VACA - VANCOUVER ARTISTS’ COLLECTIVE ASSOCIATION

• VACA is a non-profit that encourages an open and friendly community for artists by providing social and networking opportunities that support sharing information, inspirations, and collaborations.

• We work to assist artists in the pursuit of their professional careers by providing information about workshops, employment, funding, volunteer, training and mentorship opportunities.

• It is the goal of our community to solidifying the artistic scene by promoting awareness within the arts community and working with other arts organizations and businesses to improve the opportunities and prosperity of all artists.

• VACA works to promote local artists to the community at large by hosting showcase opportunities and advertising artistic events in and around the city. VACA is also building relationships with businesses to seek out opportunities for members by encouraging relationships with businesses that employ artists. 

• We are growing as a community with our members and work together to better serve the artistic community.

VACA Constitution & Bylaws

Membership: Membership is FREE for the first year. After one year of membership, annual fees will be required. Membership fees are voted on by the members every year at our Annual General Meeting. You are encouraged to promote the Collective and members and recruit potential members. As a member of the artistic community you must attend at least two events a year which include: musical gigs, art showings, social functions or any other event involving a VACA member. Members are also required to volunteer a minimum of 10 hours a year to VACA to help with events, operations, or assist other members.

Committees: All committees are run by volunteers who are committed to being a part of their community and helping artists. Committees exist based on the needs of the VACA members; to find out what committees are active, participate in a committee, or inquire about starting a new committee, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Short Term Goals:

-Build up the infrastructure of our eclectic membership and bring awareness to our group and members.

-Build and maintain our website to promote VACA and its members.

-Continue to film and photograph events and workshops of the Collective to use for promotion.

-Support the Event Committee to continue organizing events and search out opportunities for artists; and to organize workshops and socials for artists of ranging mediums.

-Support and build relationships between artists, art groups, businesses and venues.

Long Term Goals:

-Form a building committee to research, fund, and build a home for VACA. We would like to have our own building located in downtown near the W2. VACA plans to operate a social enterprise licensed coffee shop with some food items, a large walls for gallery space and small stage for live performances and casual jamming. This would be open to the public to help generate income and exposure for VACA and members.

-Host a gala event to showcase work VACA has been doing. We plan to invite the Lieutenant Governor, Mayor and Premier, the Arts’ Council, Vancity, other potential investors and well known local artists. The event will begin with a cocktail period where visual art is on display, followed by an evening hosted by our most charismatic member explaining who and what the Collective Artists’ Association is. We would also have live music, dancing, stand-up comedy and a small theatrical piece during the meal to entertain our guests and showcase our members.

-Building expansion in future: we would like to add one equipped photo studio available for rentals (members have discounted fees), but can also be used for training courses and workshops. One sound studio to record CDs for members (which can be sold in the coffee shop and we would like to explore other distribution opportunities) and be used for interviews for members’ radio programs (aired on local stations or by podcast). Additionally we would like to have an office and boardroom available to rent out to our artists for meetings with clients. By having this space VACA can be independent of grants and set a financial model for artists in their own businesses.

-We want a self-sustaining community that helps to build up artists and provide them with the marketing support they need. We know we have valuable talent; we just need a forum to launch ourselves and make it easier for artists to get the support they require on their journey to the top.