DECEMBER NEWSLETTER — What’s on in December
Can you believe 2025 has nearly come to an end? It has been an absolutely incredible year here at ArtSpring, and we owe so much of our success to you. From a triumphant Treasure Fair to bustling community dances and sold-out performances, we truly could not have done it without the support of our wonderful donors, volunteers, and, of course, audiences. Thank you for all you’ve done this year and throughout our 26 years of art, conversation, and community.
Even as the year winds down, we still have much to look forward to! We’ll be keeping the season bright with three ArtSpring Presents performances, a MET Opera screening, and a host of seasonal community shows.
On December 2nd, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra dazzles with a rare matinee concert featuring an orchestral adaptation of the Goldberg Variations. Classical music lovers and new listeners alike will be entranced by the elaboration of this solo keyboard piece into a dynamic wind-and-string ensemble performance.
Musical-lovers, mark your calendars! After spending the summer off-Broadway, Bear Grease the Musical takes the stage on December 8th and 9th. This all-Indigenous satire of Grease delivers razor-sharp humour and a revamped soundtrack blending hip-hop, doo-wop, and Pow Wow styles. As one of our few theatre features, it promises to be a highlight of the 2025/2026 ArtSpring Presents season.
On December 13th, Giordano’s Andrea Chénier arrives as our final MET Opera screening of 2025. Set against Nicholas Joël’s rich staging, this poignant story of love and disparity is loosely based on the life of poet André Chénier during the French Revolution. Tenor Piotr Beczała and soprano Sonya Yoncheva join forces to bring this passionate tragedy to life.
Between these major events, community presentations abound, including the Salt Spring Film Festival’s screening of Love+War, GISS Music’s winter concert Musaic, and Viva Chorale!’s annual food bank fundraiser concert.
Our 2025 annual appeal is now in full swing. If ArtSpring has touched your life this year, please consider making a donation, no matter the size. Donations are vital, making up nearly half of our budget—they are what keep the doors open, the lights on, and the art flowing into our community. Your support allows us to welcome community events, sustain local artists and art-lovers, and bring world-class talent to our small island.
This year, you can choose to direct your donation in three important ways:
- General Operations: This fund keeps us running day-to-day, covering essential expenses like utilities, staff and artist pay, and overhead.
- Theatre Angel Program: This initiative helps eliminate financial barriers by providing subsidized $15 tickets to art lovers, compared to the standard $42 adult rate.
- Legacy Endowment Fund: A long-term investment that ensures ArtSpring’s financial stability for years to come.
To give, you can visit purchase.artspring.ca/Donations, find us on CanadaHelps.org, or donate in person at the ArtSpring box office. Please note: if you would like a tax receipt for this year, your donation must be placed before December 31st. Please note that ArtSpring will be closed for the holiday season from December 20th through January 4th.
Due to implementation of new financial systems, this year’s Annual General Meeting for the Island Arts Centre Society will be held in February 2026.
We look forward to seeing you soon at ArtSpring!
Howard R. Jang
Executive & Artistic Director
ArtSpring
