North Shore Art Crawl 2025

The Underrepresented & Emerging Artist registration not only champions accessibility for underrepresented groups but also celebrates diverse artistic voices. This initiative provides a platform for emerging artists between 18-35 and underrepresented groups (Indigenous Peoples, People of Colour, People living with one or more Disability,2SLGBTQIA+ communities, other group who experience systemic barriers to participation), to showcase their talents, offering mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities. By participating, artists not only gain invaluable support but also receive a membership to North Van Arts, granting access to exclusive benefits and resources within a vibrant artistic community. Together, we enrich our cultural landscape by fostering inclusivity and ensuring that every artist, regardless of background can thrive and contribute to the arts scene. 

If paying the full cost of registration is a barrier to your participation in the North Shore Art Crawl, we have a limited number of reduced fees available. If we have run out of reduced fee spots and you are unable to pay the full registration amount, please contact the Community Events Manager, Sarah, at sarah@northvanarts.ca or at 604-988-6844, and we will do our best to find a spot for you. 

How Can You Support North Van Arts’ 2024-2025 Events?

YOUR sponsorship can support local artists, create community connections, and inspire new generations.

Consider Sponsoring these Initiatives:

Events / Arts Education / Art Rental / Exhibitions /North Shore Culture Compass / Membership & Volunteer Benefits Program

To learn more about advertising in an event like the North Shore Art Crawl, and/or becoming a sponsor for any North Van Arts initiative, please request a Sponsorship Package.

Artist’s that do not have a studio, may still participate through a partnership with a North Shore host venues program.  

Host Venue Info

If you are interested in being paired with a host venue, please email the following information to sarah@northvanarts.ca before July 12. Registration payment will be sent to accepted artists after being partnered with a venue. 

• Name
• Age Range
  • Under 18 years old
  • 18-35 years old
  • 35-55 years old
  • 55+  years old
• Select if you self-identify as belonging to any of the following underrepresented groups (optional)
  • Indigenous Person (First Nations [Status/Non-Status], Métis, and Inuit)
  • Person of Colour
  • Person living with one or more Disability
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
  • Other group who experiences systemic barriers to participation  
• Address
  – Suite #, Street name, Province, and Postal Code 
• Phone
  – (###) ###-#### 
• Email
• Artistic Discipline
• 2- 3 Photos
  Image Guidelines: 
  • Ensure images are of high quality and feature only one piece of art.
  • Images should be square; please crop them accordingly.
  • While headshots are appreciated, we prioritize showcasing your creative works.
  • Label each image with your first and last name (please refrain from including your name on the actual images).

North Van Arts will then work with host venues to select artists for each venue. You will be notified by July 19 of a venue partnership. Please ensure you complete your registration for the crawl by the deadline, July 26. 

Please note that this application does not guarantee a position in the North Shore Art Crawl or at your preferred venue, but our staff will do our best to accommodate all artist applications where possible. 

Help visitors find your location during the crawl with our branded lawn sign. Keep the sign after the event and use in future years of the crawl. 

Pay it Forward – $30 

Consider making a pay it forward donation to help cover the cost of an underrepresented artist registration 

 All registrations include 

• Registered participation in North Shore Art Crawl
• 1 x Annual Individual Membership for North Van Arts
  With registration, you automatically become a member of North Van Arts, gaining access to exclusive benefits. As a member, you’ll enjoy discounted rates on events and workshops, early access to tickets, and the opportunity to connect with a vibrant community of artists and art enthusiasts. Your membership also supports local arts and culture, helping to foster creativity and artistic expression in North Vancouver.  
• Already a member? Artists who are already members will have their current membership extended by one year from expiry date.
• 1 x North Shore Art Crawl event guide listing including bio, social handles and image
• 1 x location listing on digital and print north shore art crawl event map

• Any artist or gallery located on the North Shore (North Vancouver & West Vancouver), or hosted in a North Shore venue, can participate in the Crawl.
• Artist’s that do not have a studio, may still participate through a partnership with a North Shore host venues program. 
• If you are interested in being paired with a host venue, please read the application process listed above.
• The registration fee is the same whether you are an artist, gallery, or art space.
• All participants must be available and present between 11am-5pm on Saturday October 4^th and Sunday October 5
• We cannot accept participants that are only available on one of the dates above.
• As the crawl is focused on community engagement, we cannot accept artwork locations without an artist or host present during the event. 

• We encourage participants to host hands on activities and artist demonstrations as part of the crawl. This is not required, however having an interactive component to your location can help drive more visitors and increase engagement with your work during the event
• If you would like to host a hands-on activity or artist demonstration, you will be asked to include this information on your registration form, so that it can be listed in the event guide. 
• Participants are responsible for any planning, scheduling, and material costs for hands on activities or artist demonstrations.
• In addition, gallery or studio spaces can also choose to host an opening reception event on Friday October 3^th from 7pm-9pm. 
• Participants hosting a reception are responsible for their own entertainment, reception supplies and special events licenses. 
• All opening receptions must be free and open to the public to be eligible as part of the crawl. If you have any questions regarding opening receptions, please email sarah@northvanarts.ca

• Participants are permitted to sell their personal artwork during the crawl event. 
• Participants must provide their own cash float and sales devices if they wish to sell personal works. 

• Each participant (artist/gallery/studio) that registers for the crawl will get one individual listing in the North Shore Art Crawl event guide.
• This listing includes a short bio, location, social media handles and artwork image. (You will be asked to provide this information when you register, so make sure you have all your materials prepared before proceeding)
• Collectives – If you are part of an artist collective or group, you will have the opportunity to be listed together in the guide. You will need to indicate that you are part of a group in your application.
• Each artist within a collective will need to pay for an individual registration to receive individual listings within the guide. 

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 greenicon indicates that the space is overall accessible. A yellowicon indicates that there are two or three accessibility concerns. A redicon indicates that there are multiple accessibility concerns, and the space may be inaccessible for visitors. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with us directly with any questions or concerns.  info@northvanarts.ca or by phone at 604-988-6844.

With a large number of artists and 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:

• Make a list of your ‘must-see’ locations.
• Decide which form of transportation works best for you. 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.
• 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:

• 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!

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, 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, 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.