Visitors to Vancouver’s Bentall Centre’s Tower 4 can find local art for sale at a vending machine, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting local arts organizations, according to a report in The Province.

Crystal Lau, a community engagement employee at the University of B.C., founded the non-profit Vancouver Vending Co. during the pandemic when traditional art outlets closed.

Lau formed Vancouver Vending Co. and put out a call on Instagram for art works that could fit the dimensions of a candy or snack bag. She then purchased items for the machine with support from Downtown Van, a business improvement organization.

Offerings range in price from one loonie to $60 and include prints, stickers wraps, pins, buttons, magazines, coasters, buttons, patches and notebooks.

The refurbished snack machine accepts credit and debit cards and will be at the food court of Bentall Centre’s Tower 4 for three months.

The machine has interior LED lights and an exterior wrap by a local illustrator.