MAP 2: 29 W. Pender St., 604/558-3589, www.urbanaboriginal.org; 10am-4pm Mon.-Fri., 11am-5pm Sat.-Sun.; free
THEATER
Firehall Arts Centre
A venue for diverse theatrical, dance, and musical productions, the 136-seat Firehall Arts Centre is housed in a 1906 former city fire station on the edge of Chinatown. From the exterior, with its brightly painted garage doors, the building still resembles the fire station that it was until the 1970s. The theater produces contemporary works that highlight Canada’s multicultural communities, with productions throughout the year by an assortment of companies and performers.
MAP 2: 280 E. Cordova St., 604/689-0926; http://firehallartscentre.ca; tickets $23-33
CINEMA
Movies in the Morgue
The Vancouver Police Museum, located in the former city morgue, presents a monthly film series, Movies in the Morgue, on the second Tuesday of the month September through May. Though the setting may be spooky, they’re not all horror films. They do sell out, so book tickets at least a few days in advance on the museum website.
MAP 2: 240 E. Cordova St., 604/665-3346, www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca; 2nd Tues. of the month Sept.-May; tickets $10
Yaletown and False Creek Map 3
GALLERIES
Contemporary Art Gallery
The Contemporary Art Gallery shows eclectic works by modern artists. Even if you just walk by the small Yaletown exhibit space, check out the windows, where there’s often an unusual or thought-provoking display.
MAP 3: 555 Nelson St., 604/681-2700, www.contemporaryartgallery.ca; noon-6pm Tues.-Sun.; suggested donation $5
Equinox Gallery
Several contemporary art galleries cluster in The Flats district, near the intersection of Main Street and East 2nd Avenue, close to the Olympic Village. The largest is the 14,500-square-foot (1,347-square-meter) Equinox Gallery, in a bright orange building that once housed a tractor company, which mounts regular exhibitions of work by established Canadian artists.
MAP 3: 525 Great Northern Way, 604/736-2405, www.equinoxgallery.com; 10am-5pm Tues.-Sat.; free
Monte Clark Gallery
Monte Clark Gallery, in the same former industrial building as the Equinox Gallery, shows work by contemporary Canadian artists. Among the creatives that the gallery represents are Vancouver artist Roy Arden, Toronto-based Scott McFarland, and lighting designer Omer Arbel.
MAP 3: 525 Great Northern Way, 604/730-5000, www.monteclarkgallery.com; 10am-5:30pm Tues.-Sat.; free
Winsor Gallery
Established in 2002 and relocated from the South Granville district in 2012, the Winsor Gallery represents Canadian and international contemporary artists, including Patrick Hughes (known for his “reverspective” optical illusion paintings), sculptor Alexander Calder, and text artist Ben Skinner. Check the gallery website for a calendar of shows and artists’ receptions.
MAP 3: 258 E. 1st Ave., 604/681-4870, www.winsorgallery.com; 10am-6pm Tues.-Fri., 10am-5pm Sat.; free
THEATER
Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre
The Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver’s leading repertory theater, performs on three stages, presenting their more experimental works in the Olympic Village at the Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. This striking contemporary building features a multistory, glass-walled lobby. Recent productions in the 250-seat theater have included Peter and the Starcatcher, a prequel to the Peter Pan story; Onegin, a new musical based on the poem by Pushkin and opera by Tchaikovsky; and As I Lay Dying, an adaptation of William Faulkner’s southern gothic novel.
MAP 3: 162 W. 1st Ave., 604/687-1644, www.artsclub.com; $29-49
DANCE
Scotiabank Dance Centre
A variety of dance events, from ballet and modern to flamenco and Bollywood, take place throughout the year at Scotiabank Dance Centre, a Yaletown theater and rehearsal complex, opened in 2001, with seven studio spaces. The Discover Dance! series includes one-hour lunchtime performances by a varied range of B.C.-based companies, while the Global Dance Connections series showcases contemporary works by local and international performers. Among the recent events are Sweat Baby Sweat, a duet by Flemish choreographer Jan Martens; empty.swimming.pool, a collaboration between Vancouver-based Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg and Italy’s Silvia Gribaudi; and a new work by Vancouver’s Wen Wei Dance, led by dancer and choreographer Wen Wei Wang, who formerly performed with Ballet BC.
