The ongoing COVID-19 shutdown is leaving arts organizations unable to produce live events and Rochester area artists scrambling to survive through governmental assistance and reliance on a network of family, friends, and colleagues for support. Because of this dramatic need, an Arts Fund was created to deal with the unique needs of artists and arts organizations during this shutdown. The purpose of the Arts Fund is to assist artists and non-profit organizations through the COVID-19 pandemic by alleviating past debt or current debts and other expenses caused by the inability to work.
Grant application guidelines can be found at www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org, the fund’s fiscal sponsor. Everyone who is able is encouraged to visit the site to donate as well. Other opportunities to donate will be available through various social media outlets. Because of the unique nature of the crisis, there will be no in-person fundraising until the shutdown is ended, and it is safe for the community to gather. Grants will be awarded based on the availability of funds and approval by a grantmaking committee made up of area artists.
“We will be forever changed by this pandemic,” says J.R. Teeter, Artistic Director of Bread & Water Theatre, “If we do not support the arts when they are in such great need, we will lose what makes this community a rich and wonderful place to be. Even if everything with the reopening goes smoothly, it could still be months before new theatre productions are launched, and the community feels safe to attend them.”
Founded in 2000, Bread & Water Theatre is committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience and acting as a positive agent of change in its community.
Arts Fund details are available at www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org and on supportive social media sites. For information, call 538-9684.
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