Entry to all QAF events requires membership to the Pride in Art Society. Memberships are available for $2 online, or a $1-$5 sliding scale at the door. Please allow a few extra minutes at your first event to obtain your new card.
Art Song Lab A week-long rendition of queer programming exploring the collaborative process of poetry/music fusion, interpretation, and performance; a partnership between Art Song Lab, the Canadian Music Centre, VSO School of Music, CMC BC Creative Hub and The Roundhouse. June 20 at 7pm – June 26 at 10pm.
Art Party! Gala Opening Reception This spectacular gala event features amazing artwork, and queer conviviality to celebrate the opening night of QAF’s curated exhibition Drama Queer: seducing social change, as well as the extravagant kick off for the incredible exhibitions, performances, and outreach initiatives that make up the Queer Arts Festival. A party you don’t want to miss! June 21 at 7pm-10pm in the Exhibition Hall at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Admission by donation.
Drama Queer: seducing social change At the centre of this year’s festival is a visual arts exhibition exploring the role of emotion in contemporary queer art as a form of political practice, and a mechanism to coalesce feelings. Centred around three never before exhibited monumental paintings by Attila Richard Lukacs, and curated by Jonathan D. Katz, Drama Queer seeks to engender social change through making the viewer an accomplice, queering their perspective and engaging them from a dissident vantage point. June 21-30 in the Exhibition Hall at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Admission by donation.
Pride In Art Community Art Show This open visual art show exhibits artists at various states of career from our communities in a variety of visual mediums, from the roots of the festival. June 21-30 in the Great Hall at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Admission by donation.
Youth Curator Tour Jonathan D. Katz, in partnership with Directions Youth Services Centre presents this tour specifically reserved for street-involved LGBT2S youth, to offer them a chance to see their identities reflected in art. June 22 at 4pm in the Exhibition Hall at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Admission is free.
Curator Panel Renowned curator Jonathan D. Katz along with curated artists lead audiences through a dialogue surrounding Drama Queer: seducing social change. June 22 at 7pm in the Exhibition Hall at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Admission by donation.
Queerotica A soirée of literary readings to tantalize and titillate, curated by Dagger Editions, Caitlin Press’ new imprint dedicated to writing by queer women, including those who have identified as such in their personal history and trans women. June 23 at 7pm in the Exhibition Hall at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Admission by donation.
Queering Selfies For queer youth, the defence of our identities is wrapped into survival and self portraiture (selfies) is a grounding mechanism and easy route to compassion and empowerment. This two-day workshop for queer youth encourages the mixing and blending of text and imagery. Participants will leave with works of art printed on an antique letterpress, in addition to new skills in self reflection and letterpress printing (no experience necessary). June 24 and June 26 at 2:30pm at WePress (202-268 Keefer St). Admission is free.
Lyle Chan String Quartet: An AIDS Activist’s MemoirAcclaimed Australian composer Chan presents this visceral musical portrait of the peak of the AIDS epidemic, from his personal experience as an activist lobbying the federal government to approve experimental treatments from the US previously unavailable in Australia. The 90-minute work contains emotionally powerful music, interspersed with images and narration from Chan himself, a core member of the direct action protest group, ACT UP. June 24 at 7pm at the Performance Centre at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets $15-$30 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2552334
SongLaunch: World Premieres from Art Song Lab The world premiere of 12 new art songs by poet/composer collaborations created during the Art Song Lab program. This year’s queer edition invites writers and composers to workshop with distinguished composers Jeffrey Ryan and Chris Gatchalian and is curated by writer Ray Hsu, composer Michael Park, and pianist Alison d’Amato. June 25 at 2pm at the Performance Centre at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets $15-$25 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2552839
Queer Noise A program of Canadian media art combines presentation and dialogue to explore political intention in contemporary queer work with short film and video curated by media artist E Hearte, followed by a roundtable discussion led by Paul Wong with artists Thirza Cuthand, Blair Fukumura, and E Hearte. June 25 at 7pm at the Performance Centre at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets $10-$12 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2552890
Salon Take a minute to reflect on the exhibition with open minds and hearts and join Robin Perelle of Xtra West as well as some of QAF’s featured artists for a lively discussion on the festival’s offerings. June 26 at 2pm in the Exhibition Hall at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Admission by donation.
The Pink Line The frank theatre company presents this probing, yet funny new performance exploring racism in Vancouver’s queer community, collectively created and performed by Jotika Chaudhary, Jahanzeb Kazi, Dora Ng, Anoushka Ratnarajah and Johnny Wu, under the direction of Fay Nass. June 26 at 7pm at the Performance Centre at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets $15-$25 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2552901
A Gossamer Bit: CONTACT Contemporary Music A kaleidoscopic fusion of elements as disparate as minimalism, avant-garde jazz and Charles Ives, this immersive exploration of lesbian composer Allison Cameron’s diverse output celebrates the longstanding association between the Toronto based ensemble Contact and Cameron. June 27 at 7pm at the Performance Centre at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets $15-$30 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2552909
Young and Queer, Here and Now QAF, in partnership with MACHiNENOiSY present a performance giving voice to queer and allied youth within a professional arts platform. Demonstrating how dance can be a catalyst for liberation, self-development and social change, this program creates opportunities in which the next generation of artists may strengthen the process that explores identity, gender and community, in their late teens and early 20’s, often a time of uncertainty and self-identification. June 28 at 7pm at the Performance Centre at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets $10-$12 at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2553283
Dragging Piaf Desperate to be loved and understood, Vancouver drag queen Ed becomes obsessed with the tragic life of Edith Piaf, and painting himself in her likeness becomes, much like Edith, a creation of the streets. Tenor Frédérik Robert performs as the iconic French singer in this full-length show presented in partnership with BC Living Arts with an artist talkback to follow. June 29 at 7pm at the Performance Centre at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Tickets $15-$30 at www.QueerArtsFestival.com
Glitter is Forever: Closing Party SAD Mag presents the Queer Arts Festival’s final blowout, a revel in community hosted by Shanda Leer, with karaoke and a host of fabulous drag performances featuring Rose Butch, Alma Bitches, and Grimm, reigning 2016 Mr./Miss Cobalt champion. June 30 at 8pm in the Tabu Room at The Waldorf (1489 East Hastings). Tickets $8.50+ at www.EventBrite.ca
