APRIL 2026 NEWSLETTER — What’s on in April
From the homegrown brilliance of our Salt Spring Community Showcase to the Cheng² Duo’s powerful musical dialogue, our April lineup is a celebration of the eclectic. Whether you are drawn to whimsical storytelling by local legends or the sophisticated fusion of classical masterworks and modern jazz, this month’s programming serves as a vibrant spring awakening that honours the immense talent and restless curiosity that defines our island’s creative fabric.
On April 17th, the Salt Spring Community Showcase spotlights six phenomenal local acts in a program born from the success of ArtSpring’s 25th Anniversary. Curated by the RoundTable committee, the evening features Wesley Hardisty’s traditional Northern, Métis, and West Coast contemporary fiddling, Matthew McKinney’s folk storytelling, a special snippet of GISPA’s The Little Prince, Tangle McClaren’s driftwood puppet show How the Whale Brought the Rain, singer-songwriter Lisa Maxx’s soulful “The Whole World Needs a Lullaby,” and a spirited Newfie-Irish folk music celebration from Marilyn Walker and Edgar Hann. Join us to celebrate these local performers and help us turn the Showcase into an annual tradition.
On April 28th, the Cheng² Duo brings the fire with their JUNO-nominated sibling act. Bryan (cello) and Silvie (piano) Cheng have performed together for nearly their entire lives, resulting in an intuitive musical relationship that makes every piece feel like a living conversation. While they are masters of the classical repertoire, the Chengs frequently transcend genre by weaving jazz, poetry, and visual art into a modern concert experience. For this special performance, the duo becomes a trio as they are joined by the legendary clarinetist James Campbell.
Our April calendar is also filled with a rich variety of community and guest presentations, including the Salt Spring Forum’s discussion on the US and the Middle East, the nostalgic sounds of RELICS: Playing the Music of Pink Floyd, and the family-friendly MAGIC! at ArtSpring. Theatre lovers can look forward to Josephine as well as StageCoach Theatre School’s year-end dance recital Lights Up! Let’s Dance! and their production of Shrek the Musical Jr. Additionally, the Salt Spring Island Printmakers take over both our lobby and gallery for all of April, with celebrations, artist talks, and demonstrations peppered throughout the month.
ArtSpring is thrilled to partner with the Sweetgrass Arts and Music Society (SAMS) to produce a special lobby exhibition for the month of June, and Indigenous artists from all nations are invited to submit their work. SAMS welcomes submissions in all mediums and is especially honoured to include a dedicated Children’s Gallery, uplifting the voices and artwork of our young ones. This is an opportunity to share stories, traditions, and contemporary Indigenous expression in a welcoming community exhibition. To be considered, submit your work to sweetgrassartsandmusicsociety@gmail.com by May 15th at 10:00 AM.
Behind the scenes, we are looking for a creative and strategic storyteller to join our team as ArtSpring’s next Communications Manager. If you have a talent for crafting narratives that move people and want to shape the voice of ArtSpring, we encourage you to apply by Tuesday, April 14th. For full details and application instructions, visit artspring.ca/were-hiring-a-communications-manager.
We are also seeking friendly, outgoing volunteers to join our daytime box office team. As a box officer, you’ll help patrons navigate our season while becoming deeply involved in the local arts community for just one two-hour shift per week. To join the volunteer team, please reach out to Megan Wilson at megan.w@artspring.ca.
We look forward to seeing you soon at ArtSpring!
Howard R. Jang
Executive & Artistic Director
ArtSpring
