The East West Mural Fest (EWMF) will take place from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 across Victoria West and Esquimalt and will offer free programming for all ages.
Five new murals are being painted by established and emerging artists from the Island and beyond. The new murals will be located in at Esquimalt Gorge Park, the Esquimalt Adventure Water Park (Splashpad), along Hereward Road, and Esquimalt Road.
Since 2021, the two-week festival has worked with community members, wall owners, local businesses, and artists in Esquimalt and Victoria West to create pieces of public art celebrating the local culture. In the past four years, the EWMF has produced 14 murals and two graffiti jams.
Being the only annual mural festival on Vancouver Island, the EWMF is also the only festival in Canada that welcomes first-time muralists and graffiti artists.
The public is invited to participate in seven free workshops led by artists and facilitators, including a mural cycling tour, therapeutic art sessions for adults, zine-making for kids, and a DJ-backed splatter-paint night.
“This year’s festival features such an exciting array of artists, themes, programs, and locations,” said festival organizer Laura-Beth McDonald. “It’s one of the most diverse festival years and truly celebrates the unique culture of Esquimalt and Vic West.”
For more information about the event, programming, an interactive tour map, and a list of participating and past muralists visit ecah.ca/mural-festival.
The East West Mural Fest is produced by ECAH, formerly known as the Esquimalt Community Arts Hub, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to creating accessible and low-barrier arts opportunities for Esquimalt and beyond.
