Arts and culture are integral to a city’s distinct personality and flair, which is why we're committed to connecting locals with their civic spaces through programming, events and partnerships.
Vancouver Civic Theatres looks to use its venues as gallery space to provide an opportunity for local visual artists and arts organizations to exhibit their work. These artists are selected through a call and jury process which occurs annually. The artists range from emerging and mid-career to more established artists. Our intention is for both artists and visitors to experience and share in the work, using art as a catalyst for individual and community engagement.
Exhibitions will be available for viewing during show times for ticket holders. There will also be opportunities to view the exhibitions without a ticket through our seasonal Visual Arts Open House.
Check back in spring of 2025 for next year's Call for Artists. Follow us on social media for announcements.
Summer Exhibition in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Lobbies
July 2024 to September 2024
Brandy Mars - Young And In Love - a collection of romantic paintings of gay elderly couples
Young And In Love is a collection of romantic paintings of gay elderly couples. This work challenges the beauty standards of aging as well as depicts LGBTQIA couples in their later years, something rarely seen. The invisible cloak of age is not unlike the cloak that gay people used and still use today to hide being queer. For political and safety reasons, the people in these paintings have had to hide their relationships, often for the entirety of them. The word lesbian in particular has been tarnished and we often forget that the “L” was moved to the beginning of “LGBTQIA” due to the massive support lesbians gave to those suffering during the HIV epidemic. Reclaiming that word and also reclaiming visibility is a true act of Pride. The artist thanks you for visiting her work during Pride season and for giving voice to those who have been silenced for so long.
Meesh QX - Reharmonized
With soft layers of overlapping forms, this series of double exposure photographs explores the chance recombination of imagery through the light-bound chemistry of photography. Double exposure photography layers two distinct images atop one another merging them into a singular composition. By exposing the roll of film twice, the process introduces an element of chance, determining how the images will overlap and interact. For the artist, working with this method has been a delightful way to balance the technical elements of photography with a spirit of playfulness and surprise. This series of photographs was created on the Unceded Traditional Territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, the land also known as Comox, BC.
Summer Exhibition in the ANNEX
May 2024 to Aug 2024
Alini Garcia - Urban Glow
As an abstract artist, Alini Garcia explores the concept of motion and colorfulness. Her artwork serves as a medium for expressing her personal stories and emotions, giving rise to vibrant compositions that forge deep emotional connections with viewers. Through the interplay of vibrant compositions and diverse techniques, her goal is to transcend cultural and language barriers. She aims to utilize art as a catalyst for empathy and introspection. With each brushstroke and color choice, Garcia embarks on a profound journey of self-exploration, inviting viewers to join her on this transformative path. She creates art that resonates with viewers, leaving a lasting impact and empowering them to delve into their own narratives and emotions in a profound and meaningful way.
Vancouver Community College - Jewellery Art and Design Graduates exhibit
Queen Elizabeth Theatre - Balcony Lobby
VCT’s creative spaces showcase and empower local artists and artist collectives by providing accessible and high impact gallery spaces. VCT’s partnership with the Vancouver Community College allows graduates of the Jewellery Art and Design program to display their award-winning work on the balcony level of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre lobby.
The current exhibition features work from Alessandra Mei, Wendy Joy, Noa Capelle and Braden McGraw.
Arts Umbrella - Gallery for Young Artists
Vancouver Playhouse Lobby
VCT proudly celebrates the work of young artists enrolled in the Arts Umbrella Foundation Program. The Foundation Program provides a multi-disciplinary experience for students aged 7-12 with an emerging interest in Art and Design. The students are exposed to many creative disciplines throughout the yearlong program, where they are able to experiment with new forms of working.
VCT’s partnership with Arts Umbrella brings local young artists to the forefront of the artistic community by displaying the students’ year-end pieces in the lively lobbies of the Vancouver Playhouse.
Arts Umbrella’s Foundation Program is generously supported by the Poseley Family.
Platforms
Over the course of two years, Platforms: Nine Places for Seeing will be showcased on multiple public platforms throughout the city and will present new works regularly.
It will feature newly commissioned works by 21 local xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and urban Indigenous artists.
We are proud to host three of the artists, Olivia George on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre windows, Atheana Picha on the Vancouver Playhouse windows and Aaron Nelson-Moody on the šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn lightbox.
For more info go to: Nine Places for Seeing