CICA Vancouver

What CICA Vancouver does

CICA Vancouver (legal entity: Vancouver Centre of International Contemporary Art) is a non-profit, BIPOC and female-led multidisciplinary contemporary art gallery founded in 2021 by Tony Hui Cao. It operates from a 5,000 sq ft multipurpose venue at 228 Abbott Street in Gastown, Vancouver, with a movable-panel exhibition area, a mezzanine for presentations and workshops, and a skylight. The organization curates 6–7 exhibitions per year — including work by James Turrell, George Condo, Rashid Johnson, James Jean, Daisy Parris, Ayako Rokkaku, and BC-based immigrant artists — supported by panels, workshops, artist talks, residencies, and an archive/research function. Beyond the core exhibition program, CICA operates an integrated portfolio: CICA Art Education (youth camps and all-ages courses with instructors from Parsons, RISD, and SVA), the Creative Learners family program, educational field trips for schools, artist residencies, venue rental, a volunteer recognition program (Bronze through Platinum tiers), a membership program (Student $21 to Lifetime), donor tiers (Supporter $5,000 to Merit $50,000), an e-commerce gallery shop ($6.99–$2,950 CAD), and an annual International Art Awards program in partnership with Jelina Couture.

The business model is multi-stream non-profit funding: admission tickets ($15 adult / $12 student / free for seniors 55+ and children 12 and under) sold via Shopify, memberships and donations via Shopify, event RSVPs via Eventbrite, education tuition via Shopify, merchandise sales via the Shopify-powered shop, and direct venue rental for corporate events. Marketing spans website/blog content, email newsletter, social media (Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest), earned media (Vancouver Sun, Booooooom, Capture Photography Festival), events, and the Vortic.art virtual exhibition platform. Key institutional partners include Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, Gagosian Gallery, ICA Miami, Vancouver Art Gallery, KÖNIG GALERIE, Franz Kaka Gallery, UBC Art Amplifier Program, and DeCA; corporate sponsors include Paradox Logo Vancouver, Deco Nova, Coromandel, and RG. The organization is governed by a Board including Founder & Chair Tony Hui Cao, Co-chair Kevie Yang, Treasurer Jen Hua, and Curator & Secretary Viahsta Yuan, with 1–10 employees. The gallery is currently temporarily closed due to an "unexpected incident."

Name

CICA Vancouver

Legal name

Vancouver Centre of International Contemporary Art

Website

https://cicavancouver.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CICA Vancouver is a non-profit, BIPOC and female-led contemporary art gallery in Gastown, Vancouver, founded in 2021 by Tony Hui Cao. It curates seasonal exhibitions of international artists, runs education and family programs, and operates e-commerce, membership, and venue rental streams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Gallery Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAJADAH

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJADAJ

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Museums, Galleries & Cultural Institutions

SECONDARYTHAJAKAA

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Workshops & Classes (Arts, Crafts, Skills & Local Lessons)

SECONDARYTHAHAAAG

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Conference & Convention Venues (Convention Centers, Civic Centers)

Keywords

• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Art gallery operations
• Arts education programs
• Artist residency services
• Cultural nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Admission tickets sold for exhibitions, with tiered pricing for adults ($15), students ($12), and free entry for seniors (55+) and children (12 and under).
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers providing free admission, early access to programs, opening night invitations, and member discounts. Tiers include Student ($21), Individual ($105), Household ($100/£100), and Lifetime (£150).
3. Donations and Sponsorships: Non-profit organization relying on donations from the community. Sponsorship tiers include Supporter ($5,000), Patron ($10,000), Honour ($20,000), and Merit ($50,000).
4. E-commerce Merchandise Sales: Sale of artist merchandise including art prints, postcards, notebooks, and collaborative items with featured artists. Products range from $6.99 to $2,950 CAD.
5. Venue Rental: 5,000 sq ft multi-purpose space available for corporate events and entertaining. Rental inquiries handled through venue rental pamphlet.
6. Education Programs: CICA Art Education offering spring camps, all-ages courses, and workshops for youth and adults. Programs include ceramic handbuilding, animated GIF making, collage making, and painting courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CICA Vancouver operates a non-profit multidisciplinary art gallery that curates 3–4 seasonal contemporary art exhibitions annually featuring international and local artists, along with supplementary educational programs (Creative Learners, school field trips, youth art courses), artist-in-residency opportunities, multipurpose venue rental, an artist merchandise shop, and a membership program. The organization also hosts panel talks, workshops, and special events such as the annual International Art Awards in partnership with Jelina Couture.

