VIVA Alliance

VIVA Alliance We are an Iranian visual arts platform that supports & celebrates artists in Vancouver, BC.

06/13/2026

🎬 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐕, 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟓 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟕 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬.

The Polygon Gallery

🏟️The season kicks off on 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟓 with Jafar Panahi’s Offside, presented with screening support from 𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐀 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.

Expect sports classics, bold comedies, music, special themed nights, and plenty of heated rivalries along the way.

Check out the reel for the full lineup and dates.

◽️𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐀 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐢, 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭...
06/11/2026

◽️𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐀 𝐄𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐢, 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐭.

This year’s exhibition considers 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 as a condition of continuous formation—shaped through pressure, contact, precarity, adaptation, and transformation. Artists may engage these ideas through diverse cultural, personal, material, environmental, and interdisciplinary perspectives. Each juror brings a distinct area of experience that will support a thoughtful and attentive consideration of the varied practices, contexts, and forms represented in the submissions.

𝗛𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗶 ( ) is an Afghan-Canadian artist whose textile-based practice explores displacement, gender, memory, home, and diasporic identity. A Yale MFA graduate, Canadian Fulbright Fellow, and 2025 Sobey Art Award finalist, her work offers an important perspective on how identities and cultural forms are reshaped through migration, rupture, and lived experience.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁 ( ) is an interdisciplinary artist and educator working across painting, sculpture, video, and theatre. His practice examines individual expression, instability, improvisation, and the shifting conditions of contemporary life—concerns that closely resonate with Plasticity’s focus on change, negotiation, and formation within constraint.

𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗼𝘁 ( ) is an Ininew iskwew from Peguis First Nation and York Factory, and Curator of Indigenous Art and Engagement at the University of Victoria Legacy Art Galleries. Her work centres Indigenous-led curatorial practices, cultural continuity, rematriation, care, and reciprocity, bringing an important perspective grounded in relational, intergenerational, and community-responsive approaches to transformation.

𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Visit the link in our bio for the full exhibition concept, eligibility details, and submission guidelines.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟓, 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬, 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 ...
06/09/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟓, 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐦𝐬, 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐠𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲 ( ).

VIVA Alliance is pleased to join Deckchair Cinema V as the screening supporter for the opening-night presentation of Offside, directed by Palme d’Or–winning Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi.

Now in its fifth year, Deckchair Cinema presents ten Thursday-night screenings on Cates Deck, with music and entertainment beginning before each film at sunset.

Audiences are encouraged to arrive early and bring blankets or low chairs to settle in for an evening of cinema by the waterfront.

𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝟭: 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚
𝙏𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙚 𝟮𝟱
Concession and music begin at 7:00 PM
Film begins at approximately 9:25 PM

Admission is by a suggested donation of $10–$20, courtesy of BMO Financial Group, and includes popcorn and access to The Polygon Gallery’s summer exhibitions.

Reserve your seat or a VIP picnic table by donating in advance at https://store.thepolygon.ca/

06/08/2026

Iranian-American composer, santoor player, music producer, and artistic director 𝗘𝗵𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗶 invites Vancouver audiences to experience 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆

Known for projects including 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙐𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙙, 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙀𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, and 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨, Matoori brings Persian musical traditions into dialogue with contemporary global sounds, creating work rooted in storytelling, cultural exchange, and human connection.

Join us for this multidisciplinary presentation by Ehsan Matoori, Raha Etemadi, and Greg Ellis, joined in Vancouver by filmmaker Saeed Vahidi.

This presentation is also a fundraising event, with portions of the funds raised supporting VIVA Alliance’s exhibitions, public programming, and community initiatives.

Date: Saturday July 18, 2026
Location: 353 Railway Street, Vancouver

🎟️Tickets are available through the link in bio🔗

06/08/2026

Iranian-American composer, santoor player, music producer, and artistic director 𝗘𝗵𝘀𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗶 invites Vancouver audiences to experience 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 at VIVA Alliance.

Known for projects including 𝑽𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝑼𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅, 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚, and 𝑹𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, Matoori brings Persian musical traditions into dialogue with contemporary global sounds, creating work rooted in storytelling, cultural exchange, and human connection.

Join us for this multidisciplinary presentation by Ehsan Matoori ( ), Raha Etemadi ( ), and Greg Ellis, joined in Vancouver by filmmaker Saeed Vahidi ( ).

This presentation is also a fundraising event, with portions of the funds raised supporting VIVA Alliance’s exhibitions, public programming, and community initiatives.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: Saturday July 18, 2026
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 353 Railway Street, Vancouver

🎟️ 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼🔗

06/05/2026

𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑻𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆, A project by Raha Etemadi, Ehsan Matoori, and Greg Ellis, who are joined in Vancouver by Saeed Vahidi happens on Saturday July 18th at VIVA Alliance!

