Splash: Arts Umbrella's 37th annual art auction and gala

Credit: Paul Duchart

Fred Lee, emcee; Paul Laroque, Arts Umbrella president and CEO; Christie Garofalo, gala co-chair; Michelle Martin, Arts Umbrella board of directors chair; Gloria Macarenko, emcee; and Bruce Munro Wright, gala co-chair

Splash, Arts Umbrella’s 37th annual art auction and gala, raised a record-breaking $1.075 million for accessible arts education for young people in B.C. through bursaries, scholarships, and donor-funded programs.

More than 500 business and community leaders, patrons and art aficionados filled the ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Saturday, October 26. The evening began with a sponsored cocktail reception and an opportunity to bid on silent auction items. Arts Umbrella students also created artworks on the spot to be auctioned off at the end of the evening.

Close to 100 works of art by prominent B.C. artists were auctioned, benefitting more than 24,000 young people through high-quality arts education program and workshops.The evening was co-chaired by Christie Garofalo and Bruce Munro Wright and emceed by CBC’s Gloria Macarenko and Fred Lee. Throughout the night, guests were treated to performances by the Arts Umbrella Dance Company and Pre-Professional Theatre Troupe. The live auction was led by artist Hank Bull, followed by an afterparty set to the music of DJ Chloe.

Credit: Paul Duchart

David and Pamela Richardson, gala sponsors; and their son, Colby Richardson, gala committee member

Credit: Paul Duchart

Heather Altas, Arts Umbrella senior director, development and building campaign; Robert Lemon, architect and heritage planner; and Paul Laroque, Arts Umbrella president and CEO

Credit: Paul Duchart

Christie Garofalo, Splash gala co-chair; and her husband, David Garofalo, mining executive

Credit: Paul Duchart

Athena Bax, live auction contributing artist; and Ken Fitzgerald, chartered accountant

Credit: Paul Duchart

Nessa van Bergen, Bon Vivant Catering & Events owner; Kirsten Mihailides, Arts Umbrella board member; and Joy Jennissen, H&K Strategies chief client officer

Credit: Paul Duchart

Champagne reception sponsors Hanif Mamdani, RBC Global Asset Management head of alternative investments; his wife, Jessica Taylor, Singleton Urquhart LLP lawyer; Nano Rodriguez; and John Evans, Opus Hotels Group founder, president and CEO

Credit: Paul Duchart

Splash emcees Fred Lee and Gloria Macarenko, CBC Vancouver

Credit: Paul Duchart

David Bishop, Paul Sangha Landscape Architecture landscape architect; and his sister, Gemma Bishop, Avenue PR agency director

Credit: Paul Duchart

John Norton, Norton Stewart Business Lawyers partner; Diane Norton; and Carol Henriquez, Arts Umbrella co-founder and honourary chair

Credit: Paul Duchart

Stacy Lederman, contributing artist; Nicole Harvie, CTV makeup director; Jim Gordon, Our City Tonight TV host; and Leeta Liepins, Our City Tonight TV host