Two pillars of the Victoria art scene are set to close down next month. Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social will close their doors permanently on April 30, 2026.
The Arts On View Society announced the upcoming closure on Thursday, saying the “difficult decision” came after extensive reviews of the organization’s financial position.
“Historical financial obligations, including a significant outstanding GST liability, and structural issues created by previous leadership resulted in a deficit position that could not be sustainably resolved by the new leadership within the organization’s current operating models,” said the society.
“Despite strong community support, consistent programming, and ongoing revenue generation, the organization no longer has the financial capacity to meet its obligations as they come due. Continuing operations under these conditions would not be responsible.”
The society says that over the past 18 months, the group had tried to turn things around, including improving financial oversight and supporting day-to-day operations. However, those steps were not enough to “overcome the scale” of the society’s tenuous financial position.
“This is an incredibly difficult moment,” said Al Smith, chair of the Arts On View Society board.
“From the day I was asked to join the board, I worked tirelessly to stabilize and move the organization forward from a very complex and challenging situation,” he said. “While we were able to make meaningful progress and address a number of issues, the scale of the challenges we inherited created a financial position that ultimately could not be reversed and proved to be too significant to overcome.”
“I’m deeply proud of the work that was done, but also deeply saddened that it wasn’t enough to secure a sustainable future,” he added.
Next steps for the Arts On View Society include winding down operations “in an orderly manner,” notifying stakeholders and partners, and addressing “outstanding obligations to the extent possible.”
“Arts On View, Hermann’s and View Street Social, extends its sincere gratitude to the artists, staff, volunteers, supporters, and community members who have contributed to its work over the years,” said the society.
Nearly 50 years of musical history
Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social are both located at 753 View St. in downtown Victoria.
The Jazz Club first opened at a different location in 1981 before moving to its View Street spot in 1986. It was dubbed the longest-continuously operating jazz club in Canada, according to the Arts on View Society.
Hermann’s had long been a hub for jazz music in the capital city, giving musical professionals and newcomers alike a space to play in a classic venue setting.
In 2024, the City of Victoria bought the building that contains Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social for $3.95 million in an effort to support the city’s arts and culture scene.
Hermann’s Upstairs, a venue located above Hermann’s Jazz Club, closed down that same year, before new owners took over, renovated the space and opened a new venue called The Coda.
The city says it’s aware of the society’s “decision to cease operations” and that it will work with the group on managing the transition.
“The City remains committed to maintaining this facility as a live music venue,” said the municipality in a statement.
“This closure does not impact the Coda who operates the upstairs music venues.”
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