In 2001, Graeme Berglund and two friends decided that they’d had enough of the way art was displayed in Vancouver. Or rather, they didn’t think local artists had the chance to have their artwork displayed quite enough. “[We wanted] a show that operated drastically different than a common Thursday night opening on South Granville,” explains Berglund. Vancouver needed something that would exhibit art in a new and accessible way. Thus, the Cheaper Show was born.
Barriers between established and emerging artists are dissolved for one night, when all works are sold at a uniform price, regardless of their market value. From a pool of over 1,200 submissions, 200 artists have been selected for this year’s June 25 show, and each of the 400 works will go for $200.
The Cheaper Show No. 10 marks the first time that 100 per cent of the art sales will be returned to the participating artists, a sign that perhaps, it’s time to take the next step. Having received a growing amount of international interest, Berglund and his team are setting their sights on cities like Toronto, New York, Mexico City, Berlin, and Tokyo. “The international art market is rapidly changing due to both the economy and technology. Many of the old ways of moving and showcasing art are collapsing. We would like to see this show continue to introduce new art buyers into the global market,” says Berglund. As for expanding their presence in Vancouver as an entity that will continue to support up and coming artists year round, the Cheaper Show has just opened their first gallery, Black and Yellow, at the Waldorf Hotel this past March.
“At its core, the Cheaper Show is all about community,” Berglund maintains. “It’s about creating an arena to display art that feels inviting. All you have to do is to walk through the door and you become a part of something.”
