Let’s be honest: Asking people for money is my job. I have been fortunate enough to do this work for organizations that I personally and passionately support. Every day is a “Giving Day” in my world. That makes #GivingTuesday, a globally recognized day of giving, kind of a big deal for me.
#GivingTuesday, on November 29, officially kicks off the charitable end-of-year giving season after the insanity of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Essentially it’s about the idea of adding your favorite nonprofits to your holiday shopping list AND it gives you an excuse to feel a little bit better about January’s “slightly larger” credit card bill.
Most importantly, #GivingTuesday encourages us all to take a breath and step away from the materialism so often associated with the holidays by showing our love and support for the nonprofit organizations that enrich our lives and the lives of others all year.
I am, literally, married to the arts, so the idea of giving to arts & culture this year hits especially close to home. So give.
Give to your local nonprofit radio station, the botanical garden or museum that will get you through the winter, the theater or performance group that has become a holiday season staple for you and your friends or family. And maybe your local Arts Council? Yep. I said it.
We need you—now more than ever. Some of you might not know that last year the Arts Council (GCAC) provided more than $4.7 million in community funding to arts organizations, artists and projects in Columbus. Did you know that the huge, free, award-winning, fun for all-ages arts festival we host every year receives no public funding? What about that arts-marketing campaign you see everywhere–Art Makes Columbus/Columbus Makes Art? We have to raise that money too. And the campaign is an incredible testament to the amazing, creative people we have living and working as artists in Columbus. The campaign is raising awareness in a significant way with more than 500 million paid, earned and social media impressions since its launch in June 2015, not just in Columbus but throughout the region.
It’s a lot. But it’s not enough.
More funding means more arts and cultural experiences right here. For everyone. We’re working hard to make sure that we can do more, but we need your help.
What can you do?
I love lists, so here are five things you can do today, to ease your conscience, to fill your soul and to support arts and culture in this great city.
- Give to your favorite local arts and culture organizations
- Go visit them, buy a ticket, gift a membership, get those family members out of the house and enjoy one of our city’s numerous cultural offerings this season
- Make a gift to the Greater Columbus Arts Council
- Lend us your voice! Complete and share our public opinion survey before December 1
- Download our “Talking Points for the Arts Advocate”
We all know Art Makes Columbus. Please help Columbus Make Art.
—Emily Toney, Director of Development
