The arts and humanities are fundamental to society. Together, they foster creativity, beauty, and a deeper understanding of the human experience. They can be leveraged to express our values, support lifelong learning, and build bridges by bringing people together regardless of their differences.
Established in 1967, the United Arts Fund, which is managed by Erie Arts & Culture, supports the arts and humanities in Erie’s urban core by providing unrestricted funding to the Erie County Historical Society, the Erie Philharmonic, the Erie Playhouse, the expERIEnce Children’s Museum, and the Flagship Niagara League.
Erie Arts & Culture has already secured more than $130,000 for the fund from corporate citizens, such as Erie Insurance, and long-time benefactors of the agency - known as our Anchor Investors. These funds will be distributed to the participating arts and humanities organizations as unrestricted operating grants. Distribution amounts will be determined based on how many dollars each organization individually raise during the duration of the United Arts Fund. The goal for the 2019 campaign is to have the participating organizations raise a total of $220,000.
Erie is one of 40 cities across the nation that conducts a United Arts Fund. Americans for the Arts publishes annual United Arts Fund performance reports to their website. In 2018, Cincinnati, Ohio raised the highest dollar amount through their United Arts Fund, totaling $12,189,157. Across the nation, United Arts Funds raise an average of $2.89 per capita. Last year, Erie performed below the average, raising approximately $0.76 per capita - based on population numbers for Erie County. A meaningful gift from you in 2019 can help move Erie closer to the national average while also supporting the mission of our Cultural Service Partners. Together, we can make a positive impact in our region.
To make a donation directly to an organization of your choice, please click on their corresponding icon below.
