Friday night Opening Receptions: Select venues will be open for the opportunity to get to know the artists and connect with other arts enthusiasts. Venues that are open on Friday night (7pm-9pm) will be indicated by a yellow start in the event guide.

Demonstrations: Over the course of the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), some artists will be offering art demonstrations, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about their craft. Artists offering demonstrations will be indicated by a blue hand icon (palm up) in the event guide.

Art Activities: Over the course of the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), some artists will be hosting art activities, offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the creative process! Artists hosting arts activities will be indicated by a blue hand icon (palm out) in the event guide.

With over so many artists and art locations participating in the event, it may feel overwhelming to know how to prepare to enjoy the North Shore Art Crawl! We have some tips and tricks for you to help you feel ready to get the most out of your North Shore Art Crawl experience.

Before the event:

• Learn about the artists: Use the Meet the Artists menu option that will be linked on the left side of this webpage to learn more about the talented people participating in this years’ North Shore Art Crawl. Look out for the details in September! You will find artist bios, work samples, and links. Some artists have shared their pronouns: this information is offered to help you, so that you can ensure you are referring to artists with their correct pronouns. 
• Look for accessibility details. Each Art Crawl location is marked by a green, yellow or red accessibility icon. A green icon indicates that the space is overall accessible. A yellow icon indicates that there are two or three accessibility concerns. A red icon indicates that there are multiple accessibility concerns, and the space may be inaccessible for visitors. Further details regarding each space will be on the artists’ webpage in the Meet the Artists section of the website.
• Make a list of your ‘must-see’ locations.
• Decide which form of transportation works best for you. With Art Crawl traffic compounding regular weekend traffic, it may be difficult to find parking. We encourage visitors to walk, bike, or take public transportation while enjoying the Art Crawl. We ask that you please leave parking closest to Art Crawl locations open for those for whom accessible parking is a necessity.
• Plan your route: use the reference map in the guide as a template and use Google Maps or another online navigational tool to plan your details. Each artist’s address on their Meet the Artists webpage is linked to their Google Maps location.
• If you plan to visit multiple locations over the course of the day, make note in advance of where to stop for refreshments, access to a washroom, and other needs that may arise. Local businesses participating in the Art Crawl are the perfect space to stop for a drink or some food – we can guarantee there will be beautiful art to appreciate while you enjoy your refreshments!
• Plan to bring your children, family, and friends, but please make arrangements to leave pets at home. Service animals are welcome.

The weekend of the event:

• Wear comfortable shoes: you may end up doing a lot of walking!
• Bring cash: you never know when you might fall in love with an artwork, and some artists only take cash payment. Other artists accept e-transfer as a form of payment, so it’s a good idea to refresh your memory on your online banking login information, if you have it set up.
• Look for signage at participating locations so you know you’re in the right place!
• Engage with, appreciate, and respect participating locations and artists! Remember that local businesses are kindly offering their spaces to artists and the community for this event; please respect patrons and workers when visiting these locations.
• Always ask an artist before taking pictures of their work.
• Always ask an artist’s permission before posting photos of their work on social media, and ask if you can tag them! Artists who have social media accounts greatly appreciate the support of online attention. It is also always good to give credit and recognition to the artist, regardless of whether they have social media. Include the artist’s name or handle in the body of your social media post or as text in your story. It’s like putting someone’s name next to a quote: give credit where it’s due!

Many of the Art Crawl locations are run by artists and small businesses. While locations are making efforts to become more accessible to all members of the community, full accessibility unfortunately cannot be guaranteed at any location. We are making an effort to include as many accessible locations in our event as possible, and to provide you with the information you need to enjoy the weekend.

Each Art Crawl location is marked by a green, yellow or red accessibility icon. A green icon indicates that the space is overall accessible. A yellow icon indicates that there are two or three accessibility concerns. A red icon indicates that there are multiple accessibility concerns, and the space may be inaccessible for visitors. To learn more about the accessibility concerns the icon is alerting you to, you will be able to visit the artists’ webpage through the Meet the Artists sidebar added to this webpage in September. Details regarding accessibility will be included in the right side of the shaded box towards the top of the page, under ‘Location Details.’ Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with us directly with any questions or concerns. We can be reached by email at katherine@northvanarts.ca or by phone at 604-988-6844.

The event guide is your go-to resource for finding artists, galleries and studios participating in the North Shore Art Crawl … and year-round as a guide to local arts!

Visit the artist and gallery information page linked in the menu on your left.

Visit the host venue information page linked in the menu on your left.

During the Crawl weekend, North Shore artists open up their studios and galleries to the public, or station themselves in community hubs and local businesses, to invite the public to engage with their work, meet the creatives behind it, and develop connections with the North Shore community.

Attending the North Shore Art Crawl is always free! This is not a ticketed event.

The event guide includes each artists’ address as part of their listing. These addresses will also be included on each artists’ individual webpage, which you can find through the Meet the Artists webpages, available in September. The map in the event guide will offer an overview of participating locations in the North Shore Art Crawl, but is not intended for navigational purposes. You will need Google Maps or another navigational tool to find each location.

Event guides will be available in community hubs across the North Shore beginning in September. If you aren’t able to find one near you, you can come by North Van Arts’ office, CityScape Community ArtSpace, at 335 Lonsdale Avenue, where we will always have some to offer! You can also browse our event guide online, by clicking this link.