Discover the local culture makers at festivals happening throughout the year across BC’s Creative Communities. Visit exhibitions and the work of contemporary Canadian artists at local galleries, or stop by an art studio for an intimate experience. In town for a short time? Plan a self guided one-day art walk!
Our list of festivals and events are your gateway to an immersive cultural deep dive into the inner workings of the culture keepers and culture makers of the West Coast. Experience performance, dance, film festivals, studio tours, farm tours, visual arts, and music of all genres, all while exploring some of the most beautiful landscapes the world has to offer in every region of the province.
Art-BC.com is your source for all of the best BC festivals and events in the province!
Abbotsford | Agassiz | Aldergrove | Alert Bay | Armstrong | Barkerville | Bowen Island | Britannia Beach | Bowser | Boundary Country | Burnaby | Burns Lake | Cache Creek | Campbell River | Castlegar | Chase | Chemainus | Chetwynd | Chilliwack | Christina Lake | Comox | Comox Valley | Cowichan Valley | Coquitlam | Courtenay | Crawford Bay | Creston | Cumberland | Dawson Creek | Delta | Duncan | Enderby | Explore Cariboo | Esquimalt | Fort Langley | Fort Nelson | Fort Steele | Fernie | Fort St. John | Gabriola Island | Galiano Island | Garden Bay | Gibsons | Golden | Gold Country | Granville Island | Grand Forks | Haida Gwaii | Halfmoon Bay | Harrison Hot Springs | Hazelton | Hope | Hornby Island | Invermere | Kaslo | Kamloops | Kitimat | Kelowna | Kimberley | Lake Country | Lake Cowichan | Langley | Ladysmith | Lantzville | Lillooet | Lone Butte | Lumby | Madeira Park | Maple Ridge | Mayne Island | McBride | Merritt | Mission | Nakusp | Nanaimo | Nanoose Bay | Naramata | Nelson | New Westminster | Nisga’a Nation | North Vancouver | Northern Rockies | Oak Bay | Oliver | Osoyoos | Parksville | Peachland | Pender Island | Pemberton | Penticton | Pitt Meadows | Port Alberni | Port Coquitlam | Port Edward | Port Hardy | Port McNeill | Port Moody | Powell River | Princeton | Prince George | Prince Rupert | Quadra Island | Quesnel | Revelstoke | Richmond | Rossland | Salmon Arm | Saanich | Salt Spring Island | Savona | Sechelt | Shuswap | Sidney | Sicamous | Smithers | Sooke | Southern Gulf Islands | Squamish | Sunshine Coast | Surrey | Summerland | Tofino | Tobiano | Trail | Ucluelet | Valemount | Vancouver | Vanderhoof | Victoria | West Kelowna | West Vancouver | White Rock | Whistler | Williams Lake
Gabriola Island, situated about 5 kilometres east of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, is renowned for its vibrant arts community and natural beauty. Among the best things to do on Gabriola Island is visiting the Free Spirit Gallery Studio Shop, which showcases local contemporary art and offers classes and workshops for all ages, fostering a creative environment for creating, collecting, and appreciating visual arts. The Opal Jewellery Studio provides fine jewellery crafted by local artisans, offering a unique shopping experience with one-of-a-kind pieces. Prominent artist Tyrrell Clarke, BFA, known for her rich colors and contemporary abstract style, draws inspiration from the West Coast's natural beauty. With a career spanning over four decades, her work is globally collected. Tyrrell also supports the art community by establishing artist-run spaces. Her latest figurative paintings celebrate the divine feminine in nature. Exploring Gabriola’s art scene, with its galleries and artists, is one of the best things to do on Gabriola Island.
