Our Mission & Vision

VIVO's mission is to directly support artists and independent community-based producers to develop, exchange, and disseminate their skills in a supportive environment through accessible services and programs.

Our vision is for a robust, diverse and vibrant media arts sector serving as a catalyst for critical and innovative engagement with the material forms and cultural meanings of media and technology.

About VIVO

VIVO Media Arts Centre is one of Canada's leading media arts centres. We are known for our 45 years of educational and cultural programs and quality, essential services for media artists.

VIVO has built an engaged media art community by ensuring affordable access to technology, educational programs for professional and emerging artists, free youth mentorships, international video distribution opportunities, and an artistic program that includes screenings, exhibitions, artist talks, panels, workshops,and residencies. We distinguish ourselves by bridging the gap between media art, hacker, DIY, and Maker communities, and connecting experimental practices with critical art theory. 

VIVO is also the home of the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archive (CDMLA), Western Canada's premiere collection of video art, independent video and related print, photo, audio and ephemera. In addition to thousands of experimental, narrative and documentary work by individuals, the CDMLA conserves important feminist, activist, environmental, Indigenous, and LGBTQ2S+ collections, as well as those of important early media organizations - Women In Focus, Metro Media Society, Gayblevision Society, Reel Feelings, and more.

We believe in the power of collaboration, co-producing and facilitating exhibitions and programs with other organizations such as Coastal Jazz and Blues Society, LIVE Biennale, New Forms Festival, ISEA (International Symposium of Electronic Art), Native Education Centre, Maker Faire, Vancouver Public Library, Cinevolution Media Arts Centre, Queer Arts Festival, among many others. We open our doors to class tours and provide internships for our local post-secondary institutions Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and Emily Carr University.

VIVO Media Arts Centre is a not-for-profit, artist-run centre. Inc.1973 as The Satellite Video Exchange Society.

VIVO Media Arts Centre  is a member of the Audio/Visual Heritage Association of BC (AVBC), Pacific Association of Artist-Run Centres (PAARC), Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA), Alliance for Arts & Culture, Canadian Coalition of Independent Media Distributors (CCIMAD) and LOUD Business Association.