MAP 3: 677 Davie St., 604/606-6400, www.thedancecentre.ca; $14-36
Granville Island Map 4
GALLERIES
S Eagle Spirit Gallery
The large, museum-like Eagle Spirit Gallery specializes in Northwest Coast native art. Stone carvings, sculptures, totem poles, wood carvings, masks, and paintings by First Nations and Inuit artists are among the original high-quality works on view.
MAP 4: 1803 Maritime Mews, 604/801-5277 or 888/801-5277, www.eaglespiritgallery.com; 11am-5pm Tues.-Sun., free
S Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery
Founded in 1941 by several noted Canadian landscape painters from the Group of Seven, the Federation of Canadian Artists now has more than 2,000 members, including both established and emerging artists. In a large corner space at the east end of Cartwright Street, their Granville Island gallery exhibits work by member artists from across Canada.
MAP 4: 1241 Cartwright St., 604/681-2744, www.artists.ca; 10am-4pm Tues.-Fri., 10am-1pm and 1:30pm-4pm Sat.-Sun.; free
Crafthouse
Crafthouse, located in a cute little house, shows work by members of the Craft Council of British Columbia. Look for pieces in ceramic, glass, wood, textiles, and other media. They stock a large selection of handcrafted jewelry.
MAP 4: 1386 Cartwright St., 604/687-6511, www.craftcouncilbc.ca; 10am-6pm daily May-Aug., 10:30am-5:30pm daily Sept.-Apr.; free
Gallery of B.C. Ceramics
Owned by the nonprofit Potters Guild of British Columbia, the Gallery of B.C. Ceramics displays and sells decorative and functional pottery and ceramic work, including mugs, vases, and wall hangings, in a range of prices. In a metal-clad warehouse-style building, they also host periodic special exhibitions of ceramic art.
MAP 4: 1359 Cartwright St., 604/669-3606, www.bcpotters.com; 10:30am-5:30pm daily Feb.-Dec., 10:30am-5:30pm Tues.-Sun. Jan.; free
THEATER
Arts Club Theatre Company
Vancouver’s top repertory theater and the largest theater company in western Canada, the Arts Club Theatre Company performs on three stages around the city. On Granville Island, their shows are held at the Granville Island Stage, next to the Public Market. At this 440-seat venue, the Arts Club produces new plays, contemporary works, and eclectic musicals. Recent productions have included Mom’s the Word (from a Vancouver-based playwrights’ collective), The Men in White (by Indian Canadian author Anosh Irani), and Avenue Q, the racy puppet musical.
the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Granville Island Stage
MAP 4: 1585 Johnston St., 604/687-1644, www.artsclub.com; $29-49
Carousel Theatre for Young People
If you’re traveling with kids, see what’s on stage at Granville Island’s Carousel Theatre for Young People, a theater and troupe that produces shows for toddlers through teens. Some productions take place on their own small stage, while others are held in the larger Waterfront Theatre across the street or at other nearby venues; confirm the location when you buy your tickets. Recent productions have included Sultans of the Street, by Indo-Canadian playwright Anusree Roy; A Charlie Brown Christmas; and Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat.
MAP 4: 1411 Cartwright St., 604/669-3410, www.carouseltheatre.ca; adults $25, seniors and students $21, ages 17 and under $12.50
Performance Works
The building that houses Performance Works, a theater space used by a variety of performers and companies, including the Vancouver Fringe Festival in September, was once a machine shop, built in the 1920s. Nowadays, it no longer resembles its ind
ustrial origins; the performance area can be configured for auditorium or cabaret-style seating for 150-200 people.
MAP 4: 1218 Cartwright St., 604/687-3020, www.performanceworks.ca; prices vary
Waterfront Theatre
Confusingly, the Waterfront Theatre isn’t actually located on the waterfront, but this 224-seat auditorium-style performance space hosts festivals, theater events, and other performances throughout the year. It’s a mainstage venue for the annual Vancouver Fringe Festival in September.
