Queer Arts Festival + SUM gallery

Queer Arts Festival + SUM gallery We are a summer arts festival + year-round Queer-mandated art gallery in Vancouver, BC Visit www.sumgallery.ca for year-round programming and events.

Visit www.queerartsfestival.com for our summer festival lineup.

SUM gallery's first exhibition of 2026, Gender Mutual brings together six trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming ar...
01/10/2026

SUM gallery's first exhibition of 2026, Gender Mutual brings together six trans, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming artists — Liam Murley, Taliruq, Dee Twentee, Paige Bowman, Addison Finch, and curator-artist Jamie Lauder — whose practices illuminate the deeply personal, expansive, and often nonlinear journeys of living beyond the gender binary. Following a month-long residency at SUM gallery, the exhibition foregrounds self-determined narratives, embodied histories, and the many ways gender is shaped, challenged, and reimagined across diverse lived experiences. Through painting, textile art, photography, media work, and costume design, Gender Mutual amplifies voices often overshadowed, inviting audiences into a space of reflection, resonance, and possibility.

Join us for the Opening Reception on Thursday, January 22, 5–9pm. Free registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/gender-mutual-opening-reception-tickets-1979942977745?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please note: to accommodate members of our community, from 5–6pm the Opening Reception will be masks mandatory; from 6pm to close, masks are recommended. Masks and hand sanitizer will be available at the reception desk.

Happy New Year! Join us at SUM gallery this Saturday for a free Open House, featuring our first artist-in-residence of 2...
01/08/2026

Happy New Year! Join us at SUM gallery this Saturday for a free Open House, featuring our first artist-in-residence of 2026: Deon Feng!

Inspired by the artist's personal experience working at a Chinese restaurant in Paris, Service Surface is the result of a month-long exploration into the tenuous negotiations between artistic creation and racialized service labour. Specifically, the residency examines "the Chinese restaurant" no longer as a backdrop in service, but as its own creative site of culture-making. Featuring artefacts of time theft on the job, ephemera from SUM gallery's own surrounding restaurants, and photographs of the artist's DIY bedroom-darkroom, this new body of work presents the messy metonymies between labour and art, service and surface. "Where should we go after the reception?"

Free registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/service-surface-open-house-tickets-1979936926646?aff=oddtdtcreator

12/30/2025

What an eventful year 2025 has been! Here's a look back on all of the memories throughout the year✨

Thank you to every artist, supporter, volunteer, and friend who showed up and helped us keep q***r creativity alive and thriving🌈

We will return in just a few days, on January 6th, to bring you more exciting and thought-provoking programming in 2026! ✨

Happy New Year, divas 🥂💖🌟

xoxo

QAF+SUM Gallery Team

Pride in Art Society (SUM gallery + Q***r Arts Festival) is HIRING for three positions through WorkBC’s JCP program. The...
12/05/2025

Pride in Art Society (SUM gallery + Q***r Arts Festival) is HIRING for three positions through WorkBC’s JCP program. These positions are Fixed Term Contracts of 35 weeks:

💼Arts Programming Coordinator
💼Operations Coordinator
💼Social Media & Outreach Coordinator

The Arts Programming Coordinator supports senior staff in curating, planning, and delivering programming for the SUM + QAF 2026 season, working collaboratively with staff, artists, and community partners to ensure high-quality, inclusive, and engaging arts programming.

The Operations Coordinator supports the senior staff in delivering the SUM gallery and Q***r Arts Festival programming, providing administrative support, and working collaboratively to assist with the day-to-day operations of the Society.

The Social Media & Outreach Coordinator assists in implementing Pride in Art’s online communications and digital marketing to maintain/increase presence and relevance in the community throughout the year. They would collaborate with the team to ensure that the digital marketing strategy is executed and that the events of the Pride in Art Society are recorded and shared through social media platforms.

Ideal candidates should have a passion for the arts, an awareness of the q***r community, and would like to gain hands-on experience in the arts and culture sector.

To read the full job descriptions, please visit the link in our bio or sumgallery.ca/job-opportunities/

How to Apply: Please get in touch with your nearest Employment Services Centre (www.workbc.ca).

For more information from Pride in Art Society, please email jobs@q***rartsfestival.com.

✨𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆✨(December 6th) will be the final day of .chi 's solo exhibition, 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭. 👹The gallery is ope...
12/03/2025

✨𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆✨(December 6th) will be the final day of .chi 's solo exhibition, 𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭. 👹

The gallery is open 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 12–6 PM, rain or shine ☀️🌧️

Come and visit💕🌈✨

12/02/2025

It's Giving Tuesday again! 🌈✨

This year, we asked our team for their favourite ways to support the q***r art you love:
1️⃣ Make a donation to QAF + SUM.

