40 New Murals in Vancouver To Bring Life to a Boarded Up City
byThe Vancouver Mural Festival is bringing life to boarded up Downtown Vancouver, Robson Street and South Granville with 40 new artworks during COVID-19 isolation.
40 New Murals in Vancouver To Bring Life to a Boarded Up City
A few weeks ago, as local grassroots art projects began popping up on boarded up businesses in Gastown and the Downtown Eastside, Vancouver Mural Festival (“VMF”) approached some of the City’s other impacted neighbourhoods to see if there was an opportunity to collaborate.
“Many local stores and restaurants may be temporarily closed for business due to COVID-19, but they remain open for inspiration,” says Clayton Buckingham, Chief Financial Officer at Vancity.
The result is these 40 murals with all artists paid and their supplies covered thanks to the incredible support of the local BIAs as well as key funding from Vancity Credit Union who will be matching all artist honorariums. Paint is provided by the City of Vancouver’s Mural Support Program.
The the first wave of murals is going up over the next week, throughout 40 locations across Downtown, Robson Street, and South Granville and will feature images intended to spark joy, inspire hope and celebrate resilience.
The team behind the VMF has always believed in the power of public art to connect communities, inspire creativity, support artists, and bring smiles to everyday lives. Over the past 5 years, VMF has transformed blank walls in Mount Pleasant and throughout Greater Vancouver into over 200 murals by artists from our city and around the world. You can search them all online here.
VMF wishes to stress that City of Vancouver COVID-19 social distancing rules remain in effect. All artists will be following health and safety regulations. Please respect all guidelines for physical distancing.
Follow the hashtag #makeartwhileapart to see the art in progress and the final before and after shots via the @vanmuralfest Instagram and Facebook.
