The Art Downtown Summer Program gives Vancouver artists the chance to showcase their works out in the public with live painting and demonstrations.
In 2025 Art Downtown takes place on the Thursdays of July 17th, August 7th and August 14th.
To learn about the event, visit the Vancouver Visual Arts Foundation website or continue reading.
This article contains the following information about Art Downtown:
When and Where is Art Downtown? | What Can You Expect? | Does it Cost Anything? | Tips & Advice | Other Information
The Vancouver Art Downtown Summer Program began in 2020 during the time of COVID-19. The Vancouver Visual Art Foundation teamed up with the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association to come up with a way to stimulate activity in the city’s downtown area while maintaining social distancing.
Art Downtown was the result, where local artists create and then display their works outdoors. With positive public reception, the program has run throughout the summer each year since. However, the 2025 program has been condensed into just three dates.
When and Where is Art Downtown?
In 2025 the event happens at Lot 19 which is located at 855 West Hastings Street at the corner with Hornby Street. It takes place in the plaza on the Thursdays of July 17th, August 7th and August 14th between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.
To learn more about the event and where it takes place, continue reading or visit the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation‘s website.
What Can You Expect?
At Art Downtown everything is outdoors. There’s live painting, art displays and live music throughout each event.
The aim of the program is to give artists the opportunity to connect with each other as well as with art-lovers in the community. Creating art out in public gives people from all over Vancouver the chance to see how these artists work. Another objective is to encourage people to go downtown (and to support local businesses while they’re there).
Plus, on August 14th in 2025, there’s the Art Masters Competition between noon and 1:00 pm. This is when the public can watch artists work with limited time. People can also vote for and purchase their favourite pieces.
Does it Cost Anything?
All the dates for the Art Downtown program are free for the public to attend! There is no need to buy a ticket or register anywhere before you go. Just show up whenever you want and enjoy the art. Take your credit card or cash, though, in case you want to buy something!
Tips & Advice
Below are some suggestions to help you make the most of your art experience.
TIP #1: The seawall between the Vancouver Convention Centre and Stanley Park is a great place to walk and ride a bike. Consider going for a stroll either before or after checking out the art on Wednesdays and Fridays.
TIP #2: Downtown Vancouver has some great hotels. If you want to make a holiday out of your art experience, check out the deals with StayVancouverHotels.com. The website offers bonus perks when you make a reservation through it.
Other Information
For more information about the event, visit the Vancouver Visual Art Foundation website.
The organization behind the summer program is the same one behind Art Vancouver which is a large international art fair at the Vancouver Convention Centre. In 2026 Art Vancouver runs from May 28th to 31st. It’s an amazing event, especially for people who love art.
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