The city has a number of notable theatre troupes, including Bard on the Beach and the Arts Club Theatre Company, as well as many other, smaller companies. The Vancouver International Film Festival takes place annually and screens more than 350 films. Many museums and galleries are scattered throughout the city, including the popular Gallery Row in South Granville.

The Vancouver area is often recognized for its abundance of Aboriginal art, both traditional and contemporary, and artworks inspired by the various indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest region. The work of Emily Carr, an artist from Victoria who lived from 1871 to 1945, highlighted the art styles and objects of regional First Nations in her many paintings. Public exhibits of Aboriginal artwork - often contemporary artists working in traditional styles - can be seen in many galleries and public spaces around the city. As well, a number of totem poles, and wood carvings from the three First Nations native to the land (Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam) adorn the green spaces of Stanley Park and K'san totem poles are erected in the Vancouver Airport.

ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS

• The fifth-largest art gallery in Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery has a permanent collection of more than 10,000 objects, including many pieces by prominent Canadian artists Emily Carr, the Group of Seven, and Jeff Wall. Founded in 1931, the gallery's current location in the former provincial courthouse(now a National Historic Site of Canada) offers more than 40,000 square feet of exhibition space, a gift shop, cafe, and library.

  Though many of the gallery's collected works are by regional artists, also included are Dutch paintings from the 1600s, photography, and conceptual art. In the adjacent library, more than 45,000 books and catalogues and many other visual and audio documents are housed, which specialize in Canadian, contemporary, and modern art.

• The Contemporary Art Gallery showcases temporary exhibits from local, national, and international artists. In the past, they have featured the work of Vancouver artists Ian Wallace, Stan Douglas, and Liz Magor, as well as international names Rachel Harrison and Ceal Floyer.

  Established in 1971, the CAG began as a program that hired local artists to create art over a six month period for the City of Vancouver Art Collection. In 1996, it became an independent public art gallery, and today the organization not only hosts exhibitions, but offers education and outreach programs, visiting artist and curator lectures, and public talks. The site also produces publications and has an on-site library.

• Emily Carr University is home to three art galleries: Charles H. Scott Gallery, the Media/Concourse Galleries, and ie Gallery. Together, they offer an array of exhibitions that showcase work by established artists, students enrolled in the university's undergraduate program, and those receiving their Master's degree.

  In addition to exhibits, the Charles H. Scott gallery works to engage the art community with research, publications, and public talks and events that "investigate and promote contemporary creative production."

• At the Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery in Gastown, Pacific Northwest Coast and Inuit artwork is featured exclusively, providing a viewing venue for the curious, and an excellent selection for collectors. The gallery showcases prints, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, textiles, totem poles, and more, thereby fully encompassing the eclectic style and mediums of these talented artists and the traditions that inspire them.

  Among those featured in the gallery are Inuit artists Mathew Aqigaaq, Padlaya Qiatsuq, Pavinaq Petaulassie, and Northwest Coast artists John Alexander, Stan Bevan, Calvin Hunt, and Tracy Starr.

• Museum of Vancouver
• Science World
• Museum of Anthropology at UBC
• H. R. MacMillan Space Centre
• BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
• Beaty Biodiversity Museum
• Chinese Cultural Center Museum
• Artelier Gallery
• Appleton Galleries
• Buschlen Mowatt Gallery
• Equinox Gallery

ARTISTIC INSTITUTIONS

• The Emily Carr University of Art and Design opened in 1925 as the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, and originally served just 90 students in Vancouver, British Columbia. Many well known Canadian and European artists taught at the school, including Group of Seven member Fred Varley. The school's first graduating class consisted of nine women and two men, and the onset of the Depression encouraged artistically inclined young people to pursue the design courses offered.

  In 1978, the school was officially renamed the Emily Carr College of Art. By the time it attained University status in 2008, the facility was a sought after destination for those seeking a career in the arts. Students can achieve a Bachelor of Design, Fine Art, or Media Art, with concentrations in film, photography, ceramics, drawing, interaction design, animation, and many more. Graduate programs are also offered in the areas of digital media, design, and applied arts.

• With campuses in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey, Simon Fraser University is an accessible and popular choice for students seeking a wide range of education options. Established in 1965 and often rated Canada's best comprehensive university, the school offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to its 35,000 students in 8 faculties and more than 240 programs.

