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Arts champion Eric Charman is celebrating his 80th birthday

Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria Symphony and The Victoria Conservatory of Music throwing a party March 4.

Victoria’s arts champion Eric Charman is celebrating his 80th birthday, and he wants nothing more than to raise $300,000 for three of Victoria’s most prestigious music organizations: the Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM), Pacific Opera Victoria (POV) and the Victoria Symphony (VS).

The gala event takes place March 4 at the McPherson Playhouse, beginning at 5 p.m., and includes a champagne reception, grazing dinner, silent and live auctions and a spectacular concert.

In a unique twist, the event has been billed a “Chair-ity” with prominent B.C. artists creating elaborate works using a chair as their subject.

From Adirondacks to hand-painted upholstered chairs, and from carved chairs to paintings of chairs, the pieces created to honour “Chairman Charman” are the work of 15 artists, including Maarten Schaddelee, Robert Amos, Judy McLaren, Nathan Scott, Andy Wooldridge and more.

Tickets are $250 and a limited number of concert-only passes are available for $75. Call 250-382-1641 or visit pov.bc.ca. M