Did you know Vancouver has several museums and galleries that you can go to for free?
That’s right, you can head to certain venues around Metro Vancouver to learn about the province’s history and see art curated by local artists, without spending any cash.
While the majority of these venues have free admission anytime you go, some only offer it on certain days of the month.
Here are eight Vancouver museums and galleries you can visit for free in 2024.
Vancouver Art Gallery
Price: Free
When: The first Friday evening of every month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: 750 Hornby St, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: Founded in 1931, the Vancouver Art Gallery is deemed one of the most innovative visual arts institutions in North America.
You can head there on the first Friday evening of every month to get in for free, just remember to book online so you secure a spot.
There are a bunch of exhibitions you can check out right now, including one dedicated to Emily Carr and another one featuring 10 previously unknown painted sketches by J.E.H. MacDonald, one of Canada’s most celebrated painters and a founding member of the Group of Seven.
Burnaby Village Museum
Price: Free
When: From May 4, 2024, to September 2, 2024, the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the museum is also open on statutory holidays
Address: 6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby
Why You Need To Go: Open seasonally, the Burnaby Village Museum is the primary historical resource for the City of Burnaby, according to its website.
Its feature exhibits include “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby,” which focuses on the stories of the city’s South Asian Canadian communities as they migrated to the area in the early 1900s.
The museum also has exhibits you can check out virtually.
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Price: Free
When: Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from April 15 to May 2, 2024 for an art installation)
Address: University of British Columbia, 1825 Main Mall, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: This contemporary art gallery is on the University of British Columbia campus.
According to its website, the gallery houses more than 5,000 artworks, making it one of the largest public art collections in B.C. It also has over 20,000 archival items featuring the post-war history of art in Vancouver and the avant-garde narratives of the 1960s to 1970s.
If you’re heading with a group of friends, you can contact the gallery to set up a group tour.
Vancouver Biennale Open Air Museum
Price: Free
When: Year-round
Address: Exhibits are in public spaces around Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: The Vancouver Biennale is a non-profit charitable organization that exhibits art in public spaces around the city.
According to its website, the exhibitions are unique because they feature sculpture, new media, film, music and performance. They also transform an urban landscape into an open-air museum.
The website lists all the current artworks and the locations in which they’re displayed.
Contemporary Art Gallery
Price: Free
When: Tuesdays to Sundays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 555 Nelson St, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: The Contemporary Art Gallery is the longest-standing independent public gallery in Vancouver dedicated to contemporary art, the website says.
Its current exhibits include one by Diane Severin Nguyen, which is described as depicting “characters driven to express the enigmatic truths of their existence.”
The Gallery George
Price: Free
When: Wednesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 140 W Hastings St, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: The Gallery George features local established and emerging painters, designers and sculptors.
Its current exhibit “Hello April” runs until April 28, 2024.
Pendulum Gallery
Price: Free
When: Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Address: 885 W Georgia St, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: The Pendulum Art Gallery runs both an ongoing exhibition program as well as a variety of shows that appeal to both dedicated and casual art viewers.
Its current exhibition “On Time” is part of the Capture Photography Festival and runs until May 3, 2024.
Chali-Rosso Art Gallery
Price: Free
When: Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Address: 999 Canada Pl Unit 312, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: The Chali-Rosso Art Gallery has dealt with art by “history and modern masters since 2005,” its website says.
The collection focuses on works by the most well-known Modern Masters like Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dali as well as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
This article’s cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
