Arts in Nanaimo? Seriously Underrated (And We’re Done Being Quiet About It)
If Nanaimo still lives in your head as a place you pass through, allow us to lovingly correct that. This coastal city is quietly stacked with creativity, and honestly, it’s about time people noticed.
From contemporary galleries and Indigenous fashion to live theatre, music venues, and ferry-worthy art scenes, Nanaimo’s arts and culture scene is bold, local, and refreshingly unpolished. No velvet ropes. No creative ego. Just good art, good people, and a city that doesn’t try too hard… because it doesn’t have to.
If you’re looking for things to do in Nanaimo that go beyond the obvious, start here.
Victoria Crescent: Small Street, Big Creative Energy
Blink and you might miss it, but that would be a mistake.
Victoria Crescent is one of Nanaimo’s most underrated arts pockets, home to independent artists, pop-ups, and locally made goods that reward curiosity. The Vault brings fresh showcases and creative energy, while the Upstairs Bazaar is exactly what it sounds like: a curated treasure hunt of Nanaimo-made art and gifts. Add in Sound Heritage, and you’ve got a pretty solid snapshot of Nanaimo’s infamous creative scene.
It’s cozy. It’s creative. And it’s very “how did I not know this existed?”
Commercial Street: Nanaimo’s Casual Arts Crawl
Commercial Street is where Nanaimo quietly flexes its creative side. Between cafés, heritage buildings, and waterfront wanderings, you’ll find a lineup of artisan shops that make popping in “for five minutes” wildly unrealistic.
Explore the Nanaimo Ceramic Arts Gallery, The Artisans’ Studio, Artzi Stuff, Triple Moon, Canadian Indigenous Art and many, many more, all showcasing handcrafted ceramics, jewelry, textiles, and Indigenous art rooted in story and place. Browsing encouraged. Self-control optional.
The Nanaimo Art Gallery
The Nanaimo Art Gallery is a cornerstone of the city’s contemporary arts scene, serving up rotating exhibitions from regional, national, and Indigenous artists. Thoughtful, current, and refreshingly grounded, it’s the kind of gallery that fits Nanaimo perfectly. Curious, creative, and doing its own thing.
Perfect for a rainy afternoon, a creative reset, or proving Nanaimo has way more depth than you expected.
Added bonus? The gift shop is fuelled by local Vancouver Island creatives. Think handcrafted soaps, DIY art kits, expressive pottery, jewellery, and a rotating lineup of pieces you’ll absolutely convince yourself you need. Honestly, the list is long. You may as well pop in and see for yourself.
Explore the Region’s History at the Nanaimo Museum
Right next door, the Nanaimo Museum dives into the stories that shaped the city, from coal mining roots to community history and Indigenous heritage. It’s the kind of place that makes everything you see afterward hit a little deeper.
Consider it the “why” behind the region’s creative character.
Indigenous Art & Fashion at Ay Lelum House of Design
Ay Lelum, a Multi-Generational Coast Salish Design House, is where art, fashion, and cultural storytelling come together boldly. The brand showcases Coast Salish design through clothing, accessories, and regalia that are as meaningful as they are striking.
It’s fashion with purpose, presence, and serious creative confidence.
Ferry Required: A Day Trip to Gabriola Island
Known as the Isle of the Arts, Gabriola Island is just a short ferry ride from Nanaimo, and a must if you like your creativity a little wild around the edges.
Home to painters, potters, sculptors, and mixed-media artists, Gabriola’s arts scene lives in studios, galleries, and everyday island life. Time it right and you’ll catch open studios that feel personal, unpolished, and exactly how art should be experienced.
Live Theatre, Big Talent, Zero Pretence
Nanaimo’s performing arts scene shows up year-round, with everything from touring productions to community-led performances. Catch a show at the Port Theatre, Malaspina Theatre, OV Arts Centre, or with the Nanaimo Theatre Group.
Live Music in Nanaimo: Laid-Back Vibes, Serious Talent
Prefer live music with a side of character? The Queen’s, the Nanaimo Bar, and the Vault Cafe regularly host local musicians in venues where the vibes are laid-back, and the talent is jaw-droppingly unique. Think intimate shows, familiar faces, and that very Nanaimo feeling where the music’s good and no one’s trying too hard.
When summer rolls in, the city turns the volume up outdoors. From waterfront performances and pop-up concerts to music woven into festivals and community events, live music spills out into parks, patios, and public spaces across Nanaimo. Grab a seat, wander past, or accidentally plan your evening around it. All acceptable approaches.
Public Art Hits Different Downtown & at Maffeo Sutton Park
Not all art in Nanaimo lives indoors. Downtown and along the waterfront at Maffeo Sutton Park, public art installations, murals, and sculptures pop up where you least expect them.
Slow your pace. Look around. Nanaimo rewards people who wander.
Need more public art? Read more in our mural walk blog.
Coming Soon: Beyond Van Gogh in Nanaimo
Summer 2026 brings Beyond Van Gogh to Nanaimo, an internationally acclaimed immersive experience featuring over 300 of Vincent van Gogh’s works, brought to life through large-scale projections and sound.
Hosted at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, in collaboration with the Nanaimo Museum, Port Theatre, and Tourism Nanaimo, it’s a limited-time cultural moment that firmly plants Nanaimo on the arts-and-culture map.
Learn more and get your tickets here!
Nanaimo’s Arts Scene Isn’t Loud. It’s Confident
Nanaimo doesn’t shout about its arts scene. It doesn’t have to. It’s layered, local, and proudly underrated, the kind of place where creativity feels lived-in, not staged.
If you’re looking for arts and culture on Vancouver Island without the crowds, the pretence, or the pressure to “get it,” Nanaimo’s ready when you are.
