Connection Salon Artist Collective Society is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Mad, neurodivergent, and psychiatric survivor communities through the arts. Our mandate is to foster dialogue, reduce stigma, and celebrate diversity by producing inclusive, accessible arts events. Born in response to the loss of vital mental health arts spaces in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, Connection Salon has become a welcoming hub for artists who have often been excluded from mainstream opportunities.
Our roots in the DTES run deep: after Gallery Gachet’s closure, our founding members created Connection Salon to ensure local artists could continue to connect, exhibit, and thrive. Since 2018, we have delivered exhibitions, workshops, and outreach initiatives-first at Lost + Found Café and now at the Gathering Place Community Centre, a cornerstone for DTES residents. Our programming is shaped by artists with lived experience, and we work collaboratively with local organizations to ensure culturally safe, meaningful engagement.
All events are low-barrier, trauma-informed, and artist-led, with a focus on equity and genuine community leadership. Through this work, Connection Salon continues to build resilience and pride in the DTES, championing inclusive arts for all.
Project Description: Mad Pride Festival 2026 is a barrier-free, two-day multidisciplinary celebration centering Mad, neurodivergent, and psychiatric survivor communities through accessible and inclusive arts experiences. “Mad” is a reclaimed identity for people with lived experience of mental health difference, psychiatric treatment, or neurodivergence.
The festival opens with an indoor cabaret-style event-already supported by the BC Arts Council-featuring performances and storytelling that center lived experience and creative expression. On the second day, the celebration moves outdoors for an accessible street festival with live performances, interactive arts workshops, community resource tables, and food. All activities are free and open to the public, with a strong emphasis on cultural safety. The festival’s mission is to amplify Mad and neurodivergent voices, foster inclusion, and build meaningful community connections through the arts.