VMF Winter Arts Fest

Produced by the organizers of the Vancouver Mural Festival, the Winter Arts Festival features interactive displays and entertainment in February.

Celebrating its third year in 2023, the festival takes place between February 16th and 26th. Some of its events are free. Others are either ticketed or by donation.

VMF Winter Arts

The Vancouver Mural Festival’s Winter Arts Festival is a new series of events that was created during the coronavirus pandemic. It showcases beautiful art and modern technology. It also makes for a fun way to explore the city.

The Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF) is a festival that features mural paintings and live entertainment in the summer each year. The VMF Winter Arts Festival, meanwhile, is a new event, but run by the same organization.

The first edition of the winter festival ran for two weeks in February of 2021. It claimed to be the country’s first augmented reality art exhibition that was both free and open to the public.

In 2021 there were several outdoor installations scattered across Vancouver during the inaugural festival. Each installation had a QR code that people scanned with their phones to reveal creative works of art made by local and international artists.

In addition to the augmented reality experiences, the VMF Winter Arts Festival also offered free online workshops and dialogues in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library.

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2023 Winter Arts Festival

In 2023, the VMF Winter Arts Festival runs from February 16th to the 26th.

As of mid-January, this year’s festival is set to feature augmented reality installations by 4 artists and light displays by 3 artists. There’s also a sculpture and a couple of interactive installations by 2 teams.

Last year, there was a new Winter Arts “Hub” set up in the North Plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery, which was a great new addition. It was arguably the festival’s number one main attraction.

The Hub is set to return at the same location in 2023. It has a covered area where a variety of live performances take place. There are tables and chairs along with a licensed bar serving hot and cold beverages. Food trucks are on-site as well.

VMF Winter Arts Fest — The Hub at Winter Arts Fest

2023 Installation Locations

The Winter Arts Hub is located at 777 Howe Street in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery on West Georgia Street in 2023. There are a few augmented reality installations to interact with in the area.

Other lights and augmented reality installations are on display outdoors at the following locations in Vancouver in 2023:

Canada Place – at 999 Canada Place.
Bentall Centre Gallery – at 595 Burrard Street.
BC Place – at 777 Pacific Boulevard.

2023 Festival Schedule

Apart from exploring the installations on your own, the 2023 festival features different activities to do every day. A sample of the things to see and do this year is listed below.

Note: Exact details are subject to change.

Thursday, February 16th, 2023

Winter Arts Festival Opening Night Celebration from 4:00 to 10:00 pm at the Hub.
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)

Friday, February 17th, 2023

Afro-Caribbean music plus a drum clash against local Asian and Indigenous musicians at the Hub from 4:00 to 10:00 pm.
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
VMF After Dark: Black Rave (an ode to Black culture and music) at the Bentall Centre Gallery starting at 9:30 pm. (Ticketed for ages 19+.)

Saturday, February 18th, 2023

ROCK’N’BEAU dance party for youth and families at the Hub from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. (Free)
Public disco at the Hub from 2:00 to 10:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
VMF After Dark: Origins of House Music with Public Disco at 9:30 pm at the Bentall Centre Gallery. (Ticketed for ages 19+.)

Sunday, February 19th, 2023

Pretty in Black with black artists at the Hub from 1:00 to 10:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
VMF After Dark: Deep from the Underground (a celebration of hip hop culture) at the Bentall Centre Gallery starting at 9:30 pm. (This is a ticketed event.)

Monday, February 20th, 2023

Chosen Family Day with Haus of Bukuru featuring drag performances, dancing and more at the Hub from 2:00 to 9:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)

Tuesday, February 21st, 2023

Ricecake Night Market with Asian food, artists, entertainment and more at the Hub from 4:00 to 10:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023

Tongue Market with original and uncensored alternative art from 4:00 to 10:00 pm at the Hub. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
Guided Art Tours (French) at Canada Place from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
“Land & Light” conversation and storytelling at Herschel Supply Gastown from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. (By Donation)

Thursday, February 23rd, 2023

Black Queer Poetry Slam at the Hub from 4:00 to 10:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
Guided Art Tours (French) from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)

Friday, February 24th, 2023

Public disco and dance at the Hub from 4:00 until 10:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
VMF After Dark: Darker Shades with dance music at the Bentall Centre Gallery starting at 9:30 pm. (Ticketed for ages 19+.)

Saturday, February 25th, 2023

Science World on the Road at the Hub from 1:00 to 1:30 pm. (Free)
Litefeet dance battle with Chrybaby Cozie at the Hub from 2:30 to 10:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)
VMF After Dark with various DJs at the Bentall Centre Gallery at 9:30 pm. (Ticketed for ages 19+.)

Sunday, February 26th, 2023

Youth dance battle at the Hub from 12:30 to 3:00 pm. (Free)
Interactive Hustle dance at the Hub from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. (Free)
WINTOUR evening of Ballroom at the Hub from 5:00 to 10:00 pm. (Free)
Guided Art Tour at Canada Place from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. (By donation with a suggested minimum of $10 to $15 per person.)