What is old is new at the 46th Annual Powell Street Festival as we gather in-person to celebrate Japanese Canadian art and culture in Oppenheimer Park and Paueru Gai (the Powell Street area) this July 30 and 31! Three stages feature contemporary and traditional artists, community food vendors and crafters offer favourite Japanese delights and … Read more
Sumo Beginner Workshop Come learn the basic rules and techniques of sumo wrestling and participate in an optional mini-tournament! Join us for this free, all-ages event. No sumo experience necessary. Date: Sunday, July 10, 2022Time: 1:30-4:00pm (doors open at 1:00pm)Location: Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall (487 Alexander St., 5th floor) Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting … Read more
Paueru Mashup Dance Lessons: July 2023 Join us this summer for in-person Paueru Mashup Dance lessons at Oppenheimer Park. The Paueru Mashup is a community dance that is accessible for all ages and abilities across the country. No dance experience necessary. Free, weekly lessons every Tuesdays in July (4th, 11th, 18th and 25th) from 3pm-4:30pm … Read more
Update May 20, 2022 We regret to announce that due to COVID-19, tomorrow’s Drumming up Spirit concert, including the live stream, has been CANCELLED. Refunds have been issued to all ticketholders to the original method of payment through Eventbrite. Please note that it may take 5-7 working days to process. We thank you for your understanding, and … Read more
DTES Grocery Delivery Programs Powell Street Festival Society is proud to be able to support the Downtown Eastside (DTES) community in which we gather and celebrate every year. As part of our ongoing Community Care Programs, we collaborate on the Chinatown Grocery Program and DTES Indigenous Elders Grocery Program, which altogether deliver groceries to 190 … Read more
Hapa Collaborative on the meaning and process behind the Steveston Nikkei Internment Memorial We wanted to thank Hapa Collaborative for their support of the Paueru Gai Dialogues series. You may remember the Steveston Nikkei Internment Memorial from our 9th dialogue – this summer, we had the opportunity to talk in-depth with Joe Fry at Hapa … Read more
In Memory of Kevin Sleziak May 28, 1966 – October 24, 2021 It is with great sadness to share that our dear friend and long-time Powell Street Festival supporter, Kevin Sleziak, passed away on Sunday, October 24th, 2021 in the comfort and care of May’s Place. Kevin is known to many in the Powell Street … Read more
Welcome to the 45th Powell Street Festival! We have adapted to public health restrictions and revamped programming so festival-goers can stay bubble-safe, yet connected to the historic Japanese Canadian neighbourhood! Throughout the month of July, the festival website (www.powellstreetfestival.com) will be the hub for the country’s largest celebration of Japanese Canadian art and culture. We are … Read more
Announcing our Community Partnership with the Surrey Art Gallery The Powell Street Festival Society is pleased to announce our community partnership with the Surrey Art Gallery. The 45th Annual Powell Street Festival, taking place both online and in the historic Paueru Gai (Powell Street) neighborhood this summer, is partnering with the Surrey Art Gallery, who … Read more
Announcing the Stewardship of 360 Riot Walk The Powell Street Festival Society is proud to announce its stewardship of 360 Riot Walk created by artist Henry Tsang. 360 Riot Walk is a multilingual interactive self-guided walking tour which invites participants to trace a layered history of Vancouver’s labour politics, anti-Asian racism, and community resistance in what is today the Downtown Eastside. This unique project interweaves the narratives of racialized communities, reclaiming how and what histories are told. … Read more
Notice of Special General Meeting Wednesday, October 14 6:30 pm PST (online) An online Special General Meeting will take place to vote on an amendment to Powell Street Festival Society’s Constitution, making an addition to its purposes. To attend, members are requested to email nathana@powellstreetfestival.com to register in advance and to receive a link to the online meeting. Proposed … Read more
Thank you!! Due to the COVID19 health crisis, the 44th annual Powell Street Festival pivoted from it’s traditional in-person celebration to an online Telethon. It was a great success raising $64,389 (a ~322% increase over the initial goal of $20,000). The donations will fund our new PowellStFest Community Kitchen and help to scale the suite … Read more
Celebrate Japanese Canadian culture while giving back to your community! Join us for a LIVE online telethon August 1, 2020 from 2pm – 7pm to watch live performances, highlights from previous festivals, appearances from festival vendors, and so much more. Tune in with your family and friends to experience the spirit of the festival right from your home! The Powell Street Festival Society (PSFS) produces the annual Japanese Canadian (JC) outdoor festival that takes place in the historic JC neighbourhood, Paueru Gai … Read more
Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the 44th Powell Street Festival is cancelled as a public gathering event. The Powell Street Festival Society (PSFS) board is directing its staff to follow public safety guidelines and to continue consulting with community stakeholders to reconceptualize a safe and innovative celebration of Japanese Canadian arts and culture. “Our festival is first and foremost, a celebration of community and culture. We may not be gathering together physically but we … Read more
Winners of the 5th Annual Public Art and Design Competition for Powell Street Festival Announced Vancouver, BC (Monday, May 4, 2020) – UBC’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture students Shaheed H. Karim and Amy Wu are the winners of the 5th Annual Public Art and Design Competition for Powell Street Festival Society. The team has been awarded a $1000 prize for their proposal titled Go Kingyo, a production … Read more
The Powell Street Festival Society (PSFS) is pleased to present its inaugural partnership with the Artist in Residence Yamanashi (AIRY) program. This artist-run initiative, based in the mountainous region of Yamanashi, Japan, focuses on cultivating community, connections, and work between artists from Japan and abroad. Artists in this program are provided accommodation, studio space, local outreach opportunities, … Read more
Did you attend the Powell Street Festival on August 3 or 4, 2019? Please fill out our survey and tell us how we did! Image credit: Keric Wu
Ashi Ato: Winner of the 4th Annual Public Art Competition Emily Carr University of Art and Design student Shayla Giroux is the winner of the 4th Annual Public Art Competition for Powell Street Festival Society. Giroux is joined by fellow student and collaborator Zenyase Hunsberger for the development and production stages. The team has been … Read more
Our application deadline has been extended to March 18 at midnight! Participate in the Festival
4th Annual Public Art Competition for Powell Street Festival Presented in partnership with Revery Architecture and Abaton Projects, students are invited to design an interactive artwork for the 43rd Anniversary Powell Street Festival, scheduled for August 3 and 4, 2019. The winning submission is awarded mentorship from Revery Architecture and Abaton Projects, and a commission … Read more
Sign up for our applications mailing list. We send out a notice once annually that Powell Street Festival application are open. Our 2019 Festival applications will open early in the new year! Image by Kristin Fuchihara