MAP 4: 1412 Cartwright St., 604/685-1731, www.waterfronttheatre.ca; prices vary
COMEDY
S Vancouver Theatre Sports League
Established in 1980, the popular Vancouver Theatre Sports League performs always-entertaining improv shows at their cabaret-style waterside theater on Granville Island. Among their recent productions are Firecracker! with an all-women improv cast; OK Tinder—Swipe Right Comedy, a send-up of Vancouver’s dating scene; and Laugh Till Your Face Hurts, a two-team improv competition. Most shows have mature themes and aren’t appropriate for kids. Prices vary depending on the day and time of the show, with the least expensive performances occurring on Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Have a drink before or after the performance in their lounge overlooking False Creek.
MAP 4: 1502 Duranleau St., 604/738-7013, www.vtsl.com; showtimes vary Wed.-Sun.; adults $8-24, seniors and students $8-19
Kitsilano Map 5
THEATER
Bard on the Beach
From June through September, the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival performs several of Shakespeare’s plays under billowing white tents in Kitsilano’s Vanier Park. Established in 1990, this professional theater company has a dramatic performance space: The back of the mainstage tent is open to views of the waterfront and North Shore mountains.
MAP 5: Vanier Park, Whyte Ave., 604/739-0559, http://bardonthebeach.org; adults $20-67, ages 6-22 $20-29
UBC and Point Grey Map 5
GALLERIES
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
The Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery on the UBC campus mounts several exhibitions every year, highlighting Canadian and international contemporary art from the second half of the 20th century to the present. In particular, their shows emphasize Canadian avant-garde artists of the 1960s and ’70s, as well as emerging artists. In its boxy modernist building, opened in 1995, the gallery also exhibits works from the 2,500-object University Art Collection, including their significant holdings of collages, drawings, paintings, and prints by British Columbia’s Jack Shadbolt. Works by Emily Carr, Lawren Harris (a founding member of the Group of Seven, early 20th-century Canadian landscape artists), and First Nations artist Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun are also among their collections. The gallery is closed between exhibitions, so call or check the website before making a special trip.
MAP 5: 1825 Main Mall, 604/822-2759, www.belkin.ubc.ca; 10am-5pm Tues.-Fri., noon-5pm Sat.-Sun.; free
THEATER
Frederic Wood Theatre
The well-regarded UBC Theatre Department produces several plays every year with all-student casts in the Frederic Wood Theatre on campus. The season might include works from Shakespeare’s era to modern times; recent productions have ranged from Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II to Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information and Les Belles-soeurs by Quebecois playwright Michel Tremblay. Most performances are held Wednesday through Saturday evenings between late September and April. Admission to the preview show, held the night before each play’s official opening, is only $7 per person.
MAP 5: 6354 Crescent Rd., 604/822-2678, http://theatrefilm.ubc.ca; adults $24.50, seniors $16.50, students $11.50, ages 16 and under $5
MUSIC
S Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
On the UBC campus, the modern Chan Centre for the Performing Arts hosts jazz, blues, and world music performers, as well as early music and chamber concerts. The wide-ranging events calendar might feature a student musical group one day and an internationally known artist the next, from jazz musician Herbie Hancock to Mongolian throat singers Anda Union and flamenco guitarist Paco Peña. The Vancouver Symphony performs here periodically as well. Opened in 1997, the curvaceous contemporary building, surrounded by evergreens, has a 1,185-seat concert hall and several smaller performance spaces.
MAP 5: 6265 Crescent Rd., 604/822-2697, www.chancentre.com; prices vary
Jericho Folk Club
On Tuesday evenings from May to September, Vancouver folk music fans congregate at the Jericho Sailing Centre in Point Grey, where the Jericho Folk Club presents programs of local or touring musicians performing acoustic music in a casual setting. Doors open at 7:15pm, with an “open stage” segment, typically featuring four performers, each doing 15 minute sets, starting at 8pm. The feature act begins at about 9:15. Check their website for a season calendar.
