Who We Are
VIVA Alliance, also known as VIVA — Vancouver’s Iranian Visual Arts Alliance — is a non-profit organization operating on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
VIVA Alliance creates platforms that increase visibility, opportunity, and professional connection for IBPOC, diasporic, immigrant, minority, and emerging visual artists. Originating from an Iranian Canadian core of arts professionals and expanding through a broader commitment to representing and supporting IBPOC artistic voices, VIVA brings together a dynamic community of artists, curators, scholars, and cultural practitioners dedicated to strengthening access, dialogue, and professional support in the visual arts.
Through exhibitions, curatorial initiatives, public programming, mentorship, and partnerships with artists, curators, and cultural organizations, VIVA fosters diversity, meaningful intercultural dialogue, cultural exchange, and community engagement. The organization is particularly committed to engaging with IBPOC artists, minority arts leaders, and cultural changemakers, creating platforms for collaboration, exchange, and critical discourse that contribute to the broader cultural landscape.
Central to VIVA’s mission is the belief that artists need fair compensation, accessible opportunities, professional resources, meaningful curatorial engagement, and strong artistic networks to develop their work and sustain their practices. Through its programming, VIVA works to strengthen the conditions in which underrepresented artists can create, present, connect, and advance their practices over time.
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To engage the artists and the community in exchange of knowledge and ideas, collectively contributing to the cultural enrichment of our society.
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To create platforms that increase visibility and opportunities for IBPOC and minority artists within the visual arts community.
To cultivate a supportive network for Iranian-Canadian artists while fostering meaningful intercultural dialogue and advancing inclusivity as a core value of our society.
To collaborate with organizations and professionals in the visual arts sector to strengthen community engagement in cultural and artistic events and activities.
To create accessible spaces and opportunities that empower artists to sustain their creative practices while fostering meaningful collaboration, dialogue, and cultural exchange.
Experience VIVA Alliance to the Fullest
Members of VIVA Alliance are at the heart of our mission to celebrate and support the arts. By joining our community, you’re not only helping to sustain a vibrant platform for artists and exhibitions but also contributing to a space where creativity thrives and connections are forged.
Visit Us
401-353 Railway Street
Vancouver, BC V6A 1A4