Present and Exhibit Your Work
Richmond is home to a large number of visual and performing artists, creative workers and makers. Here are a few places to be seen.
Photo: the power was flowing in her glorious hair by Russna Kaur, No.3 Road Columns, 2018
Community Art Exhibition Space
The City of Richmond provides a number of opportunities for local artists to exhibit their work in public facilities. Application dates and submission processes vary widely between community art exhibition spaces. Visit the following pages for more information:
Upper Rotunda Gallery features rotating exhibitions in the Cultural Centre. The space is curated by Richmond Art Gallery, in partnership with Richmond Arts Centre.
City Hall Galleria displays artworks by local artists at in the main hall of Richmond City Hall. Exhibitions are curated by the Richmond Art Gallery and rotate every 6 to 8 weeks.
City Centre Community Centre, South Arm Community Centre and Thompson Community Centre have community exhibition spaces that feature work by local artists. Exhibition applications are accepted ongoingly throughout the year, with a wide artist call circulated each summer.
Gateway Theatre also has two dedicated community art spaces in their lobbies. Artists interested in applying, can reach out directly via email for further details.
Photo: Upper Rotunda Gallery in the Richmond Cultural Centre
Richmond Public Art Program
Richmond Public Art Program provides opportunities for local artists to create work to be presented in public spaces around the city.
Public Art maintains two artist rosters which includes a list of pre-screened and -selected artists for the Community Mural Program and Utility Box Wraps. The rosters are updated every 2-3 years and artists are added to the list through an application process. Subscribe to the Public Art email list and the Arts and Culture eBlast to learn about these opportunities as they arise.
Public Art often issues artist calls for public art projects and individual commissions. Artist calls vary wildly and include opportunities to display artwork on the No. 3 Road Art Columns (six artists per year), Artists Engaging Community program, and commissions to create all manner of artworks and structures for public spaces. Subscribe to the Public Art email list and the Arts and Culture eBlast to receive updates.
New to Public Art?
Download the Public Art Toolkit for advice and keep an eye out for a How to Apply for Public Art workshop through the Art at Work program.
Photo: Pianos on the Street by Catherine Adamson and Richmond Art Gallery Youth Collective, 2019
Street Banner Program
The City of Richmond Street Banner program is a civic beautification initiative that strives to engage community members to submit creative and visually appealing designs taken from around Richmond. Banner designs are selected through an annual contest that is open to all members of the community. Entries received in the banner contest celebrate the places, activities and experiences that make Richmond so beautiful and unique.
Photo: Richmond Street Banners with image by artist Glen Andersen
Participate in Richmond Culture Days
Richmond Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture. Each September and October, artists are invited to host artmaking workshops, events and creative activities. Culture Days is a great opportunity for local artists to connect with the community, share their talents and promote their creative practice to a wider audience. The City of Richmond supports artist-led activities through the creation of a robust promotional and marketing campaign.
Photo: Richmond Youth Media Lab’s Pop Up Radio Station
Artist and Writer Residencies
Richmond provides opportunities for artists and writers to work in residence for extended periods of time.
The Branscombe House Artist Residency is an 11-month live-in artist residency program in a historic home in Steveston. Artists are selected through an annual artist call for this community-engaged program that provides an opportunity for an artist to live rent-free for one year and create free workshops, exhibitions and projects with the community.
Richmond’s annual Writer-in-Residence provides professional writers the opportunity to present writing workshops, events and programs for the local community. The residency runs over two months each fall is works in partnership between Minoru Centre for Active Living, Richmond Arts Centre and Richmond Public Library.
Richmond Public Art's Engaging Artists in Community Program invites artists or artist teams to create public programs in a variety of locations across the city.
Photo: Changing Plate by Rhonda Weppler, Branscombe House Artist-in-Residence, 2016
Add your name to the Richmond Artists Directory
Richmond-based artists are invited to their names to the Richmond Artists Directory. This secure and private database helps City of Richmond Arts Services staff contact artists for future events and programs.
Photo: Gilded Cage & Sturgeon Banksii, Utility Box Wrap by Jennifer Heine, 2020
Be in the know
Subscribe to the Arts & Culture eblast to learn about artists calls, program announcements, deadlines, events and workshops.
Look at our Artist Opportunity page regularly for new programs and opportunities.
Visit our What’s Happening page to explore other ways stay in the loop.
Check out Richmond Arts Coalition, BC Alliance for Arts and Culture, Akimbo and Instant Coffee Vancouver for arts-related information and artist calls.