Vancouver Mural Festival 2021 Announces 60+ Murals in 11 Neighbourhoods Over 3 Weeks!

Vancouver Mural Festival 2021 announces over 60 new murals in 11 neighbourhoods across the city for this summer’s August 4–22 annual celebration. The murals will showcase an incredible line-up of diverse local artists sharing a range of cultural, historical and personal stories. The festival will also host daily mural tours, public talks (in-person and online), plus 3 weeks of live performances at an open-air, pop-up patio in Mount Pleasant. 

Murals not only bring our streets to life, they’re part of a bigger story and cultural evolution. Vancouver Mural Festival harnesses the visual impact of public art to connect communities, celebrate diverse cultures and histories, and serve as a catalyst for addressing many of the socio-cultural issues facing our city and communities. Showcasing and collaborating with underrepresented/marginalized groups—including BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ and youth—is at the core of what VMF is about. This is reflected in all aspects of the festival, including projects (art and events), curators, and artists. 

This year’s featured Community Projects highlight VMF's on-going commitment to diversity, inclusivity and community-building: 

• Blanketing the City IV: Cathedral Square - the first large-scale semi-permanent public art collaboration between weavers from the three local nations: xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl’ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) in over 200 years.

• Black Strathcona Resurgence Project (BSRP) - multi-year project with a goal of reclaiming visibility and reconciling the erasure and systemic racism endured over time by Black people in Vancouver. 

• Punjabi Market: Murals In The Market - Punjabi Market Regeneration Collective’s Murals in the Market initiative facilitates storytelling and discussion around racism and discrimination through public art by local BIPOC artists.  

Vancouver Mural Festival programming highlights:

• VMF Pop-Up Patio presented by Granville Island Brewing - Licensed, outdoor venue featuring 40+ live shows over 3 weeks plus weekend Brunch Club events. Performances range from Live Music to Drag, Burlesque, Graffiti Jams and more! The line-up—produced in partnership with guest curators and collectives—focusses on showcasing emerging local artists from underrepresented communities (details & ticket sales coming July 7).

• Mural Tours - Daily guided walking mural tours, plus a BSRP bike tour.  

• Art & Cultural Talks - Learn and get inspired at free public talks including: 

  • In-person: 

    • Programming Public Space

    • Music Curators

  • Online:

    • VMF Mural Curators Roundtable

    • Black Strathcona Resurgence Project Curators & Artists

    • Afrofuturism Talk

    • Unlearning Anti-Blackness Workshop

    • Blanketing the City Documentary Film Launch & Artist Talk

    • Punjabi Market Curators & Artists

• Mural Artists Painting - Experience over 60 murals come to life as talented local artists paint throughout the city! Download the free VMF App to find murals and learn about artists.

11 Festival Mural Neighbourhoods: 

• Cambie Village

• Downtown

• Edgemont Village

• Hogan’s Alley 

• Marpole

• Mount Pleasant

• Punjabi Market

• River District

• South Granville

• Strathcona 

• West End 

The past year highlighted the importance of public space for individual wellness, community connection, and economic health. VMF’s #MarkArtWhileApart murals on boarded-up storefronts and last summer’s festival expansion into more neighbourhoods brought joy and inspiration to locals while creating vibrancy in neighbourhoods and support for local businesses. As BC begins its restart, Vancouver Mural Festival has already begun plans for the return of its highly anticipated street party in 2022. In the meantime, this August 4–22, locals are invited to reconnect and discover a world of inspiration, cultures and stories within our own city and neighbourhoods! 

Grab your phone and download the free VMF App (App Store / Google Play) to find and learn about over 300 murals—including 60+ new murals—across the city! Check out vanmuralfest.ca and @vanmuralfest for more details, event calendar and updates.