The 8th Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF) takes place at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, from Oct. 11–13, 2024.
Presented by The Community Arts Council of Vancouver (CACV), this year’s festival features 56 participating artists selected by a new, inclusive curatorial committee comprising past VOAF artists and respected community members. This approach is a shift from the previous lottery selection process, and reflects CACV’s commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices in Vancouver’s vibrant arts community. This year’s line-up features 15 Indigenous artists from Canada and beyond, 18 artists from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and 24 artists who have mental illness.
“VOAF provides a platform to showcase a unique selection of works from those on the margins — including refugees, low or unstable income groups, neurodivergent people, and more,” says Kristin Cheung, executive director of CACV. “By involving VOAF alumni in our curatorial process, we’re committed to building a strong, supportive network of outsider artists and fostering long-term relationships between participants that will grow beyond the festival. Embodying that spirit ourselves, we’re also thrilled to have even more local organizational partners this year, which allows us to offer visitors a richer community experience.”
A new partnerships for this year’s Outsider Arts Festival is the presentation of Gift of Madness, an exhibition curated by Kagan Goh in collaboration with Gallery Gachet, Workman Arts, and Voices With Impact. This Mad Pride mental health-themed show explores the therapeutic benefits of art, highlighting how creative expressions of madness contribute to both personal healing and the healing of others. Rather than focusing on disabilities, the exhibition celebrates the transformative power of artistic expression.
Presented by BC Culture Days in collaboration with Vancouver Poetry House, “Poems from the Kitchen” is a unique culinary workshop series blending food and storytelling, featuring chefs and home cooks from diverse backgrounds alongside poets who explore themes of community, identity, and inclusion. Participants will experience and learn about different cultures through cooking demonstrations, spoken word presentations, and facilitated dialogues led by artist Johnny D. Trinh.
VOAF will also feature three workshops: a sketching club with Ania Salmina, a photo walk with Cole Schmidt, and a cyanotypes workshop with Hazel Yuhang Zhang. In celebration of their 15th anniversary, SAD Mag will host a collage activity in the lounge area of the exhibition hall. The 2024 VOAF also sees the continuation of the international partnership with the Outsider Arts Festival in Helsinki, with a showcase of artists from both festivals accessible online. Works by Erin Audley, Katalina Guerrero, Alex K. Masse, and Tim Varro will be featured on the Finnish festival’s online stage.
The 2024 Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival takes place October 11 to 13, 2024 at The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews.
Visit voaf.ca to find the full program schedule, artists’ biographies, work samples, and more.