For the art enthusiast and the museum lover, Vancouver is not exactly the cheapest place to be. High admission fees can be a barrier for many looking to access the local art and history scenes, so we thought we’d share some spots around the city that offer a unique look into new artistic perspectives free of charge.

Without further ado, here are 9 free museums & galleries to check out in Vancouver.

The Belkin Gallery 

Now open from renovations, the Belkin Gallery is currently hosting “Things that do not come by the road,” a UBC Master of Fine Arts exhibition until June 4th. Guests can also check out a slew of outdoor art exhibits.

The gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm from Tuesday to Friday, and from noon until 5 pm on weekends.

Where: 1825 Main Mall, UBC

Vancouver Bienne Open Air Museum

 

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At the crux of local art, social action, and community engagement is The Vancouver Biennale – a nonprofit exhibiting public art throughout the city. The Open Air Museum includes everything from sculptures and murals to new media, music, and film. The exhibition features both local talent and internationally acclaimed artists like Ai Weiwei, Dennis Oppenheim, and OSGEMEOS.

They also have two touring exhibits right now: Zarina Laalo’s Threads Through Time and Weaving Cultural Identities.

Where: Public art throughout Vancouver

The Gallery George

Recently relocated from Vancouver’s Eastside to Gastown, The Gallery George always has plenty of amazing artists on rotation. You can check out their May exhibitions before this month’s end, or mark your calendars for May 31st to June 25th, when their next “Take Flight” exhibit runs.

The gallery is open from Wednesday to Sunday from noon until 6 pm.

Where: 140 West Hastings

Pendulum Gallery

 

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Until June 16th, you can see Parker Art Salon’s What Moves You at the Pendulum Gallery, which features a mix of oil and acrylic paintings by over 50 artists from Parker Studios.

Looking for upcoming exhibits to get excited about? Mark your calendars for Reverberations by
Adele Arseneau, which debuts on June 19th and lasts until July 14th.

The gallery is open from 9 am to 6 pm from Monday to Wednesday, until 9 pm from Thursday to Friday, and until 5 pm on Saturday.

Where: 885 West Georgia Street

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Gallery Jones Fine Art

Starting June 9th, visitors at Gallery Jones can check out Michael Batty’s paintings, sculptures, and photographs. The gallery is open on Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 to 6 pm, and from noon until 5 pm on Saturdays.

Where: 258 East 1st Avenue

Contemporary Art Gallery

Vancouver’s Contemporary Art Gallery has a ton of exciting exhibits and programming in the works. Visitors can check out the summer opening reception on May 25th from 7 to 9 pm, with work by Gabrielle L’Hirondelle Hill, s7ulh waḵáy̓stn iy ta stamsh cht, and Dionne Lee.

Where: 555 Nelson Street

Bill Reid Gallery

 

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While regular admission is $11, every first Friday of the month at the Bill Reid Gallery is free for all ages. Guests have the chance to explore many First Nations’ works, including Matriarchs Seen and Unseen by Nuu-Chah-Nulth photographer Melody Charlie and Bright Futures by multiple contemporary emerging and established Indigenous artists.

Where:  639 Hornby Street

Chali-Rosso Art Gallery 

Offering a look at original works of art by some of the most well-known modern artists like Picasso, Dalí, Chagall, Matisse, and more is the Chali-Rosso Art Gallery. More recently, the gallery has come out with several sculpture exhibitions titled Definitely Dali, which bring giant Salvador Dalí statues to various public spaces around Vancouver.

The gallery is open from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

Where: 312-999 Canada Place

Equinox Gallery

Currently, Equinox Gallery is presenting a group exhibition on moments of evolution and transition in urban environments titled Paying Attention for the Capture Photography Festival. You can view the collection at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.

As for the gallery itself, visitors can check out Bobbie Burgers’ Partly Truth, Partly Fiction until June 10th.

Where: 3642 Commercial Drive

And that’s a wrap on some great free museums & galleries you can visit in Vancouver.

Curiocity Staff

With a curated slate of what matters in your city, Curiocity presents you with the most relevant local food, experiences, news, deals, and adventures. We help you get the most out of your city and focus on the easy-to-miss details so that you’re always in the know.
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