Product overview

CICA Vancouver is a non-profit multidisciplinary art organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of arts programming. The core offering consists of rotating contemporary art exhibitions (3-4 seasonal exhibitions annually) featuring international and local artists. Supporting programs include the CICA Creative Learners family education initiative, CICA Education courses and youth camps (affiliated with Parsons, RISD, SVA), the Artist-in-Residency Program, Research & Archive initiatives, and Multipurpose Venue Rental (5,000 sq ft). Additional services encompass educational field trips, Creative Learners Gallery Guides, International Art Awards (in partnership with Jelina Couture), Membership Program, Donation Programs at various tiers, Volunteer Program with recognition tiers, Gallery Shop (e-commerce), and online ticket sales. The organization serves diverse audiences from families and schools to emerging artists and art collectors through these interconnected programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitions Program Rotating contemporary art exhibitions featuring 3–4 seasonal shows per year with international and local artists, available for general visitors, members, and school groups.
• CICA Creative Learners Program Family-focused gallery program offering family-friendly guided tours, hands-on art-making led by artists, customized worksheets, and gallery and at-home learning activities for multigenerational visitors.
• CICA Education Courses Contemporary art education program for youth and adults featuring instructors from Parsons, RISD, and SVA, offering Spring Camps, All-Ages Courses, Ceramic Handbuilding, Animated GIF Making, Collage Making, and Painting courses.
• Artist-in-Residency Program Program allowing artists to explore Vancouver's cultural landscape through talks, panel discussions, seminars, field trips, studio visits, and networking events to foster artistic exchange.
• Research & Archive Program supporting research, documentation, and archiving of emerging and established artists, emphasizing visual culture for younger generations through publications, photographs, videos, and physical documents.
• Multipurpose Venue Rental 5,000 sq ft multipurpose space in Gastown Vancouver with movable wall panels creating 8-metre continuous wall space, mezzanine with audio-visual equipment, and skylight, available for corporate events and private entertaining.
• Educational Field Trips Educational field trips for local schools and universities, including in-gallery experiences and classroom visits by CICA staff, with teacher resources including vocabulary sheets and lesson plans.
• Creative Learners Gallery Guides Interactive educational materials for families and teachers featuring customized lessons and activities for gallery visits, classroom instruction, and self-guided learning.
• CICA Vancouver X Jelina Couture International Art Awards Annual international art awards program partnering with Jelina Couture to recognize emerging and mid-career artists, offering monetary prizes, exhibition opportunities, and residency programs.
• Membership Program Year-round membership offering free gallery admission, early access to programs, invitations to opening nights, complimentary guest passes, CICA news, and special discounts on courses and workshops.
• Donation Programs Non-profit donation programs including Supporter ($5,000), Patron ($10,000), Honour ($20,000), and Merit ($50,000) tiers with benefits such as opening reception invitations, VIP events, and exhibition acknowledgment.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer recognition program with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers offering benefits including free admission tickets, membership, discounts on courses, and VIP tickets to art events like Frieze Los Angeles and Art Basel Miami.
• Gallery Shop E-commerce shop selling artist merchandise including notebooks, postcards, stickers, apparel, accessories, art prints, and limited edition items from featured artists.
• Gallery Tickets Online ticketing service for gallery admission with adult tickets ($15 CAD), senior tickets (55+, free), student tickets ($12 CAD), and children's tickets (12 and under, free).