MAP 5: Jericho Sailing Centre, 1300 Discovery St.; www.jerichofolkclub.ca; Tues. May-Sept., $10
Cambie Corridor Map 6
GALLERIES
S Bau-Xi Gallery
See what’s on view at Bau-Xi Gallery, which features regular showings of contemporary fine art in an airy, white South Granville space. Established in 1965, the gallery represents a wide range of Canadian painters, photographers, sculptors, and other artists.
MAP 6: 3045 Granville St., 604/733-7011, www.bau-xi.com; 10am-5:30pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5:30pm Sun.; free
S Douglas Reynolds Gallery
Stop into Douglas Reynolds Gallery, a white-walled, two-level space in the South Granville district, to explore the museum-quality exhibits of historic and contemporary Northwest Coast First Nations art, from masks, jewelry, and sculpture to totem poles. The gallery shows works by Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, and other notables, along with pieces by emerging native artists.
MAP 6: 2335 Granville St., 604/731-9292, www.douglasreynoldsgallery.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.; free
THEATER
Arts Club Theatre Company
Vancouver’s top repertory theater and the largest theater company in western Canada, the Arts Club Theatre Company, which was established in 1958, now performs on three stages. Their main stage shows are held at the 650-seat Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, a historic theater in the South Granville district. The Arts Club began performing here in 1998 and now produces crowd-pleasing musicals, entertaining comedies, and thought-provoking dramas on the Stanley’s stage; recent seasons have included Billy Elliot, Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, and Angels in America.
MAP 6: 2750 Granville St., 604/687-1644, http://artsclub.com; $29-69
The Flame
The Flame is Vancouver’s homegrown storytelling series, modeled after the U.S.-based storytelling organization and National Public Radio show, The Moth. The Flame hosts monthly storytelling evenings at the Cottage Bistro on Main Street. The 8-10 preselected performers in each show must abide by The Flame’s three rules: Stories must be true, about you, and told in “a few” (typically under 10 minutes).
The Flame is held on the first Wednesday of the month September through November and January through June, although schedules occasionally vary, so check the Cottage Bistro website (www.cottage-bistro.com) to confirm. Shows start at 7pm, but arrive before 6:30pm if you want a seat.
AN AIRPORT ART TOUR
Airports aren’t normally designed for lingering (at least voluntarily), but the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has made visitors’ time in the terminals more enjoyable by assembling a striking set of artworks. In fact, the airport now houses one of the world’s largest collections of Northwest Coast native art. Here’s a guide to the notable pieces to look for as you begin or end your Vancouver air travels.
If you’re arriving from outside Canada, several pieces of art welcome you into the customs hall. At the top of the escalators above the customs area, Flight (Spindle Whorl), by Susan Point, a Coast Salish artist from the Musqueam First Nation, is the world’s largest Coast Salish spindl
e whorl, measuring 15.7 feet (4.8 meters) in diameter. This circular red cedar carving uses traditional images to illustrate flight. Point also carved the two 17-foot-tall (5.2-meter) Musqueam Welcome Figures that flank the escalators into the immigration arrivals area.
Travelers arriving on flights from the United States typically walk through the airport’s “Pacific Passage,” where Hetux, a mythological Thunderbird, appears to fly above the walkway. Artist Connie Watts, who is of Nuu-chah-nulth, Gitxsan, and Kwakwaka’wakw ancestry, crafted the piece from powder-coated aluminum and stained birch panels.
One of the airport’s most famous sculptures is located between the U.S. and international departure counters. Haida First Nations artist Bill Reid created The Spirit of Haida Gwaii: The Jade Canoe, a jade green bronze cast work, in 1994. Behind Reid’s work is The Great Wave, Lutz Haufschild’s glass wall that depicts B.C.’s ocean and coastline.
In the domestic terminal, a contemporary carved and painted 35-foot (10.69-meter) cedar pole, Celebrating Flight, by Haida artist Don Yeomans, incorporates LED lights, Chinese characters, and Celtic knots along with its native imagery. On Level 2, also in the domestic terminal, look for Hugging the World, a red cedar carving suspended from the ceiling and depicting Eagle and Raven figures, by notable artist Robert Davidson. In the same area is Richard Hunt’s Thunderbird and Killer Whale and Dempsey Bob’s red cedar Human/Bear Mask.
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