BY KIRSTEN BOLTON
FOR ARTSPRING
Treasure Fair, ArtSpring’s largest annual fundraiser, has smashed its own record from 2023 with proceeds now north of $125,000 being raised in four days.
The online auction website that ran July 10 to 13 initially set its standard fundraising goal at $55,000. The target was achieved in 17 minutes of the site going live, prompting organizers to up the total target to $115,000 to take account of the special headliner item, a 1957 Porsche 365 Speedster replica.
The Porsche, courtesy of an anonymous Salt Spring donor, had only 670 kilometres on its odometer and was won by a final bid of $56,000 from a Sidney resident. Other big-ticket items included a Yukon travel adventure package and custom wood-strip Baidarka kayak built by Ken Katz.
“We are thrilled and grateful for all the community donors, supporters and volunteers who made Treasure Fair our most successful yet,” said executive and artistic director Howard Jang. “It’s made even more meaningful that it coincided with our 25th anniversary year and Catherine Griffiths’ final term as our intrepid Treasure Fair coordinator. We’re all very thankful.”
From furniture to fabrics, collectables to concert tickets, artworks, wines, experiences and services, over 500 items were included in the auction, starting at prices as low as $10. One-hundred per cent of the funds go to ArtSpring.