United artists: With heart and plenty of art, $2-million is raised to support local charities in Toronto and Vancouver

Splash 2022 in support of Arts Umbrella, Vancouver

Arts Umbrella, the creative hub for Vancouver’s young artists age two to 22, held the 40th anniversary edition of their most important annual fundraiser, Splash, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The event raised north of $1.7-million, setting a record, which will benefit said young people who come from across Metro Vancouver to take part in visual and performing-arts programs. Founded in 1979, Arts Umbrella serves more than 20,000 young people annually, 80 per cent of whom participate in programs, thanks to fundraising efforts like Splash, at no cost. In spring, 2021, Arts Umbrella left their long-time post on Granville Island for a new and improved space, once part of Emily Carr University, nearby. The buzzing and sprawling arts HQ, which spans some 50,000 square feet, features light-filled art and dance studios, media labs, a photography darkroom and a 132-seat theatre.

Back as co-chairs for this year’s event, held Oct. 22, were Bruce Munro Wright, art collector and enthusiast, and Christie Garofalo, fashion plate and fundraising powerhouse (she chaired the BC Women’s Health Foundation gala the week before, which raised an impressive $2.67-million). Also returning as presenting sponsor was investment firm Nicola Wealth with its president David Sung along with his wife, Tassan, and the company’s CEO and chairman John Nicola. Central to the evening was a big splashy art auction (considered one of the most important art auctions in Western Canada), which saw nearly 100 works offered for the cause, including pieces by Douglas Coupland, Karin Bubaš and Russna Kaur, all of whom attended the gala. Also out, taking part in the anniversary celebration: Carol Henriquez, a co-founder of Arts Umbrella who served as honorary chair; CBANC CEO Tom Ferries, who chairs the org’s board; Hy’s of Canada CEO Neil Aisenstat; and of course, Paul Larocque, CEO of Arts Umbrella.

Jaspal Sangha, artist Russna Kaur, artist Maggee Day and Niall Batman.Michael San Felipe

Douglas Coupland and co-chairs Christie Garofalo and Bruce Munro Wright.Jamie-Lee Fuoco

Paul Larocque and Tom Ferries.Jamie-Lee Fuoco

Art With Heart in support of Casey House, Oct. 18, Toronto

A few nights earlier, back in Toronto, Casey House Foundation held the 29th edition of their annual fundraising art auction at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The evening saw some 500 guests out, who together raised more than $1-million for Casey House, a specialty hospital founded in 1988 in Toronto providing care to people living with and those who are at risk of HIV. Seventy-four artworks by artists from across Canada were included in both a live and silent auction, contributing significantly to the total raised (there were corporate sponsors, too, including returning presenting sponsor TD Bank Group). A number of the creatives who contributed works to the line up were in attendance, among them Bidemi Oloyede (whose photograph titled Lexson Millington opened the auction) and Laura Dawe, as well as Raoul Olou and Nathan Eugene Carson, who both served on the event’s curatorial committee. Joanne Simons, CEO of Casey House; Stephen Ranger, one of the evening’s two auctioneers, who also serves on the board of Casey House; gallery owner Daniel Faria; AGO director and CEO Stephan Jost, who served as honorary event chair; and drag artist Miss Fiercalicious (the subject of one of the offered works by photographer Ryan Van Der Hout), were also all in attendance.