Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival 2025

Location: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC
Dates: October 10–12, 2025
Admission: Free

Event Overview

The Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF) returns for its 9th annual celebration from October 10 to 12, 2025, at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre in Yaletown.

This one-of-a-kind festival celebrates artists working outside the mainstream art world, offering them a platform to showcase their creativity, challenge conventions, and connect with the community. Presented by the Community Arts Council of Vancouver, VOAF features over 400 artworks, live performances, and hands-on workshops — all free and open to the public.

Festival Highlights

Opening Event – Celebrating 9 Years of Outsider Art

• Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
• Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Location: Performance Centre, Roundhouse Community Centre
• Details: Celebrate the opening night of the festival with artists, performers, and guests. Explore the exhibition hall and experience a diverse range of artwork and performances that reflect creativity without boundaries.

Eco-Sculpture Workshop – Wall Hanging Vessels

• Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
• Time: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
• Location: Arts & Crafts Room, Roundhouse Community Centre
• Instructor: Nickie Lewis
• Details: Create a rustic wall-hanging vessel using cedar sticks, jute twine, and English ivy. This relaxed, family-friendly workshop encourages creativity and imagination while connecting art with nature.

Rising Echoes

• Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
• Time: 1:30 PM – 2:50 PM
• Location: Performance Centre, Roundhouse Community Centre
• Performers:
• Beautiful Lizards – experimental rock duo
• Kiran the Muse – spoken word and storytelling
• Plusol – ambient electronic soundscapes
• Details: An afternoon of experimental rock, spoken word, and electronic compositions that explore emotion and self-expression.

River of Voices

• Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
• Time: 6:30 PM – 7:50 PM
• Location: Performance Centre, Roundhouse Community Centre
• Performers:
• Kandy Roar – soulful R&B quartet
• Terreane Derrick – poet and storyteller
• Stanza Lune – indie pop with atmospheric vocals
• Details: A captivating evening performance blending music, poetry, and storytelling inspired by identity, resilience, and imagination.

Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival Satellite Exhibition

• Dates: October 13 – November 23, 2025
• Location: The Gathering Place Community Centre, 609 Helmcken Street, Vancouver, BC
• Participating Artists: Dharana Sage, Kevin Wong, Sarb Glaze, Rocky Riobo, Suhail Nahhas, and others.

Meet the Artists Event

• Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
• Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
• Location: The Gathering Place Community Centre
• Special Feature: Live performance by Rocky Riobo.

Featured Artists

Visual Artists:
A. Cisneros, Amal Ishaque, Jessica Hood, Klara Leppo, Michael Serroul, Mohammad Shahidi, Ramneet Kaur, Sarah Chapelas, Sepideh, Svitlana Tetokina, Victoria Bonar, Zahra Ahmad Akhoundi, and others.

Performing Artists:
Beautiful Lizards, Plusol, Kandy Roar, Kiran the Muse, Stanza Lune, Terreane Derrick.

Art Groups:
Connection Salon, MPA Society, Outsiders and Others.

About the Festival

The Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival is Canada’s only festival dedicated exclusively to outsider art. It champions inclusion and diversity by showcasing artists who work beyond conventional art institutions. Through exhibitions, performances, and community workshops, VOAF continues to break boundaries and redefine what art can be.

For full festival details, visit the official website at VOAF.ca.

Discover more local events in Vancouver at the Vancouver Page – Local Events Guide.