East Van’s parks are going to get a bit more creative this week thanks to the Vines Art Festival. Between August 9 and 19, performances, events, and exhibitions—created by artists from under-represented groups—will be turning up in public spaces across the city.

Now in its ninth year, Vines organizes inventive, creative events outside of the traditional bounds of institutions. The choice of location is deliberate: it helps trace the connections between land justice and artwork in some of the few places where the public are free to use space that hasn’t been covered in concrete or buildings.  

In a statement, organizers said, “By prioritizing the lived experiences of QTBIPOC and Disabled artists, while fostering honest ongoing relationships and conversations with our environment, we are confident the 2023 festival will showcase an ecosystem of how a community creates and heals in our own parks.”

The all-ages, free performances showcase the power of art for healing and optimism. Many events are run in partnership with other local grassroots organizations and arts groups, too, strengthening community bonds and providing space for ever-more artists to create and celebrate. 

Check out all of Vines Art Festival’s events: 

Songs of Resistance 

Songs, dances, and poems of resistance set the tone for the festival’s programming. Performances include site-specific dance and violin work, an Indian classic dance and flamenco-inspired ritual, and mixed-media music including re-worked revolutionary Filipino folk songs. There are also physical art installations by various artists, including Doaa Magdy. 

When: August 9, 6pm

Where: St'ít'eweḵw' / Stanley Park (Second Beach), 8501 Stanley Park Drive, Vancouver

Prisoners’ Justice Day 

In partnership with Prisoners’ Justice Day Committee, this memorial takes place in the spirit of solidarity with all people and communities impacted by incarceration.

When: August 10, 6pm

Where: Trout Lake Park, 2120 East 19th Avenue, Vancouver

Garden of Black Roses 

Black Arts Vancouver and Vines Art Festival collaborate for this evening of Black creatives showcasing music, theatre, dance, poetry, and community stewardship. It’s MC’ed by drag artist Mx Bukuru and features installations, performances, monologues, and art. 

When: August 11, 6pm

Where: X̱áywá7esks / Creekside Park, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver

Stoking Our Sacred Fire 

In partnership with Art Ecosystem, this evening is the culmination of their youth summer jam program. Art installations are in place alongside music and spoken word performances.

When: August 12, 6pm

Where: X̱í7nam̓ut / Pandora Park, 2325 Franklin Street, Vancouver

Our Shared Feast 

In partnership with Yarrow Society and the DTES Small Arts Grants, this event is led by local artists in the eastside to celebrate the community’s self-determination and sharing spirit—in one of the neighbourhood’s best-loved public spaces.

When: August 16, 6pm

Where: Ḵ’emḵ’emel̓áy̓ / Oppenheimer Park, 400 Powell Street, Vancouver

Rooted Relations 

Indigenous artists gather to tell stories of their land and culture through dance, words, music, or performance. Collective roots are deepened every year, while entangling new relations, and connect people to the unceded land.

When: August 17, 6pm

Where: Grandview Park, 1657 Charles Street, Vancouver

We, The Many 

We, The Many, organized in collaboration with Queer Arts Festival, foregrounds LGBTQ2S+ history, existence, and art, co-curated by jaye simpson. DJs, dancers, drag artists, and more bring their joy, alongside installations, to the area. 

When: August 18, 6pm

Where: Í7iy̓el̓shn / Sunset Beach Park, 1204 Beach Avenue, Vancouver

Flowing Upstream  

To close out the festival, Vines celebrates water—the connections it fosters and the sustenance it provides, along with its power to resist, renew, and cleanse. The all-day event runs until the early evening  roaming performances and a whole collection of installations. It’s run in partnership with Neworld Theatre and Trout Lake Community Centre. 

When: August 18, 1pm

Where: Trout Lake Park, 2120 East 19th Avenue, Vancouver