In a city where the sky is turning to glass with every new high-rise, Kirsten Larsen is fighting a quiet but fierce battle to keep Vancouver’s grassroots arts scene alive. As curator at Well Studios, she is dedicated to providing space and opportunity for emerging artists.
Well known in Vancouver’s art scene, Larsen is an organizer, dealer, entrepreneur, agent, and gallery host. She is also a mentor, a network-builder, and sometimes the one sweeping the floors and locking up at the end of the night. Above all, she is a relentless advocate for grassroots artists.
Her work is only getting harder as the ground beneath Well Studios is shifting. The imminent redevelopment of Vancouver’s City Centre Motel—a fate known even before Well Studios was born—the future of spaces like Larsen’s is more uncertain than ever.
Launched during the pandemic, Well Studios began when property managers familiar with Larsen’s work offered her an opportunity. It was not easy, but her belief in the vision—and the community—pushed her to open its doors, creating a beating heart for Vancouver’s underground creative scene.
The space constantly evolves, hosting breakdance cyphers, poetry slams, sober comedy nights, pop-up markets, and art shows. A weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, The No Tell Motel, grew into a citywide event series called Club Soda. New artists found their first opportunities, DJs rose to festival stages, and dozens of creative projects took flight.
“It became a space where artists, musicians, dancers, DJs, and creatives of all kinds could experiment, connect, and grow,” Larsen said.
As Vancouver’s cost of living climbs and developers swallow affordable real estate, spaces like Well Studios are vanishing. Emerging artists are pushed farther out, away from the city’s cultural core. Studios space has become a luxury, and gallery opportunities are increasingly out of reach.
“What Vancouver is missing, and what cities around the world understand, is the essential role arts and culture play in shaping the identity of a community,” Larsen said. “In cities that have flourished, arts and culture sit at the center. Vancouver has failed to put arts and culture at its core.”
When spaces like Well Studios disappear, it is not just an inconvenience. It is a warning. “When the arts are pushed to the edges, the soul of the city starts to wither,” Larsen said.
If doors do not open, Larsen builds her own. For more than a decade, she has done the behind-the-scenes work that holds communities together: volunteering, mentoring, organizing, and helping others find their footing.
“I didn’t buy my way in; I earned my place by showing up, taking risks, and making space when others couldn’t see the vision,” she said.
She has sat on boards, coordinated events, and connected hundreds of creatives—many of whom have gone on to larger opportunities.
“A mentor once called me ‘the catalyst,’ and that’s what I’ve always aimed to be,” she said. “A spark that sets things in motion, a quiet force in the background, always pushing boundaries and creating space for others to grow.”
Now, with Well Studios in limbo, the question looms: Where will it go? Where will the artists go?
There are no easy answers. But if Larsen’s track record is any indication, she will keep fighting. The mission was never about a single location—it was about the people it served.
“Well Studios is not just my vision,” she said. “It’s a testament to the power of community and the impact of holding space for those who need it most.”
As developers continue to reshape Vancouver’s skyline, Larsen is working just as tirelessly to preserve its soul. Even if she has to start all over again, it will not be the first time—or the last.
What does the Well Studios need? Larsen shares, “We are on the search for our next location, a space that is somewhat sound proof, not too close to residential, but accessible. Our next iteration will be more sound focused, so that we can really nurture the musicians, DJs, performers and producers so that they can really hone their craft. We would love to work with a developer or landlord who appreciates and understands the importance of the work we do and why nurturing and protecting communities is so important.”
~ Author: Colleen Lamothe
Colleen Lamothe is a writer and photographer. She documents Vancouver at @eastvanpaint, with a particular focus on the city’s ever evolving street art scene.
All images provided by Kirsten Larsen on behalf of The Well. Follow Kirsten here on IG: @theartof_kiki
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