Once again, the Eastside Arts District’s artists, studios, and workshops welcome the public to the 27th annual Eastside Culture Crawl Visual Arts, Design & Craft Festival.
Held this week, November 16-19, 2023, with a lineup of nearly 450 registered artists – including more than 60 first-time participants.
Visitors from near and far will find a treasure trove of artistic offerings on display throughout the festival’s full line-up of events and activities, including a multi-gallery, juried preview exhibition, artist talks, demos and workshops, and open studio visits.
“There is a great deal of optimism in the air this year,” says Esther Rausenberg, Artistic & Executive Director of the Eastside Arts Society. “We’ve witnessed a great transformation taking place for many of our artists, who are changing directions and exploring new themes and mediums. We welcome the public to dive back into the Culture Crawl this fall to experience and be inspired by our artists’ growth and discovery. It has been a time of change for many of us and I believe art is a conduit for moving forward together.”
One of the biggest cultural events of the fall season, the Eastside Culture Crawl open studios attracts and inspires tens of thousands of visitors. Encompassing the region bounded by Columbia Street, 1st Avenue, Victoria Drive, and the Waterfront, the Eastside Arts District is the most concentrated area of artists, designers, performers, craftspeople and culture producers in Vancouver and is known nationally as an area rich with creativity and inspiration. The festival offers visitors a window into the artistic practices of artists living and/or working in Vancouver’s Eastside Arts District, representing creators specializing in painting, jewelry, sculpture, furniture, leather goods, photography, glass works, textiles, and more.
Art lovers are encouraged to explore these artistic discoveries throughout the Festival and beyond, including the Culture Crawl’s 2023 feature juried exhibition, “Out of Control,” running until November 26th which encouraged artists to submit artworks for selection along the themes of breaking rules, being reckless, and feeling unrestricted. The exhibition represents a broad and diverse range of mediums from 80 selected artists at four galleries and venues until November 26, 2023. Jury members include Paul De Guzman, Eri Ishii, and Hugh Kearney who represent a diversity of art practices and representation in the community.
“At a time when we start to celebrate our freedom from pandemic restrictions, it’s an opportunity to reclaim experiences that were denied for so long, a chance to think outside of the box and just let go,” adds Rausenberg.
Eastside Culture Crawl encourages attendees to interact with artists and their work throughout the festival’s presentations and exhibitions. Full details of Eastside Culture Crawl events, artists, talks, and locations can be found online at culturecrawl.ca/events.