists’ styles while taking inspiration from the iconic motel’s original elements.
Finally, we will be bringing the new outdoor community space to life with free, all-ages programming, beginning with the City Centre Block Party for the June 25-26 opening weekend.
The event will feature the official unveiling of the City Centre mural and a full weekend of free, all-ages entertainment, including open artist studios (featuring City Centre Artist Lodge tenants), a licensed bar, food trucks, kids activities and more.
Saturday’s line-up features feel-good DJs and dance performances curated by Public Disco, while Sunday features a Drag Brunch and afternoon Tea Dance curated by Bye Felicia.
“Our programming is designed to create layered interactions between art, people and place to highlight Vancouver’s diverse creative community, while inviting the public to experience a shared sense of belonging through participation, exploration and play.
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.”
Join us on June 25th & 26th and be amongst the first to discover Vancouver's newest outdoor creative community space!
Find all the details and the full schedule on the City Centre Opening Weekend Block Party webpage.
City Centre will also serve as the hub for this summer’s Vancouver Mural Festival with 10 days of free, live entertainment in August.
Stay tuned for more 2022 Vancouver Mural Festival’s details!
City Centre is a multi-year project. The site is slated for redevelopment and will be temporarily repurposed until the property can be redeveloped. This project offers the property a temporary second life during the transitional phase. Year one involves building and prototyping various modalities of placemaking on the site.
Timeline:
Late 2021
Nicola Wealth acquires the City Centre Motel
Dec 2021
NWRE, Narrow Group, and VMF announce plans to transform the motel into a temporary artist and community space
Feb 2022
The Narrow Group converts motel into 75 artist studios (City Centre Artist Lodge).
May 2022
VMF transforms the motel exterior with our largest mural to date.
June 2022
VMF hosts City Centre Block Party (June 25-26).
Aug 2022
VMF hosts Vancouver Mural Festival hub (Aug 4-13).
2023
More to come!
Read our latest press release about the project and the event.