Vancouver Moving Theatre

Vancouver Moving Theatre (VMT) creates art that celebrates the power of the human spirit; builds shared experiences that bridges cultural traditions, social groups and artistic disciplines; and gives voice to residents of the Downtown Eastside and beyond. VMT creates and presents original theatrical, concert and interdisciplinary repertoire; produces the Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival; builds partnerships to co-present multi-arts events and special projects for diverse audiences; and provides cultural services, information, educational and legacy resources. VMT collaborates with artists of many genres, techniques and cultural traditions; partners with arts and non-arts organizations (locally and nationally); advances art practice by a balance of experimentation, accessibility and community-engagement; strives for excellence in process and product, and supports communities in art creation. VMT delivers professional services with an attitude of cooperation and respect for community needs.

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming 2024 Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival! For twenty-one years, the Heart of the City Festival has been grounded in the Downtown Eastside and focused on listening and learning from the community's cultural practices. The Festival works with, for and about the Downtown Eastside community to carry forward our community’s stories, ancestral memory, cultural traditions, lived experiences, and artistic processes to illuminate pathways of resistance and resilience.

Guided by the theme Threads of Connection, the 2024 Festival features 100 plus live and online events showcased at 40 plus local venues over twelve days - both indoors and out – including music, stories, poetry, theatre, ceremony, films, dance, readings, forums, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibits, art talks, history walks and more.

This 2024 Festival is also a special ‘turning of the wheel year’. As fall rolls into winter and winter rolls into spring, Vancouver Moving Theatre / Heart of the City Festival co-founders Terry Hunter, C.M. and Savannah Walling, C.M. are announcing their retirement as of July 2025 following their final 2024 – 2025 season with Vancouver Moving Theatre.

Terry and Savannah are ending their tenure as festival directors with gratitude to the community of the Downtown Eastside as they pass stewardship of the festival on to new leadership: 21 years of celebrating the community of the Downtown Eastside; 21 years of sharing its cultural wealth; 21 years nourishing connections; and, 21 years amplifying voices and concerns. An extraordinary journey that just keeps on going.

Explore the Heart of the City Festival website