see how a graffiti festival transformed this downtown eastside alley
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the entrance to never grow up 2025, an annual graffiti festival in vancouver’s downtown eastside.
nathan griffiths
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almost 70 graffiti and other artists from b.c. and abroad came together over the b.c. day long weekend to cover an entire block of a downtown eastside alley in murals and enormous, full-colour pieces.
it was the result of never grow up 2025, an annual graffiti arts festival that started in 2023.
organizers estimated more than 3,000 people passed through the alley — north of hastings street, between abbott and cambie streets — over the course of the festival, from dedicated graffiti fans to curious locals and tourists.
“a lot of people just see (graffiti) as a nuisance, and then they come here, and they can really see how it’s a beautiful art form, really an amazing way to express yourself,” said maeve simpson, one of the festival’s organizers. “it’s just eye opening for a lot of people.”
for kyle simpson, maeve’s partner and festival co-organizer, the event brought new life to the neighbourhood.
“it’s actually kind of transformed (the alley) from a space that used to be in decline itself,” he said, noting that before the festival, the alley wasn’t a place most people would feel comfortable walking through.
originally called clean lines, the festival was renamed this year in honour of its founder, graffiti artist and overdose prevention society manager, trey “grow up” helten, who died earlier this year.
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helton was deeply involved in the downtown eastside, simpson said, and helped to organize the city’s first legal graffiti art wall at 133 w. pender st.
scenes from never grow up, an annual three-day graffiti arts festival held in vancouver’s downtown eastside, on aug. 4, 2025.
a sculpture by artist lupo.
nathan griffiths
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