Eastside Culture Crawl shines spotlight on Vancouver's makers

Vancouver’s Eastside is home to some of the city’s most influential, up-and-coming, and innovative creators. From painters and sculptors, to jewelers and glassblowers, names both locally loved and internationally renowned reside in this vibrant neighbourhood.

The Eastside Culture Crawl is a staple of Vancouver’s arts scene, starting life as a fundraiser in 1994 that featured just four artists. Now, the Eastside Crawl presents over 450 artists across 82 buildings, for four days of creativity, creation, and ambition.

“What we offer that’s just a little different from the other art venues is that this is a more informal ‘Welcome to our studio,'” Esther Rausenberg, Executive Director of the Culture Crawl told Vancity Buzz. “[People can] come and see how we make our work, and why we make our work, and [it’s] an opportunity to engage directly in a dialogue with the artist.”

Rausenberg says her favourite part of the event is that every event is full of surprises for artists and attendees alike.

“You know never know the direction an artist is going to go,” she says. “I went to their studio last year and I looked at their work I’m not sure I’m going to see anything that’s even remotely connected to what they were doing last year. Artists are constantly innovating and changing and creating, and they’re inspired by so many different factors. For me, it’s just the sheer awe of what artists and are going to come up with this year.”

The Eastside Culture Crawl

When: Now until Sunday, November 22

Time: Friday 5 to 10 p.m. / Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Various locations