Cuts to education budgets are affecting arts programs in schools across America. Few school districts have the necessary funds to pay for subjects beyond the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. This leaves uncounted gifted artists and musicians without an outlet for their talents and no means of developing their ability.
And it is not only school-based programs that are experiencing hard times. Community-based art and music program that enriched the lives of people of all ages are falling by the wayside.
Fortunately, nonprofit organizations and their volunteers are stepping up to close the gap in these programs. Without their help, an entire generation of young artists and musicians would go untutored and unrecognized, wondering what their lives might have been like if only they had access to the right kind of instruction.
These organizations lend their support to arts programs in private academies, community centers, hospitals, assisted living facilities, public libraries and similar venues. Foundation grants provide much-needed financial support for these programs, but as is so often the case today, even larger charitable trusts are strapped for cash and overwhelmed by an increasing number of requests.
In addition to grants, nonprofit arts organizations rely heavily on donations of money, time, equipment and personnel from the private sector. The average person in the street is incredibly generous when it comes to good causes. Unfortunately, he may not know where his dollars could be best spent.
Many nonprofit arts programs provide guidance in this area, publishing their wish lists in the organizations’ newsletters and on their websites. Potential donors are able to select what their money will help buy, anything from a set of watercolor paints to musical instruments.
For example, Sing for Hope, a nonprofit music education group, is in need of pop up pianos in New York. These are highly portable keyboard instruments indispensable in introducing young children to the piano. One donor may not be able to buy 100 of these pianos, but 100 people could each buy one.
It is not the grand gesture that makes these arts programs possible. It is the number of small donations that make a real difference. A simple donation of $35 may buy the gift of a lifetime filled with music for one child.