Cultural Events

To touch the soul of the nation – that’s the mission of Vancouver 2010. The Cultural Olympiad is key to expressing that soul, both within our borders and around the world. Culture is the second pillar of the Olympic Movement. As sport brings the world to Canada’s door to compete, culture opens the door so the world can discover us.

The Cultural Olympiad will showcase the contemporary Canadian imagination through a series of three festivals of popular and fine arts with performances and exhibitions by a bold spectrum of creators from across the country – with something for everyone in these culturally-diverse, multi-faceted celebrations. Working in partnership with the artistic community, the Cultural Olympiad will highlight some of the most dynamic talent from British Columbia, Canada and the world – including contemporary, classical and Aboriginal music, theatre, dance, media, literary, visual, interdisciplinary, culinary and street art.

Recognizing our region as a cultural crossroads and vital trade route from ancient through modern times, we will seek to foster exchanges and collaborations among artists across our region and around the globe. And looking to the future, we will showcase leading-edge digital art and media while we use the power of the Internet to encourage Canadians everywhere to get creative – and get involved.

At the core of the Cultural Olympiad are free and ticketed events in venues throughout the Greater Vancouver/Whistler corridor. Television, online, broadband and mobile platforms will vastly extend the spirit and power of the celebration – sharing the experience with regional, national and international audiences.

The Cultural Olympiad will build over three years, launching in 2008 with an anticipated program of some 40 to 50 events comprising more than 100 performances and exhibitions. In 2009, participation and anticipation will increase with an expanded one-year countdown celebration. And, in 2010, the Cultural Olympiad will reach its crescendo with the Olympic and Paralympic Arts Festival – a transformative arts and culture program that will create memories and legacies to last a lifetime and inspire a generation.

2008 Cultural Olympiad Celebration

VANOC will build the 2008 Celebration in partnership with regional arts and cultural organizations, enhancing existing seasonal and festival activity to create a dynamic program of events that will showcase the remarkable breadth of our creative community and its connections to the world.

Read details of the 2008 Cultural Olympiad Celebration as presented during the Cultural Olympiad Community Session, June 12, 2007 (PDF, 966KB).

Arts Partners in Creative Development

Eight B.C. organizations will share $1 million in the first round of funding from Arts Partners in Creative Development. For more details on the announcement and to see a copy of the press release please click here.

The Arts Partners in Creative Development Program is a strategic investment partnership to assist BC arts and cultural organizations in creating and developing new works, or to further develop existing works, with the intent of producing, presenting or exhibiting them at the highest standard. Partners include the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Foundation, the 2010 Legacies Now Society and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

To learn more about Arts Partners in Creative Development, visit www.artspartners.ca.

The first Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, in about 776 BC – more than 2,700 years ago. Olympia was both the sporting and cultural centre of the country, and, from the very beginning of the Games, involved both the best athletes and the best artists and performers.

When Pierre de Coubertin founded the modern Olympic Movement in 1894, he believed the new Olympic Games should continue this tradition, and made Culture the second pillar of the Olympic Movement – equal to Sport. The Olympic Charter now requires host cities to produce a range of cultural programs which focus on the culture and traditions of the host nation, involve international participation and are of the highest calibre.

The cultural programs we develop for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will reflect the great cultural diversity, rich Aboriginal heritage and lively, progressive arts scene, of both Vancouver and Canada.