A Mardi Gras Fundriaser with support from Canadian Blood Services
Together we’ll enjoy a night of artist exhibitions, food, drinks, dancing, and community building!
Welcome to Black Arts Vancouver! We are a registered Non-Profit Society established to bring together members of Vancouver’s Black community through workshops, teaching opportunities, and exhibitions for the benefit of the Black community of Vancouver at no cost to youth and young families. Established in 2018, we aim to provide intentional long-term education, arts, and expression opportunities for Pan-African youth and artists in BC.
We’re excited to invite you to our Mardi Gras Fundraiser at The Birdhouse, in partnership with Canadian Blood Services. Together we’ll enjoy a night of artist exhibitions, food, drinks, dancing, and community building!
Hosted by Mx. Bukuru and our founder Berlynn Beam, our event will feature presentations from artists Maya Milton and Qolour, who will be sharing their experiences with chronic illness and Black identity. We’re also excited to host speakers from Canadian Blood Services who will be sharing their motivations and journal of diversifying their donor base and making blood donation safer and more accessible for BIPOC. Attendees can also enjoy a catered buffet by Elbo Patties, shop Indigenous-focused art and trinkets by Renovatio Creative Co., purchase organic herbal juices from Bush Empress Juices, and vibe to sets by local DJs Eme_LikeTheAward and DJ TRANCERIGHTS.
All funds raised will go towards our operational and admin funds - ensuring our employees can continue to be paid a living wage, our amazing volunteers are supported, and we can begin to kickstart our free youth workshops, paid facilitation opportunities for artists, and PWYC/low barrier events.
Join us for a high-energy Mardi Gras fun-raiser supporting ethnic whole blood and plasma donations through Canadian Blood Services’ Partners for Life program. Dive into an unforgettable night of music, masks, and meaning — featuring inspiring speakers who’ve personally lived through blood disorders or depended on lifesaving transfusions. Join us for celebration and impact!. We’re kicking off with a groovy music hour featuring Eme_liketheaward to set the vibe before our speakers take the mic.
Two speakers from Canadian Blood Services will help unpack why donations from racialized communities matter — and why we all need to show up. They’ll share the real need for diverse donors, the impact of blood disorders on individuals and communities, and how supply hasn’t bounced back since the pandemic, especially for those with uncommon blood types.
It’s a powerful night of insight, lived experience, and motivation — because many people in our communities live with conditions like sickle cell disease, where matched blood saves lives.
Plus: a look at the history of blood donation in Canada — from its roots to today’s Partners for Life movement and the ongoing push to build a donor base that reflects Canada’s diversity.
History: Canada’s organized blood system began after World War II, originally operated by the Canadian Red Cross before being overhauled into today’s national system managed by Canadian Blood Services (outside Québec) and Héma-Québec in 1998 following major reforms to improve safety and accessibility.
In recent decades, the focus has expanded beyond basic collection to ensuring the blood supply reflects Canada’s population. Canadian Blood Services now tracks donor ethnicity and actively works to build a diverse donor base because certain rare blood types and antigen profiles are inherited and vary by ancestral background — making diversity essential for patients with conditions like sickle cell disease and thalassemia, who disproportionately affect racialized communities.
Despite this need, racialized communities — especially Black Canadians — have historically been underrepresented in the donor pool. Ongoing efforts are underway to address barriers and increase inclusion, including changes to screening practices and targeted community engagement, to improve access for all Canadians and ensure more equitable health outcomes.
Ticket Information:
General Admission: $15.00CAD
Entry, no buffet access
Tier 1: $25.00CAD
Entry, buffet access, 1 raffle ticket.
Tier 2: $45.00CAD
Entry, buffet access, 1 drink ticket, 1 raffle ticket.
Tier 3: $75.00CAD
Entry, buffet access, 2 drink tickets, Black Arts Vancouver t-shirt, 5 raffle tickets.
Recommended arrival time for all ticket holders is 6:00PM-6:45PM. Arrivals after 6:45pm are accepted but may be disruptive to our speakers/performers.
All ages - attendees under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
We cannot ensure accommodations for allergies / dietary restrictions. Questions or concerns can be addressed by emailing admin@blackartsvancouver.com
Buffet dinner will be closing at 8:30PM.
Tuesday, Feb 17 from 6 pm to 11 pm
The Birdhouse
44 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1G3