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Deer Lake Artist ResidenciescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Partnership for Ayako Rokkaku's artist residency, bringing the acclaimed Japanese artist to Metro Vancouver for a residency followed by solo exhibition at CICA Vancouver. Residency takes place within Deer Lake Park on the ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, səlilwətaɬ, and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm peoples.
• Canada Council for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Government arts funding body providing support for CICA Vancouver's exhibitions and programs including the Ayako Rokkaku exhibition.
• BC Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026Provincial arts council supporting CICA's exhibitions and programs. Acknowledged for support on Reverse Chinatown exhibition.
• KÖNIG GALERIEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 March 2026International gallery representing Ayako Rokkaku, providing artworks for her Canadian debut solo exhibition at CICA Vancouver.
• DeCA (Dawn Eleven Contemporary Art Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Collaboration on the Reverse Chinatown group exhibition bringing together artists from Vancouver and New York to reconsider Chinatown's historical significance and future possibilities.
• Franz Kaka GallerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2025Toronto-based gallery representing Jennifer Carvalho. Exhibition made possible by the unwavering support of Franz Kaka Gallery.
• UBC Art Amplifier ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2025Special thanks to UBC Art Amplifier Program for supporting Jennifer Carvalho's exhibition An Archive of Gestures.
• Vortic.artcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 March 2025Virtual exhibition platform partner providing online and AR viewing of CICA exhibitions including Clouds for Breakfast by Daisy Parris and Meadowlark by James Jean.
• Jelina CoutureflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 November 2024CICA Vancouver X Jelina Couture 2025 International Art Awards - a flagship partnership featuring a two-part exhibition (Passage of Fragments and Unbound) celebrating emerging to mid-career artists worldwide. The awards provide monetary prizes ($5,000 CAD Beacon Award, $3,000 CAD Rising Star, $1,000 CAD People's Choice) and residency opportunities.
• Gagosian GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2024World-renowned gallery providing support for James Turrell: Light, Space and the Art of Perception exhibition at CICA Vancouver.
• ICA Miami (Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2023Support for James Turrell exhibition at CICA Vancouver, along with Gagosian Gallery and Vancouver Art Gallery.
• Vancouver Art GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2023Support for James Turrell exhibition at CICA Vancouver, along with Gagosian Gallery and ICA Miami.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KÖNIG GALERIE: Berlin- and London-based contemporary art gallery representing Ayako Rokkaku. Directly comparable as an international gallery collaborating with CICA Vancouver on the Canadian debut solo show of a shared represented artist.
• Patel Brown: Toronto-based contemporary art gallery. Comparable as a Canadian commercial gallery with similar programming style — rotating exhibitions of mid-career and emerging contemporary artists.
• Cooper Cole: Toronto-based contemporary art gallery. Comparable as a Canadian commercial gallery with comparable exhibition cadence, artist roster caliber, and programming approach.
• Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami (ICA Miami): Non-collecting contemporary art museum in Miami. Directly comparable as a similarly sized non-profit institution with curated exhibitions, educational programming, and a documented partnership with CICA Vancouver on the James Turrell show.
• Vancouver Art Gallery: British Columbia's largest public contemporary art institution. Directly comparable as a Vancouver-based contemporary art venue that partners with CICA and shares overlapping exhibition programming and audience.
• Franz Kaka Gallery: Toronto-based contemporary art gallery. Directly comparable as a Canadian commercial gallery representing artists shown at CICA (e.g., Jennifer Carvalho) and operating at similar exhibition scale.
• Powerhouse Arts: Non-profit art center in Brooklyn with exhibition, education, and residency programming. Comparable to CICA as a multidisciplinary non-profit combining exhibitions, education, and venue-based community arts programming.

Broad incumbents

• Gagosian Gallery: World's largest commercial contemporary art gallery. Comparable as a major player in exhibiting the same blue-chip artists (e.g., James Turrell) that CICA features, and is a documented institutional supporter of CICA exhibitions.

Regional players

• Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal (MAC): Montreal-based museum dedicated to contemporary art. Comparable as a Canadian non-profit contemporary art institution serving a different region, with overlapping exhibition, education, and membership models.

Others

• Capture Photography Festival: Vancouver-based annual photography festival and media partner of CICA. Comparable as a regional arts programming organization with overlapping audience and partnership ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cica-vancouver-contemporary-art

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CICA Vancouver