Miriam Esquitín is an arts and non-profit leader based in Vancouver, Canada, with a strong focus on community building and social justice. Originally from Mexico, Esquitín’s career has focused on fostering inclusivity, innovation, and resilience.

Currently, as Executive Director of the Vancouver Mural Festival (VMF), Miriam leads an organization that transforms urban spaces by connecting thousands of people through public art. VMF’s projects exemplifies how public art can transform physical urban environments into cultural landscapes, with layers that speak to diverse communities.

Over the years, VMF has increasingly incorporated digital and immersive technologies in their public art programming. The Winter Arts Festival, for example, has focused on virtual and augmented reality experiences that expand the traditional boundaries of art, integrating digital layers onto public spaces. This bridges physical reality with virtual constructs, creating dynamic, interactive experiences that reimagine how people engage with urban environments.

Equity, reconciliation, sustainability, and artistic excellence are instrumental to the work of VMF. The organization has collaborated with dozens of Indigenous artists, aiming to affirm the resurgence and importance of Coast Salish culture, directly combatting the systemic suppression of Indigenous visual art. Furthermore, over 60% of all artists engaged by VMF have been from equity-deserving communities.

Miriam is also the Co-founder of Polymer Dance, a unique community-based improvisation ensemble that embodies the belief that “Dance is for Everybody and Dance is for Everywhere.” Since 2012, she has developed collaborative improvisational methods that decentralize the creative process in instantaneous compositions. Polymer Dance is part of a movement to democratize the arts, creating accessible opportunities for people to engage with dance regardless of their backgrounds or training.

With a BA and MA in Social Anthropology, Miriam approaches her work from a perspective that honors the cultural history of the places she inhabits.