VMF2021 Neighbourhood: West End
The West End is known for championing a culture of celebratory inclusivity and prideful diversity. Renowned for being an openly queer space, the West End has long held an important role throughout the city’s socio-cultural landscape. Davie Village is the epicentre of this space, home to a variety of great boutiques, eateries, and clubs. With its rainbow crosswalk and colourful laneways, the West End is a sensorial delight.
With one of the most diverse populations in Vancouver, the West End’s strength lies in its’ open and supportive community. While many neighbourhoods struggled to keep their shops afloat during the pandemic, the West End saw more businesses open than close. Being close to the water, there are lots of great patios for explorers to enjoy. Should you find yourself in need of a drink, head to the Craft Beer Market in English Bay where you’ll spot a new mural by Rory Doyle. Horae by Doyle playfully nods to Peter Basil Pantages, the namesake of Pantages Lane where the mural is located. An avid swimmer, Pantages founded the century-old Polar Bear Swim at English Bay - a man “undeterred by seasonal changes of our city” as put by Doyle. If patios aren’t your style, on Saturdays you can journey down to the West End Farmers Market where you’ll find a variety of fresh produce and good eats where three murals from VMF2020 are situated close by along Davie Street.
Christina Hyrc aka Boots’ 2021 mural titled Divine Love is self described “love letter to Davie Village and the West End.” In her own words, Christina has explained her mural is “a visual celebration of a community with enough heart to embrace all aspects of the diverse rainbow that resides in Vancouver. The piece is heavily influenced by the early work of John Waters and features drag icon Divine. My goal was to create a mural that embodies flamboyance, outrageousness and celebration, with a gentle nod to our history. I wanted to create an anecdote about embracing individuality and authenticity. Like queer culture itself, love is fluid, limitless, and selfless—it can never truly be defined.”
Find the murals in the West End along with 300+ more around Vancouver with the free VMF App.
Digital Maps coming soon!
ENTER TO WIN THE WEST END PRIZE GIVEAWAY:
Discover Vancouver’s diverse neighbourhoods while having a chance to win some incredible prizes! This summer, participating neighbourhoods are generously providing gift packs curated from local businesses in their area. Download the VMF App and use the interactive map to help you find this year’s new murals and more across Vancouver!
Enter to WIN the West End prize giveaway that includes one $100 gift card to Craft Beer Market, $25 to D’oro Gelato, and $40 to English Bay Bike Rentals (2 people for 2 hours), plus a few additional secret surprises with the instructions below:
Post a carousel on Instagram of THREE or more murals from the West End
Tag @westendbia @vanmuralfest in the photo and/or caption
Make sure to use #vmfwestend and #vanmuralfest
Every carousel post equals another entry!
Winners for the neighbourhood giveaways will be chosen by August 25th.
Read the Terms and Conditions here.
MEET THE WEST END ARTISTS:
