A total of 8 artists from Canada, China, Colombia/USA, Cuba, France, India, and Iran participated in the Residency Program. Not only were these artists’ backgrounds diverse, but their practices resulted in an engrossing array of mediums that included audio sculpture, performance, virtual and augmented reality, paper, styrofoam sculpture, and film.

All of the artists in residence created compelling public installations and social interventions, which led to plentiful opportunities for local communities and artists to benefit from reciprocal sharing of ideas, techniques and practices, and professional networking.

In keeping with the 2014-2016 Vancouver Biennale curatorial theme Open Borders / Crossroads Vancouver, the artists represented multiple cultural backgrounds, political histories, and multiple artistic disciplines including sculpture, film, music, architecture, digital media, and spoken word.

In 2014, the Vancouver Biennale hosted 22 residency artists from 12 different nations.

The following year, in 2015, the residency program included artists from 4 different nations (Syria, India, Canada, and Australia), all of whom were hosted by Quest University, one of the Vancouver Biennale’s partners in Squamish, British Columbia.

In 2016, 3 artists from Wales, England, and South Korea participated in the Residency Program.

The Residency Program was inspired by Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream”.

“ I have a dream that one day . . .  we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.”

As part of the 2014 – 2016 Vancouver Biennale, North Vancouver’s waterfront Pipefitters Building was reimagined as a cultural workshop with a focus on Brazilian contemporary art. Transforming the historic space into a community hub, the International Pavilion exhibited installations from some of Brazil’s most significant emerging artists. The Pavilion served as a gateway to showcase the Brazilian contemporary art scene with all its richness of contemporary thinking, universality, and innovation in its creative processes.

More information about the pavilion can be found here.