Erie Arts & Culture and its Cultural Service Partners invite the public to participate in the 2020 United Arts Fund, which started on September 1 and will continue through December 31, 2020.
Please consider making a donation here!
This year’s collective fundraising campaign has a weighted degree of importance since organizations that compose the creative and cultural sector have experienced severe disruptions to their operations and revenue as a result of the public health pandemic. Social distancing requirements have made it all but impossible for arts and humanities organizations to awe and inspire the community through traditional education, exhibition, and performance models. Since March 2020, it’s estimated that non-profit creative and cultural organizations in Erie County have suffered an economic loss totaling more than $3.9 million due to the disruption of standard business operations. Very little economic relief has been directed to these organizations.
End of Year Variety Show
As part of this year’s campaign, Erie Arts & Culture and its Cultural Service Partners will present an end-of-year variety show on December 5. The variety show will be produced at the studios of Community Access Media and will be streamed digitally on YouTube and social media from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM. The show will include acts and segments presented by Erie Arts & Culture, the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Playhouse, the expERIEnce Children’s Museum, the Flagship Niagara League, the Hagen History Center, and other arts and entertainment organizations.
More details to follow.
UAF History
Launched in 1967, the annual United Arts Fund provides Erie Arts & Culture’s five Cultural Service Partners, including the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Playhouse, the expERIEnce Children’s Museum, the Flagship Niagara League, and the Hagen History Center, with unrestricted funds to support their missions and operations. A percentage of the annual fund drive also supports Erie Arts & Culture’s operations and the Ignite Arts grant program.
The 2019 campaign raised $678,164.62 in 2019, a record amount for the fund drive. Of that total, $137,725 was secured by Erie Arts & Culture from corporate citizens and the agency’s long-term donors. 60% of that total served as a prorated match for the five participating Cultural Service Partners. In total, the Cultural Service Partners raised $540,439.62 from more than 800 donors, with 214 of those contributing being first time donors . Matches distributed by Erie Arts & Culture ranged from $6,849 to $32,620.
2020 Goals
Erie Insurance has already pledged $125,000 in support of the 2020 United Arts Fund. Their contribution does come with a caveat. To earn that pledge, the campaign must reach a minimum fundraising goal of $500,000. Please consider making a gift to the 2020 United Arts Fund. You can make a donation to Erie Arts & Culture, which benefi ts our agency, all fi ve Cultural Service Partners, and the Ignite Arts grant program. Or, you can make a contribution directly to either one or several of the Cultural Service Partners of your choosing.
General Donation
United Arts Fund
A UAF general donation can be made online here or via check made out to Erie Arts and Culture (in memo: UAF).
Cultural Service Partner Specific
Via Erie Arts & Culture
If you have a special connection with one or more of the Partners, you can make a gift directly to them through their UAF donation page(s) by clicking any of the logos above.
Cultural Service Partner Specific
Direct
Make a donation(s) directly to the organization(s) of your choice, but please denote that the gift is in support of the UAF.
