Support Your Local Arts Organizations

If you live in a metropolitan area, anywhere in the world, you likely have the opportunity to enjoy museums, dance and music of all types. Some of the venues are big; the arts organizations that use those venues are generally large and possessed of budgets to match.  

There are hundreds, even thousands of arts organizations that do not appear in large venues, do not have large budgets. 

Most of these groups are non-profit organizations.

Ticket sales typically cover less than half of the cost to put on even the lowest budget production.

In these depression-recessionary times, people are cautious about making donations. Fewer people attend art events. There are more non-profit arts organizations competing for fewer grants. Patronage is still available for artists and arts organizations through the National Endowment for the Arts and other agencies, but there is a disproportionate number of needy artists and arts organizations in need, as compared to the funds actually available at a national level. This means very few organizations that apply will actually receive a grant.

What many people don't realize is that many small donations can make a big difference in the life of an arts organization. Micro-giving is no joke, but is the very latest technical innovation in arts organization financing.

I am associated with a number of struggling and worthy arts organizations, and while I won’t monetize this blog for my own benefit, I will use this space to help others, from time to time.

One of the many worthy organizations that could use your financial help is San Francisco Renaissance Voices, a professional mixed-voice ensemble dedicated to performing and exploring the a cappella choral music of the Renaissance particularly lesser-known and rarely-performed works, as well as exploring music from this period outside of the traditional European canon.

This wonderful singing group is having a very tight time financially this summer and needs seed money to get the wonderful season of music they have planned off to a start.

As unbelievable as it may seem, you could help by contributing to this group’s Micro-Giving Campaign by donating just $5, $10 or $20. You can donate electronically at

http://www.sfrv.org/

or if you want to write a check make it to "SFRV" and send to:  SFRV, SAPC - 1329 Seventh Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122.

You could become a patron of the arts for just a few dollars!

I appeal to you, my wonderful readers, in appreciation that the arts and social media offer the opportunity to change lives in creative and positive ways.

Give now, for art's sake!