Launched in 2023 as a collaboration between Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA, the festival has quickly become a signature summer event in Southwest Washington
VANCOUVER – The Vancouver Arts & Music Festival has received the Spotlight Award for Best Special Event from the Washington Recreation and Parks Association, recognizing the festival’s outstanding contributions to arts access, community building and economic impact.
Launched in 2023 as a collaboration between Vancouver Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA, the festival has quickly become a signature summer event in Southwest Washington. The event brings together tens of thousands of attendees each year for a weekend of free music, dance, visual arts, family activities and cultural programming.
Held in downtown Vancouver’s Esther Short Park, the Vancouver Arts & Music Festival features a dynamic mix of live performances, art exhibits, pop-up galleries and hands-on workshops. Visitors can enjoy programming from local, regional and internationally recognized artists across multiple outdoor stages, while exploring art and food vendors, interactive demonstrations and educational opportunities designed for all ages and abilities.
“This award is an incredible honor and a testament to the power of partnerships,” said Vancouver Cultural Services Manager Stacey Donovan. “The Vancouver Arts & Music Festival reflects our city’s vibrant arts scene and strong sense of community. We are especially grateful to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA, our founding partner, and to the Vancouver Culture, Arts and Heritage Commission for their unwavering support.”
Created to remove barriers to arts access, the festival provides a platform for diverse cultural expression while boosting the local economy. Organizers have prioritized sustainability and inclusion from the beginning, offering free admission, multilingual programming, accessibility accommodations and environmentally conscious event management practices.
The 2025 Vancouver Arts & Music Festival returns to Esther Short Park July 31 to August 3 with a new lineup of world-class performers, interactive arts programming and community celebration. Admission is free and all are welcome.
For more information, visit www.vancouverartsandmusicfestival.com.
Information provided by the city of Vancouver.
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Re: Vancouver Arts and Music Festival 2023 and 2024.
There’s more to the story than what the city put out forward in the article. There was an art organization, Columbia Arts Network (CAN) that put together both the 2023 and 2024 visual arts portion of the festival without financing from the Murdock’s or, with the exception of the large tent, the city of Vancouver. CAN laid the groundwork for any subsequent visual arts event and it would make for an interesting article to interview some of the principals from that group and get a different perspective on the festivals.