Passed down from generation to generation to nourish and celebrate community, heirlooms are among our most sacred tools for healing. The Heirloom Exchange supports events and workshops created in partnership with community organizations who are committed to building healing, safe, and expressive spaces. This program uplifts the knowledge and creativity that already exists within the community by resourcing the people who tend and grow it. A key part of this work includes our initiative to feed the people—ensuring that gatherings are rooted in nourishment, shared meals, and the cultural practices that sustain us.
Launched in 2021, the Heirloom Exchange was created from a desire to celebrate community leadership and provide tangible support for grassroots organizers, events, and workshops—helping fertilize the seeds already asking to rise. The program includes mentorship, partnership and production support for equity-seeking artists interested in curation, as well as resources to help bring new community-rooted projects to life. Each year, selected BIPOC collectives curate and produce events and programs with the guidance and support from the Vines team.
Our commitment to food sovereignty and communal nourishment has grown alongside the program. By offering meals, food stipends, and culturally-rooted food practices at our events, we honour the belief that healing happens when people are fed—physically, culturally, and spiritually.
Support of weekly workshops, seasonal ceremonies and DTES Medicine Delivery for the V6A Gardens. The V6A Garden was established in May 2020 to support emergency food needs, since its inception, the Garden has become a thriving, multi-purpose community asset that engages diverse community stakeholders including Indigenous and non-Indigenous Downtown Eastside (DTES) residents, students, researchers, and community groups. The V6A Garden Club is a community-led program, employing 50 DTES community members who are the stewards of the Garden
Led by Laura, the mother of Jared Lowndes, the Wetʼsuwetʼen man who was murdered by the police in 2021, J4J included a ribbon skirt exhibition and concert as a memorial for those we have lost to police brutality. We were able to hold a healing space in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) to honour Jared. This jam packed event brought medicine from the big drum and shared a traditional salmon meal with the people, reminding one another that we aren’t alone.
Monthly events where neighbours can access discounted and free fresh produce, join free creative workshops, community art galleries, and other exciting events
A ceremony is to honour those DTES Warriors who have worked tirelessly in the DTES and CRAB Park. Celebrating those who lift up the community by using their strong spirits to do the work that needs to be done for those who need it the most, those who take time out of their lives to dedicate their energies, unconditionally, for the betterment of the community. As part of the ceremony, each was asked to bring a next generation warrior they work with, to symbolically hand down the knowledge and dedication they carry.
The DTES Powwow honours all of the Children we lost at residential schools. We honour their families and all of our people living with the consequences of that legacy. A free event for people of the DTES to enjoy the medicine of the pow wow, healing, community & ceremony! Each year we serve over 1500 meals.
Dance and Music Improv Show created with Kinfolk Nation. A life-giving evening of soulful and inspiring improv music and dance from ten treasured artists in our community. With MUSIC from Kin Balam, Kin Folk Nation, Hampton, Jarah Femi and DANCE from Arash Khakpour, Joshee, Joulin Lee, Marisa Gold, Sevrin Emnacen-Boyd and Ysadora Diaz.
A celebration with music, food, and good company as we remember the hard won victories and ongoing struggles of workers of all stripes. This event supports sex workers, farm workers, artists, educators, caregivers, home makers, healthcare workers, and more.
During the Vines Festival we hosted Palestinian Artist Rehab Nazal’s exhibition Driving in Palestine. Community gathered together to organize The Freedom School, a month of programming that engaged liberation praxis and community building in support of a free Palestine and all who advocate for justice in the face of settler colonialism, militarism, state violence and oppression in our shared and interconnected worlds.
“Keep up the good work. You are a lifeline. I have been looking for an organization with no boundaries - age, race, social situation, gender, generational, spiritual beliefs... I have found it with Vines. Thank you.” - Nlaka’pamux elder
“Vines provides a unique and special opportunity for people from all backgrounds & experiences to share our art in a non-judgmental, supportive environment. I feel that if every artist had the kind of care and respect shown to them that the Vines team showed us, we would see much more diverse art throughout larger society and much more often. The planning and execution of the festival was remarkable! I think they thought of everything. I felt incredibly supported, respected and valued through each stage of preparation and up to and including my performance. Vines is a very special festival and deserves every accolade.”