Big or small, every contribution helps us bring you the high-flying, risk-taking q***r art that inspires, unites, and sparks conversation. If you’re able to give, it truly means the world to us. (Link in bio!)

2️⃣ Volunteer with us during festival season!
Donating your time during festival season helps us immensely in running the festival smoothly and engaging with our community.

3️⃣ Visit our gallery for exhibitions and festival programming.
Lastly, attending our exhibitions and festival programming helps us gauge engagement, and you can experience the transformative power of q***r art!

Thank you for supporting QAF+SUM Gallery

11/28/2025

Here's another clip from the conversation we had with Makoto Chi, where he goes in-depth about his fascination with Yokai and how it influenced his work for An Auspicious Beast👹

You can now watch the full interview on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iztRo2zEwxA

Don't forget to come experience the exhibition in person at the SUM Gallery, Tuesday - Saturday from noon to 6 pm, until December 6, 2025! 🔥

On this , QAF + SUM gallery honours the pioneers, artists, activists, and everyday heroes in our Trans community who we...
11/20/2025

On this , QAF + SUM gallery honours the pioneers, artists, activists, and everyday heroes in our Trans community who we have lost to senseless violence and hatred.

We reaffirm our commitment to supporting and protecting trans artists, as well as uplifting trans voices and creativity as a part of our mandate here at QAF + SUM. As it is a day for reflection, mourning, and honouring our community members, we encourage everyone to participate in community events today to hold space for one another:

QMUNITY is hosting their annual community gathering at The Birdhouse from 5pm onwards, and is hosting an event at 7pm in MacLean Park.

What's On Q***r BC created a dedicated page featuring more community events and vigils hosted around town today: https://whatsonq***rbc.com/q***r-diversions/trans-day-of-remembrance

11/20/2025

Right before the opening week, Makoto sat down with us for a fascinating conversation — from the role of fantastical imagery in q***rness to (very importantly) his favourite yokai👹. Here’s a moment from our conversation, where he reflects on the impermanence of the mural that backdrops Makoto's twelve paintings, and what that means to him.

𝐀𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 runs at SUM gallery, Tues - Sat, noon - 6pm, until December 6th. Come and visit!✨🌈

The full interview drops next week on our TikTok, with a full transcript available on our website 👀

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SUM gallery and the QAF office will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, for Remembrance Day. We reopen on Wednesday, Nove...
11/10/2025

SUM gallery and the QAF office will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, for Remembrance Day. We reopen on Wednesday, November 13, from 12 - 6pm. See y'all soon!

10/24/2025

A lot of folks have asked about Makoto Chi’s stunning mural that’s currently on display at SUM gallery. Weeks before the exhibition opening, Makoto did an artist residency at SUM, creating the mural bit by bit, day by day. This time lapse video gives you a bit of a glimpse into the incredible amount of work that went into bringing the gallery walls to life!

Come and witness the immersive energy for yourself at the SUM Gallery👀The exhibition is open Tuesday to Saturday from 12-6 PM✌️

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Announcing our fall/winter exhibition at SUM gallery! Join us on Thursday, October 16, for the opening reception of 𝘼𝙣 𝘼...
10/01/2025

Announcing our fall/winter exhibition at SUM gallery! Join us on Thursday, October 16, for the opening reception of 𝘼𝙣 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝘽𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩, a solo exhibition by 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗶.

Using materials as disparate as Sumi ink, blood, and spit, Makoto Chi creates images of yokai and golems as an exploration of q***rness, myth, and cultural heritage. Twelve new paintings, presented kakejiku-style throughout SUM gallery, complement a mural painted directly onto the gallery walls. An Auspicious Beast is the culmination of Makoto Chi's monthlong artist residency at SUM. The exhibition run will also include a "Make Your Own Yokai" linocut print workshop + artist talk on October 25, presented in partnership with Powell Street Festival Society.

An Auspicious Beast runs Tues - Sat, noon - 6pm, Oct. 16 - Dec. 6, 2025.

Please note: To accommodate members of our community, from 5 – 6pm the Opening Reception will be 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆; from 6pm to closing the reception will be 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided at the reception desk.

Free registration for the opening reception here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/an-auspicious-beast-opening-reception-registration-1749240378059?aff=oddtdtcreator

Address

425-268 Keefer Street
Vancouver, BC
V6A1X5

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 6pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 6pm

Telephone

+16042006661

Website

http://sumgallery.ca/

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