Vancouver artist collective hosts second-ever market with Halloween theme

A budding Vancouver-based artist collective is bridging creativity with spookyness for its upcoming market.

Acorn Collective, a community-oriented platform for artists to share and sell their work, will host a free Halloween-themed art market, gallery show, and open mic on Oct. 16 in downtown Vancouver. 

Launched this June, Acorn Collective is the brainchild of artists Aryana Neff, Winter Jordison, and Kitt Robinson.

Neff says the collective’s mission is to help artists take part in their first market, especially amid dwindling opportunities.

“There was a period in the beginning of the year where there were a bunch of [art] spaces being shut down,” Jordison adds.

“There was this feeling of exhaustion in the community of there [not being] a lot of funding…. We were talking and we’re like, ‘I think we could do it. I think if we make our own space, then that solves our problem.’”

The event will feature more than 20 vendors selling art in different mediums including painting, printmaking, textile, and ceramics. Some creatives will also have their work, such as illustrations and wall hangings, in the gallery.

For the open mic, Jordison says visitors can expect to see a range of genres in action, including poetry, music, and storytelling.

“Anyone that has something they want to share is welcome to come and share it,” Jordison says.

Attendees can also dress up with the chance to show off their looks on stage and compete in an audience-decided costume contest. The prize will be goodies from different vendors.

At the collective’s debut market in August, there was an area for attendees to read tarot cards, snack, and make bracelets — features that will return at this year’s Halloween market.

“People were very engaged, and I think it was good to keep people chilling at the market — more as a community space and less like a strictly transactional situation,” Neff says.

The market atmosphere will be complete with Halloween decorations and music, Neff says, adding that many vendors already make art that is spooky.

Jordison hopes the event will bring people together and allow them to meet others in the art scene.

“There’s a lot of barriers to getting into a lot of events as an artist. There’s a lot of professionalism and gatekeeping,” they say. “I feel like it’s really important to have accessible opportunities for people because that’s how you get experience — selling or showing your art.”

The market will take place on Oct. 16 from 5:00 to 11:00 pm at 118 West Hastings St., Vancouver.

For more information, visit www.instagram.com/acorn.collective_.