Departures — Reflections on Four Years with the Community Arts Council of Vancouver

After four incredible years serving as Executive Director of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver (CACV), I’m stepping away from the role and pursuing new adventures. Since joining CACV in 2021, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside an amazing group of dedicated community of artists, partners, staff, volunteers, interns, and supporters who believe deeply in the power of the arts to foster connection, inclusion, and social change.

When I began my time at CACV it was during the pandemic. We were rebuilding programming, reconnecting with communities, and reimagining what it meant to be an arts organization that works deeply in community, during a time when community was isolated due to the pandemic.

One of the greatest challenges was sustaining stability amid uncertainty. We had to adapt to shifting funding landscapes, addressing the urgent needs of artists, and ensuring CACV’s values were followed with every decision. These challenges also became our strengths as we looked towards new ways of working and finding new partners to establish our programming.

These are a few moments I’m deeply proud of from the past four years:

• Expanding the Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival (VOAF):
  • The festival has grown into a regular celebration and at one point we have toured the festival to various cities in the lower mainland from Richmond to Surrey to Port Coquitlam and more. We’ve expanded the programming and included international partners from Helsinki, Finland and strengthen local community partnerships with groups like Connection Salon, MPA Society, and of course, our awesome venue the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown.
    
• Supporting Community-Based Art Projects:
  • Over the years we have been able to engage with grassroots and community based arts projects by either supporting them as a grant sponsor or providing mentorship and administration support. Over the years we have supported groups such as Couch Jams Collective, Neurodivergent Artist Collective, Big Top Art Tent, and many more through the Community Arts Fund (CAF). These initiatives have amplified voices across the city, from food to film and using art to build bridges and foster understanding.
    
• The Future of CACV is also very exciting.
  • We will host our McBride Park Fieldhouse program for 3-years and have the ability to work with local artists in residence in the space. We could not have achieved the space without our programming committee and board members Pierre and Setareh.

It has been a true honour to lead CACV, to witness firsthand how art can transform lives, neighborhoods, and ways of seeing the world. At this point in my journey, I’ve started teaching at Capilano University in the arts entertainment management program and expanding my work supporting women of colour in the arts through Future Arts Network. I leave with immense respect for the artists and collaborators who make this work possible every day and inspired me to also take the leap and start a creative practice.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey: your trust, generosity, and collaboration have meant everything.

With gratitude,
Kristin Cheung
Executive Director (2021–2025)
Community Arts Council of Vancouver