Key Takeaways:
- The Santander Arena and Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading have earned national recognition, ranking on Pollstar’s Year-End Top Grossing Charts and Top Ticket Sales Charts.
- The Santander Arena ranked No. 80 in total tickets sold and No. 72 in gross ticket revenue, while the Santander Performing Arts Center ranked No. 85 in total tickets sold and No. 89 in gross ticket revenue.
- The Reading Public Museum has acquired a large ceramic sculpture by contemporary artist Kukuli Velarde, which makes connections to the museum’s collection of ancient American art and strengthens its holdings of works by Latin American artists.
- A new holiday music album, "Holiday Fruitcake 6," has been released, featuring original songs by various artists and offering a creative alternative to standard holiday music.
Introduction to the Santander Arena and Performing Arts Center
The Santander Arena and Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading have concluded the 2025 calendar year with strong national recognition, earning placements on Pollstar’s prestigious Year-End Top Grossing Charts and Top Ticket Sales Charts. These rankings underscore the venues’ continued ability to attract top-tier talent and deliver memorable live entertainment experiences to audiences across the region. The Santander Arena ranked No. 80 among U.S. arenas in total tickets sold, with 137,432 tickets sold, and No. 72 in gross ticket revenue, generating $10,698,199 during the reporting period.
The Santander Arena’s Successful Year
Throughout the year, the Santander Arena welcomed a dynamic mix of high-demand events and sold-out performances, reinforcing its reputation as a premier mid-market venue. Sold-out shows at the Santander Arena during the reporting year included Tito Double P, Forrest Frank, Bulls, Bands & Barrels featuring Ella Langley and Hudson Westbrook, Treaty Oak Revival, Dude Perfect, Nate Bargatze, and Ana Gabriel. The wide range of genres and event types highlights the arena’s ability to successfully host everything from major touring artists and comedy to family entertainment and specialty events.
The Santander Performing Arts Center’s Achievements
Similarly, the historic Santander Performing Arts Center earned notable national placements, ranking No. 85 among U.S. theaters in total tickets sold, with 61,566 tickets sold, and No. 89 in gross ticket revenue, totaling $4,028,955 during the same reporting period. Notable performances at the Performing Arts Center included Rock Orchestra By Candlelight, Stardew Valley, Avatar, Violent Femmes, and Michael Blaustein, further demonstrating the venue’s versatility and continued appeal for concerts, comedy, and specialty touring productions.
The Reading Public Museum’s New Acquisition
The Reading Public Museum has announced the acquisition of a large ceramic sculpture by contemporary Philadelphia-area artist Kukuli Velarde, following the annual Purchase Party event. The purchase makes interesting connections to the museum’s collection of works of art from the ancient Americas and helps strengthen its holdings of works by Latin American artists, a recent collecting focus. The sculpture, titled "India Patarrajada — She will do all the acrobatics the Master orders, pero no esperes que te quiera mucho… Tlatilco/Olmec, Mexico. 1200-800 BC from 2008," is part of Velarde’s "Plunder Me, Baby" series, which reinterprets ancient Mesoamerican and South American ceramic forms with humor and biting critique.
The Significance of the New Acquisition
The acquisition of Velarde’s sculpture is significant, as it draws on Olmec and other pre-Columbian traditions, fusing historical aesthetics with contemporary self-portraiture to confront colonialism, cultural appropriation, and the erasure of Indigenous identity. The work reclaim the power and vitality of the ancient Americas while asserting the artist’s own presence within that lineage. Velarde’s work is a deeply personal reaction to centuries of plunder and the loss of cultural patrimony, and the museum is thrilled to add this engaging contemporary work to its permanent collection.
New Holiday Music Release
A new holiday music album, "Holiday Fruitcake 6," has been released worldwide, featuring a collection of new and diverse original music for the Christmas season by artists who offer a creative, alternative music choice to the standard holiday fare. The album features nine new and original songs by various artists, including Busker Incognito & the Christmas Balls, The Gruntles, Lewis Music Inc., Cowboy Ernie Sites, Scoria, The Mohnflowers, Jolene Windmiller, and Dave Kline & the Mountain Folk Band. The album is available to stream or download on various digital music platforms, including Apple iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, Deezer, YouTube, and more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Santander Arena and Santander Performing Arts Center have had a successful year, earning national recognition and attracting top-tier talent to the region. The Reading Public Museum has acquired a significant new work by contemporary artist Kukuli Velarde, which strengthens its holdings of works by Latin American artists and makes connections to its collection of ancient American art. Additionally, a new holiday music album, "Holiday Fruitcake 6," has been released, offering a creative alternative to standard holiday music. These developments highlight the vibrant cultural scene in Reading and the surrounding region, and set the stage for an exciting year ahead.