🔹Get your tickets through the link in bio!🔹

جایی برای تنفس، پروژه‌ای از رها اعتمادی، احسان مطوری، گرگ الیس، و سعید وحیدی روز شنبه ۱۸ ژوئیه در ویوا برگزار خواهد شد!

🎟️خرید بلیت و حمایت مالی ویوا از طریق 🔗 لینک در بایو

Location: 353 Railway Street, Vancouver

🌀This presentation brings together music, poetry, video installation, and spatial experience as a shared environment for reflection rather than a traditional concert.

Portions of the funds raised will support VIVA Alliance’s exhibitions, public programming, and community initiatives.

We look forward to sharing this evening with you.

06/04/2026

🏛️ Arts organizations are often defined by their public programs, exhibitions, and events. What is less visible are the people and relationships behind them, and the long-term work of fostering trust and creating the conditions that make those programs possible.

Over the past three years, VIVA Alliance has worked with artists, collaborators, volunteers, community members, partners, and supporters to create opportunities, support meaningful cultural exchange, and build connections between artists, audiences, organizations, and communities.

Much of this work happens quietly, through long-term commitment, collaboration, and the contributions of people who often give more of their time, energy, and expertise than circumstances allow.

Supporting organizations like VIVA Alliance means investing not only in individual events, but in the people, networks, spaces, and relationships that allow artists and communities to come together, create, and thrive. It helps sustain exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, tours, mentorship opportunities, and accessible public programming that continue long after a single event has ended.

𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 is one of those moments where art and community meet. By purchasing a ticket, becoming a sponsor, or sharing the event with others, you are helping ensure that this work can continue.

🙏🏽 Thank you for being part of it.

🎟️ The Tickets & fundraising add ons are available through 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 link in our bio 🔗

🎥

06/03/2026

𝗦𝗮𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗶 joins 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 as one of the participating artists in this multidisciplinary fundraising event in support of VIVA Alliance’s exhibitions, public programming, and community initiatives.

Vahidi is An Iranian-Canadian filmmaker, editor, and educator based in Vancouver. His Canadian directorial debut, 𝙒𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 (2019), received several awards, including the Gold Remi Award at WorldFest-Houston and Best Drama at Southern Shorts Awards. Most recently, his editing work includes the short film 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙪𝙚, scheduled for release this year. He has also received the CCE Award for Best Editing in the MOW category and was nominated for Best Editing at the 2026 Leo Awards.

Join us for 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 in July 18th and support VIVA Alliance through your ticket purchase and donations.

VIVA Alliance is calling for artists for its 4th Annual VIVA Exhibition at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Ce...
05/22/2026

VIVA Alliance is calling for artists for its 4th Annual VIVA Exhibition at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre: 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮.

The exhibition approaches plasticity not as a fixed idea, but as a condition experienced from within: something unstable, formative, transformable, and unresolved. It explores change not as a final outcome, but as an ongoing process through which materials, bodies, memories, systems, and social realities are shaped by pressure, uncertainty, and instability.

Plasticity here is not assimilation into sameness, but transformation through contact. The exhibition reflects on how forms reorganize through negotiation, coexistence, and continuous contact with the world around them. At the same time, it remains attentive to contemporary pressures of self-optimization, reinvention, adaptation, and acceleration offering a counterpoint to celebratory understandings of flexibility and change.

For the 4th Annual VIVA Exhibition, We welcome submissions in visual arts, media arts, and performing arts, including video, sound, digital, projection-based, interactive, and interdisciplinary works.

𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀: Sep 9–16, 2026

Location: Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, Exhibition Hall ( )

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 Tuesday, May 26, 2026
𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Wednesday June 17, 2026

Full submission guidelines and application details will be available on our website starting May 26.

𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 | An evening featuring Ehsan Matoori, Raha Etemadi, Greg Ellis, and Saeed Vahidi presented at VIVA Al...
05/21/2026

𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 | An evening featuring Ehsan Matoori, Raha Etemadi, Greg Ellis, and Saeed Vahidi presented at VIVA Alliance on July 18, 2026.

This unique presentation of 𝑨 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 involves a fundraising event, with portions of the funds raised supporting VIVA Alliance’s exhibitions, public programming, and community initiatives.

Inspired by the ancient Iranian qanat system — hidden underground channels carrying water and life — the project explores the invisible ways we remain connected through memory, grief, hope, and breath.

Created by Raha Etemadi, Ehsan Matoori, and Greg Ellis, and joined in Vancouver by Saeed Vahidi, the presentation brings together music, poetry, video installation, and spatial experience as a shared environment for reflection rather than a traditional concert.

The project is currently touring internationally with presentations across Orlando, Tampa, Portland, Vancouver, and other cities.

By attending the event, you are directly supporting artists and contributing to the continuation of VIVA Alliance’s public arts programming. Thank you in advance for your support.

Tickets are available through the link in our bio. We look forward to sharing this evening with you.

Address

401-353 Railway Street
Vancouver, BC
V6A1A4

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