  Artistically inclined scholars can study film, visual arts, design, media arts, and theatre, as well as pursue a Master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies or Media Arts. Multiple art galleries are housed on the various campuses, including the SFU Gallery in Burnaby and the Audain Gallery and Teck Gallery in Vancouver.

• The University of British Columbia was established in 1908, and has had through its doors seven Nobel Prize winners, 69 Rhodes Scholars, and two Canadian prime ministers. Nearly 60,000 students study in 19 faculties divided between the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses, in more than 300 programs.

  Students can enrol in art history and visual culture, film studies or production, museum studies, or visual art. In addition to undergraduate and honours degrees, the school also offers Master's of Fine Arts in interdisciplinary studies, visual arts, and art history, and select post-graduate doctoral programs as well.

• Study fine art, creative writing, professional photography, or theatre arts at Langara College.

• The Visual College of Art and Design offers programs in graphic, fashion, and interior design, as well as game development and animation.

• Gain a diploma in animation, game art, digital photography, visual effects, and more from the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts.

• Rusart Fine Arts Co. offers classes in mixing colours, perspective drawing, still lifes, oils, watercolours, and much more.

• Teens and kids can take classes in illustration, graphic arts, painting, and plein air painting at Vancouver Fine Art Atelier.

A moonlit night along the water

LOCAL ARTISTS

There are plenty of artistic people originally from, or currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia!

• Vikky Alexander is a contemporary artist who works in photo-conceptualism and installation styles. Her work has been shown around the world, including Japan, Korea, New Zealand, and Europe.

• Printmaker, painter, film artist, and more, Audrey Capel Doray has had her work featured in the Tate Modern in London and the National Gallery of Canada.

• Stan Douglas creates video and audio installation pieces, as well as photography. His work focuses on modernism and "obsolete technologies," and has been shown in exhibitions around the world.

• A conceptual photographer who was part of the Vancouver School of artists, Ian Wallace has been exhibiting his paintings and photography on an international scale since the 1960s.

• Haisla Collins is a contemporary aboriginal artist whose expressionist pieces showcase her study of the art of many cultures. She works in paint, screenprint, digital, and graphite media.

• A renowned artist who worked as a sculptor, screen printer, painter, and metalsmith, Bill Reid (1920-1998) created art influenced by the Haida traditions of his ancestors. Some of his recognizable sculptures were featured on the Canadian $20 bill from 2004-2012.

• To view and purchase artwork by more local artists, visit our Artist Gallery page.

ART AND CULTURAL EVENTS

Annual Events

• The Harmony Arts Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia began in 1990. Showcasing visual art, music, and culinary delights together in "harmony", the festival draws nearly 150,000 visitors over its 10-day run. In addition to the Art Market, where tents of artists selling their wares line the streets, the event also hosts art workshops and three exhibits. The festival begins at the end of July.

• Running for four days in late May, Art Vancouver is a "world class" art festival, that features work by local and international galleries and artists. The first international art fair held in the city, the event was inspired by the renowned Art Basel and celebrates its inaugural show in 2015.

• VanCAF is Vancouver's comic arts festival, which has run over one weekend in May each year since 2012. With readings, panels, and workshops led by local and visiting comic artists and cartoonists, the event draws more than 8,000 guests to more than 260 booths and exhibitors. The festival is organized by the Vancouver Comic Arts Association, and offers free admission.

Other Events and Sights to See

• Cross the Capilano River seventy metres up on the Capilano Suspension Bridge, a 140 metre-long pathway built in 1889.

• The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is widely renowned for its art and history displays showcasing objects from cultures around the world.

• Take part in interactive displays and exhibits at Science World, housed in the original Expo Centre from the 1986 World Exposition.

• The Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park has sea lions, penguins, seals, and dolphins, with special shows on every day.

• Catch an NHL game and see the Vancouver Canucks in action at Rogers Arena. The 475,000 square foot venue also hosts concerts and other sporting events.

• The Queen Elizabeth Theatre was erected in the 1950s, and is a great place to see the Vancouver Opera or a touring musical show.

• For more great things to see and do in Vancouver, visit the Tourism Vancouver website.

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