Dear vAct Community,
Vancouver City Council recently approved a 12 percent reduction in funding for arts, culture, and community services. These cuts will no doubt have a crushing impact on our already-struggling sector, and we urge our community to keep showing up for the shows, events, and artists that matter to you.
Despite these difficulties, our work continues. Because we know that supporting Asian storytellers is a necessity. We know that producing Asian-led shows is a necessity. And we know that, regardless of what the city budget says, there is immeasurable value in the arts, and it is up to us to keep Asian artists from falling through the cracks.
This December, we need your support to keep the good work going. Donate now to help us reach our $5,000 goal by year-end. Uplift Asian voices and stand up for the arts.
And get a tax receipt!
Donate Now
To send a cheque, please include this donation form, and mail to the address indicated on the form.
Where Your Donations Went: Fall Update
This year, your donations supported 3 groundbreaking artistic teams in our experimental incubator program, vActory. For the third year at What Lab, our team has been privileged to develop the next generation of Asian Canadian artists who are fearlessly blending genres and pushing the boundaries of theatrical form – working at the intersection of contemporary dance, drag, and movement/sound collage. These interdisciplinary creators are bringing new audiences from their respective disciplines to the vAct community, experimenting with technology and innovative design to craft works that authentically reflect the multifaceted lived experiences of Asian artists today.
Your generosity also empowered 6 new QTIBPOC artists to share their voices in a heartfelt evening of performance and solidarity. In our second year at Notional Space, our Voices for Freedom & Democracy team created a gathering space where oral storytelling becomes a powerful tool for community connection and collective resilience – weaving together local and global narratives that reflect the urgent conversations of our time.
And through your support, we were able to nurture 2 new exciting Asian Canadian works by emerging playwrights. Our dramaturgy team has spent the past 8 months workshopping and developing these new works, bringing in professional designers, actors and directors to begin bringing our playwrights’ stories to the stage for you.
This month, we will be presenting excerpts from the work of our two playwrights at the vAct Creation Lab Readings — we’re so excited to share pieces of these new and important works with our generous community!
Your continued support helps us champion artists who dare to innovate, resource our community through art, and uplift new Asian Canadian stories. Together, we’ll begin these vital programs again in the new year, inviting more artists to add their voices to the pantheon of Asian Canadian works coming out of Vancouver.
Donate Now
Thank you for your support,
Derek Chan 陳嘉昊
Managing Artistic Director
