Marin Voice: Support arts and entertainment venues this holiday season

This holiday season, I hope we all consider what a blessing it is to live in Marin. Our lives are made richer by the abundance of access to the arts. We are fortunate to have a wealth of theater companies, art galleries and music venues.

But the arts are struggling and even the most well-known arts venues are still experiencing lower than pre-pandemic attendance. In Marin, we can keep our little slice of heaven alive by actively supporting our local artists and venues.

I’d like to suggest that this year, when considering holiday gifts and year-end donations, you think about Marin arts.

There are more options than I can list, but I’d like to mention four unique ways, in four different Marin communities, that you can support the arts and delight your friends and family with a uniquely Marin holiday gift.

First, I will mention the Lark Theater, where I am a board member.

Who doesn’t pause as they pass this crown jewel of downtown Larkspur? It is one of only 30 remaining single-screen art-deco theaters in the U.S. It is run as a nonprofit by a few amazing staff members and a passionate team of volunteers.

I suggest that, this year, we all take the family out to one of the theater’s many holiday offerings. The Lark isn’t just about movies. Here you can also take in performances by the London National Theater and the Met Opera, as well as live local shows. Load up on Lark gift cards for stocking stuffers and last-minute hostess gifts or for that someone special, give them the gift of an annual membership.

Next on my list is the Marin Theater Company in Mill Valley. Did you know that before many well-known and acclaimed shows go to other local and national theaters, they get their start at this award-winning venue? Some of the best theater I’ve seen in the last decade has been here. There is not a bad seat in the house.

With the newly appointed artistic director, Lance Gardner (who has led performances at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, Magic Theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and others top spots among his credits) the upcoming season should be amazing.

MTC has been struggling to regain attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic response, but if you’ve not seen live theater lately, I promise it is worth giving up a night of sitting at home and streaming. So get out. Get your family out.

A season subscription is a wonderful gift for friends and family. And when your non-Marin friends talk about a brilliant new show they saw at one of the larger theaters in the Bay Area or Off Broadway – well you can enjoy telling them you were able to see that show several seasons ago and without crossing a bridge or getting on a plane.