Busking on Granville Island

Granville Island has been a touchstone of the arts scene in Vancouver for decades. Once an industrial and maritime center, the 70’s saw the island transform into a cultural hub. The legendary public market was introduced and many of the warehouses began transforming into public and private art spaces. Now, the island attracts artisans, designers and creatives from all across Canada.

It's not just the craft shops, food stalls and art galleries that have made Granville Island a cultural destination. Anyone who has visited can relate to the unique ambiance of the island. Live Music and performance can be enjoyed year-round thanks to a group of dedicated buskers supported by the Granville Island busking program.

The Granville Island Busking Program

The Granville Island Busking Program, run by the CMHC, gives the buskers who call Granville Island home a support system and structure to allow for fair and equitable performance opportunities. The program supports a diverse range of artists and performers across many disciplines.

“We create a really safe environment for [the buskers] and we work with businesses around the island too, to make sure that everyone is happy,” says Robyn Woolgar, the busking Coordinator for Granville Island, “I think that's why buskers do really love to be here. It's more of a program and it's not just chaos, you know”.

It's an incredible job, and it's full of music, and art, and community.

Robyn Woolgar

The program, which has been around since the 90s, oversees the selection and day-to-day management of the various buskers on Granville Island. Each morning, the day's performers will meet and draw from a bucket for the opportunity to pick time slots and choose the locations on the island where they will be performing.

According to Robyn, “we listen to what buskers have to say, listen to the issues that are happening and try to address them appropriately and make it fair for everyone. I think just having that fairness is huge for the buskers. There's no hierarchy or anything like that. It's not a popularity contest.”

Meet Betty,

a Granville island Busker whose folky, melodic keyboard can be heard all around the island.

“Traveling I'd see these little coffee shops, and I thought, oh, I should do that. 'cause I'd had my guitar with me, but I was too shy. And then I had to push through that shyness to get onto Granville Island. And, uh, now I'm not so shy.”

This is Keegan,

a guitarist who can be heard playing everything from classic children's songs to ACDC.

“I love music. I love classical music, metal, punk, folk, rock, blues. I... I just really love music.”

A large variety of acts

Those are two of the many buskers who are proud to bring life to Granville Island and continue the tradition of street performance in the neighbourhood. It’s not just Musicians either, Robyn and the coordinators who came before her have worked hard to offer a variety of performances for all ages, including Magicians, juggling acts and even a comedian or two.

Community & Career

For Robyn, it's not just about managing the program but building a connection between the performers and the community.

“People kind of look at them and walk by and do not realize that some of these people really do have this as their career and that this is something that they come to every single day. Once you actually get to meet the people, you get to know their stories. There's so many incredible stories that need to be told.”

Despite the significant commitment, it's a common misconception that Granville Island pays buskers to perform.

“People sometimes think that your open guitar case is just extra on top of what you're being paid and that's not the reality.”, says Betty, “But [busking] also gives us that flexibility to play what we want, come when we want, choose what places we want. So there's a balance there.”

Next time you find yourself on granville island, take a moment to appreciate all the artistry around you. Sit down with a coffee and listen to the live music or take in a juggling performance and consider giving a coin or two to show your appreciation.