Culture Crawl festival returns to East Vancouver

The Eastside Culture Crawl returns to Vancouver for its 29th year Thursday.

Showcasing hundreds of artists and their process, the annual visual arts, design, and craft festival in more than 80 buildings — including 20 added in 2025.

Esther Rausenberg, artistic director of the Eastside Arts Society, says she hopes people can brave the forecasted rain this weekend.

“Vancouverites can’t shy away from a little bit of rain. If we did that, we would never go out. So do step out. Do go ‘crawl’-ing. Then bring your umbrella, maybe,” said Rausenberg, laughing.

She says Vancouver’s art scene needs all the support it can get, as artistic spaces remain at a premium due to the affordability crisis.

“We have been concerned about losing artists because the artist spaces, the studio spaces, are getting more and more expensive…. Although that continues to be the case, it seems that artists continue to find spaces to work in, that they’re able to afford for at least a little while. I don’t know for how long, but at least for a little while.”

The trade war with the U.S., Rausenberg admits, has taken its toll on artists as well.

“We do know that supplies and materials have gone up, so it costs more to produce. We do hope that people will be looking at supporting local. And if they want local, there’s nothing better than coming to the Culture Crawl because we are 120 per cent local.”

The Eastside Culture Crawl starts Nov. 20 and runs until Nov. 23.

A complete map of artist locations and a festival program can be found on the Culture Crawl website.