Categories: Things To Do

The Vancouver Art Gallery will be free for visitors 18 and under starting next month

Vancouver, Canada - June 29,2020: Teenagers are sitting in front of Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver

Young people are a big focus at the Vancouver Art Gallery – and they’re making sure they know it. Not only are they hosting more child-friendly exhibits lately, such as Kids Take Over, but starting July 1st, all children and teens 18 and under can visit the VAG completely free! (How do we get in on that??)

All jokes aside, the initiative will be in place over the next five years, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the VAG. Last fall, the Audain Foundation donated a whopping $100M to increase youth access to art and cultural programming. The April 1 Foundation of Vancouver followed suit with a generous $1M gift, making it possible for youth to receive complimentary admission while the Gallery prepares for the opening of its new building in 2027.

Photo via Vancouver Art Gallery

“Learning and Community are among our core priorities. With this initiative and the launch of our new exhibit Kids Take Over, the Gallery is playing an active role in improving accessibility and fostering creative thinking and problem solving for all ages and backgrounds. We can’t wait to welcome even more of our youngest visitors to the Gallery,” said Anthony Kiendl, the Gallery’s Director and CEO.

Photo via Vancouver Art Gallery

Kids Take Over was created in collaboration with the VAG’s education department, as well as local students. Artists Ken Lum and Robert Rauschenberg used lots of eye-catching colours in their various paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures to engage children of all ages.