West Coast Cultural Lab
We believe creativity is a bridge — connecting not just art forms, but people, places, and generations.
We are a Vancouver-based nonprofit rooted in community arts, cultural storytelling, and creative technology. Our work spans analog practices like theatre, visual art, and community print — thoughtfully blended with digital tools including film, new media, and AI — to deepen connection and expand access to creative expression.
We honour those often left behind in the digital age — seniors, newcomers, and marginalized voices — while remaining open to the possibilities technology offers when guided by care, creativity, and purpose.
We are not still. Like waves, we carry stories forward.
We don’t just talk about innovation — we build it.
Community Publication
We create printed media that connects people offline — sharing local stories, creative expression, and wellness resources for those who still value tangible connection.
Our seasonal publication:
Vancouver On Ink
Community Education
We design and lead accessible workshops and seminars that inspire learning, creative expression, and community connection. This includes our West Coast AI Seminar Series and creative theatre-based workshops.
AI-Enhanced Projects
We explore how emerging technologies like AI can support wellness, accessibility, and creative expression — always guided by care, ethics, and real-world impact. For example, we developed a prototype Squat Pro that uses AI pose detection to guide users through squats with real-time audio coaching.
Theatre & Film
We use theatre, film, and digital storytelling to highlight overlooked narratives — blending art and advocacy to reflect memory, identity, and social change. Whether sparking dialogue on stage or capturing voices on screen, we bring people together through powerful, human stories.
Check Our Past Projects
From the West Coast to Everywhere — Creativity Without Limits
We build for community — and with community.
From ink to interface, from local to global — we are a cultural lab shaped by stories, not systems.
MISSION
To bridge art, community, and technology through meaningful, inclusive, and intergenerational projects that inspire creativity, reflection, and belonging.
Mandate
West Coast Cultural Lab is a Vancouver-based non-profit arts organization that brings together artists and communities to create meaningful cultural experiences. Our mandate is to connect generations through art, design, and storytelling, embracing both new technologies and in-person engagement. We foster inclusive, interdisciplinary projects that spark reflection, creativity, and a sense of belonging.
VALUE
Creativity with Purpose
We believe art can create reflection, connection, and change. Every project is designed to be meaningful and relevant to the community.
Inclusion and Belonging
We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in the creative process, fostering spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.
Collaboration
We bring together professional artists, community members, and partners to co-create works that blend diverse perspectives and disciplines.
Innovation with Humanity
We embrace new technologies and digital tools while keeping human stories, emotions, and relationships at the heart of every project.
Sustainability and Care
We aim to build long-term cultural impact through mindful use of resources, respect for local context, and care for people and community.
Our logo was created with intention, shaped by the same values that guide our work.
Design with intention
Story Behind
The wave forms a W, representing the West Coast, our home. Within it, Morse code spells CLS, short for Cultural Lab Society, and nods to digital culture, comment, like, share.
Morse code once connected people across oceans, just as we use creativity to reach, connect, and listen across time and identity.
Together, the wave and code form an octopus, a symbol of curiosity and adaptability. Like the octopus, we explore many forms, theatre, film, design, community print, and emerging technology, moving fluidly through ideas while staying true to purpose.
We are not still, like waves, we carry stories forward.
Meet Our Team
Yukko Chan – Executive Director & President
Yukko Chan is an interdisciplinary creative, cultural producer, and theatre and film director with over 15 years of experience leading international, community-based arts projects. She founded MyVoice in 2013, creating original work across Korea, France, Bolivia, Mexico, and more. Her past work includes La Elección, directed in collaboration with Latin American artists on a five-city tour in Bolivia. She has also directed process documentaries capturing cross-cultural collaborations. Based in Vancouver, Yukko serves on the Board of the Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association, contributing to local arts and community engagement. Her practice blends performance, film, and creative technology to build inclusive, human-centered experiences across analog and digital platforms.
Doris Hung – Secretary
Doris Hung brings a background in construction development, public procurement, and contract law, with deep experience in institutional coordination and governance. She currently works in the construction sector, specializing in legal documentation and administrative systems. Her detail-oriented approach and understanding of compliance support the operational strength of West Coast Cultural Lab Society, ensuring creative work is built on a solid and sustainable foundation.
Gonzalo Echeverri – Treasurer
Gonzalo Echeverri is a multidisciplinary creative with a background in marketing, advertising, and visual storytelling. With years of experience leading campaigns and brand development, he brings strong skills in budgeting, organizational systems, and communications — making him a reliable and forward-thinking Treasurer. Gonzalo is also an active photographer and tattoo artist, whose artistic practice explores identity, symbolism, and the body as canvas, enriching the Lab’s perspective on creative expression.
Mok Chiu Yu – General Director
Mok Chiu Yu is a cultural activist, writer, and pioneer in community-based arts across Asia and North America. He is the founder of the Asian People’s Theatre Festival Society, and has spent decades fostering community arts, intercultural exchange, and artistic activism. His work spans theatre, writing, disability advocacy, and international collaboration, often engaging themes of identity, democracy, and access. Committed to inclusive, people-led artmaking, Mok continues to inspire artists and communities through his vision, humility, and lifelong dedication to social change through culture.
Joyce Lee – General Director
Joyce Lee is an Arts Consultant and Coach making award winning theatre performances internationally for 20 years. Her most iconic work was ZARA, an epic outdoor performance in 2019, with a cast of 100 and a budget close to £1m. Joyce stepped down as Artistic Director of Mind the Gap in 2024. Joyce has expertise in braiding inclusive practice in communicating complex subjects in accessible ways. Her works have been recommended by the Guardian, the Telegrath, BBC the one show.
Dr. Pak Lun Fung – Advisor
Dr. Pak Lun (Alan) Fung obtained his PhD in Atmospheric Science with the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) at the University of Helsinki, Finland in 2022. With a background in scientific research and international collaboration, Dr. Fung offers an interdisciplinary perspective and supports the West Coast Cultural Lab’s commitment to inclusive, knowledge-based cultural dialogue.
If you love community projects and want to be part of our work
Volunteer Sign-Up
Our projects are made possible with the support of volunteers.
If you’d like to contribute your time and skills, sign up through our Volunteer Form.