It all began in the early 1970s, or better say 1960s, with the Sony CV Portapak, cable TV channels, Radical Software and video activism. Besides purely socially and politically engaged video, artists were experimenting with the new forms and ways of filming. Video groups such as Videofreex, TVTV, the Raindance Corporation, Allan Kaprow, Bay Area Video Coalition were mainly curious about the experimental use of video. In 1973 video art community interested in alternative ways to work with video came to Vancouver to attend the Matrix Video Conference, held at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Video Inn, now VIVO, was founded shortly after the conference.
VIVO Media Arts Centre, a member of British Columbia Museums Association, brings together artists, video and filmmakers, researchers and activists interested in the history of video-making and its evolution towards the art form. VIVO’s educational program extends beyond the boundaries of video distribution and video archiving. The workshops program offers beginner and intermediate level classes on programming, projection mapping, lighting, sound recording by local experts. VIVO accepts research applications to work closely with the Crista Dahl Media Library and Archive thus contributing to the local and international art and research community and encouraging curatorial collaborations.
VIVO hosts recent acquisitions screening, talks, experimental music events such as DESTROY VANCOUVER and Quiet City. Founded by John Brennan in 2012, DESTROY VANCOUVER is a one-day music event with performances by musicians and sound artists from different experimental genres: noise, drone, free jazz and impro and more.
VIVO’s educational program reinvents the way we think of an art space and builds a stronger community involved in cultural, social and artistic practices by fostering an exchange among professionals and amateurs, artists and researchers. So if you are in Vancouver don’t miss the opportunity to come listen to all the amazing sound performances VIVO has to offer and to engage with the local community of some very cool kids.
