Chapel Arts

Ten years of fetish events in several cities, and never have I found the perfect venue.
Until I hit the Noir Fetish Ball at this amazing place.
The Chapel Arts feels like a giant house. A home where everyone gets along, the music is just right and you a guaranteed to be happy and feel loved.
The Noir event is orchestrated with the utmost in care and attention to detail. Every room has a purpose, walking from one to another and another feels like an excitingly fun story unfolding before your eyes. The lighting is especially spot on.
Frankie the photographer is fantastic as are the bar staff.
Of course one cannot have an amazing fetish night experience without the authentic Vancouver core kinksters that have made this event their go-​to. Their sexy friendliness and love for kink, community, and inclusion of newbies makes Vancouver shine.

What an incredible venue with such versatility.
Licensed, rentable venue– perfect for art shows, concerts, DJ events, dance parties, or private/​organization events.
Very cool space. 2 levels.
Bottom level has a space conveniently divided into 3 spaces– I love the separation and think it increases versatility, but I was told they were going to knock down one of the walls to create a bigger central room.
Top level has an L-​shaped room and a small room with a pool table.
Really incredible space. Make this your next event spot.

I can’t say enough great things about Chapel Arts, the people who run it, and the fabulous staff they’ve put together. I’ve been an event promoter for over a decade, I spent much of the past two working in the bar industry, and I can say that Chapel Arts is amongst the BEST places I’ve had the pleasure of attending or throwing a party!
If it’s not the best most unique venue in the city, it’s certainly amongst them!
Being a regular renter of the space I’m almost reluctant to sing it’s praises — I’d rather have less competition to rent this former funeral home, not more.
The sound system is great, having recently been upgraded; the lighting is good for club shows, and they’re steadily adding to it, but for dance events you may to bring some lights of your own to supplement theirs.
The upstairs gallery is often decorated with art. My one bit of advice, if you’re booking this for a wedding or other event, is to check to see if they’ve currently got art scheduled for exhibition during your event; if not you might want to see about bringing some in of your own if you’ve got it. The white walls upstairs can seem a tad vacant when there’s nothing there.
The staff is friendly, and as professional as you can hope for with folks who don’t make their full time living behind the bar. That’s not a knock at all, and if I were staffing a place full time I’d happily consider poaching any of the staff there. They pour an honest ounce, and they’re quick with a smile even when the place is rocking.
If there’s one drawback to Chapel Arts that I’ve heard many folks comment on it’s the location; some nights you feel like you’re on the set of The Wire if you walk a block in any direction. But, frankly, you’re safer on the DTES than you are on Granville Street 99% of the time. Don’t leave any valuables in sight in your car, don’t get snarky with the locals, and you’ll be fine.
So, if you’re looking for a kick ass venue for a wedding, a party, or a paid event you’re throwing you can’t do better than Chapel Arts!
And if you’re just looking to check out a great event in a great space rather than throw one yourself you’d do well to find out what’s happening down there.

Dance Dance Dance!
Art Art Art!

Dan J is a genius and mastermind of life!!!
The Floating & Stinging show here Jul18th was the bomb.
The art, the welcome girls, the food, the bands the vibe and most of all Dan J’s gracious heart at the core of it all made it an evening to savour and experience.
It’s a great venue and Dan’s work was held in a gritty, not at all precious way. It was the perfect container for allowing the subject to be seen for what it really is. I loved looking at these photographs and experiencing the dudes and dudeladies from Dan’s eyes.
Thanks Dan J for the invite. It was great to hang with you.
g

I’m so glad Dan J held an event at Chapel Arts, otherwise I would never have seen this space. I know this place used to be a funeral parlour so I tried not to think of that. As I went inside, I totally forgot what this place used to be.
Chapel Arts is a great venue to hold events as there are 2 separate rooms with an upstairs area (never went upstairs though). There were plenty of washrooms so I never had to wait. The downstairs was easily divided into 3 areas, the bar, the gallery and the live music/​dance floor.
Thanks for putting together such a fantastic event. You’re so talented, Dan!

So amazing. I want to live in and solely survive and then die and be buried in this beautiful piece of architechture wonderfulness… Feast of Friends Greaser Ball. What does that even mean? All I know is that there was a dj upstairs, a band and burlesque downstairs, a pool table room, a live tattoo show, and really cheap drinks. I don’t know what last night was all about but this place is radtastic.

Boasting 2 floors, a pool table, a dance hall, and an art space, the Chapel has taken what was once… well, who knows! And turned it in to a community space. Even if it is a new community to the area.
The live music doesnt sound so good due to the echoes on the dance floor, but there’s more than enough room to boogie and sideline bench seating for the less crowded events. The highlight here has to be the art showcases, with so much wall space dedicated to displaying so many different creations. Watching a band play beside them on the 2^nd floor is a treat too, as the room sounds great; you’d be afraid of dancing in to a display if you were doing it right anyhow.
And I haven’t even gotten to the best part — two or three bars! One on the second floor fully stocked, one on the first floor, and an occasional bar out of the back of a van that looks like it should be selling burritos. There’s a patio for the smokers, where you can view all the decadence of Oppenheimer park across the street.
This is actually a fun place to spend a night, depending on the event. I’m pretty sure it is only opened to the public for specific nights and showcases though.

This old chapel and funeral parlor takes on a new life as an eclectic art space. We were here for a Halloween show/​party. Lots of fun dancing, although the sound wasn’t incredible.
A full bar provides the necessary imbibition. Head upstairs to peruse an interesting gallery, which is also a nice spot to chat with friends. Downstairs you’ll find a large grand, parlor-​like room as well as a theater.
I’ve already bookmarked them for my next visit: a free Sunday high tea!