The 23nd Annual Eastside Culture Crawl brings art lovers from all around Metro Vancouver to East Vancouver, November 14 to 17, 2019. For four days, more than 500 artists will open their studios, garages, and display their artwork for the public during Vancouver’s favourite celebration of visual arts, design, and crafts.
Taking in the Vancouver area bounded by Columbia Street, 1st Avenue, Victoria Drive, and the Waterfront, the Eastside Arts District is home to the highest concentration of visual artists, designers, and craft makers in Canada. The Crawl welcomes arts patrons and collectors, community builders, and inquisitive tourists to explore this community of artists through on-site visits, and interactive installations. This year, the Eastside Culture Crawl offers an expanded lineup of events with the addition of the Displacement Exhibition and a series of free artist talks hosted at various studios throughout Vancouver’s Eastside.
“Each year, we welcome visitors to discover the creativity and richness of the Eastside Arts District. For our 23rd annual Crawl, we are also imparting an urgent message through our new Displacement Exhibition, that this vibrant community needs more support,” says Esther Rausenberg, Executive Director of the Eastside Culture Crawl. “As Vancouver’s artists continue to face immense hardships such as renovictions, rising rents, and dwindling studio availability, it’s imperative we come together to protect creative spaces and celebrate the integrity of this incredible, industrious community and recognize the positive impact artists have on our society.”
More people are responding to this dynamic visual arts community than ever before. While the Crawl has grown in size and attendance every year since its inception in 1994, last year the festival saw record-breaking attendance with more than 45,000 people (30% more than the previous year) meeting artists, exploring studios, and participating in workshops over the course of four days.
A highlight of Vancouver’s arts and cultural calendar, the Eastside Culture Crawl attracts returning visitors and first-timers from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond each year to explore the Eastside Arts District. The Crawl provides visitors with a behind-the-scenes peek into life as an artist, allowing them to engage with different forms of art, including painting, sculpture, pottery, photography, jewelry, glass art, furniture, and much more.
Before the Eastside Culture Crawl gets underway on November 14th, the public is invited experience some of the pre-festival feature presentations, workshops, demonstrations, and exhibitions, including:
DISPLACEMENT: EASTSIDE CULTURE CRAWL SPECIAL EXHIBIT
A juried exhibition of works by Metro Vancouver visual artists who have faced the challenges of eviction or have found ways to survive displacement.
On at the following venues:
ARTS FACTORY (281 Industrial Avenue)
Until November 10, 2019
FIREHALL ARTS CENTRE (280 E. Cordova Street)
Until November 24, 2019 | Opening Reception: November 6, 2019, 5-7pm
THE CULTCH (1895 Venables Street)
Until November 24, 2019 | Opening Reception: November 6, 2019, 6-8pm
ALTERNATIVE CREATIONS GALLERY (1659 Venables Street)
Until November 17, 2019 | Opening Reception: November 6, 2019, 6-8pm
TALKING ART
November 4–8, 2019 at 7pm | November 9, 2019 at 2pm
A curated series of intimate and entertaining talks by 2019 Culture Crawl artists, designers, and craftspeople, at various studios.
MOVING ART: CULTURE CRAWL’S SIXTH ANNUAL PROJECTION OF FILM & VIDEO
November 14–17, 2019 | Noon to 11pm daily | Strange Fellows Brewing (1345 Clark Dr)
A showing of evocative, art-based, contemporary silent films.
CLOSING FILM NIGHT WITH MARINA ROY
November 22, 2019 at 7pm | The Arts Factory (281 Industrial Ave)
ECCS and Cineworks present an evening of films with cross-disciplinary artist and UBC Associate Professor Marina Roy.
Eastside Culture Crawl runs November 14 – 17, 2019 in the Eastside Arts District. For full listings and details for all events, artists, talks, and locations visit culturecrawl.ca/events.