How you can help support the arts during COVID-19
Metro Phoenix museums, theaters and art galleries are doing everything they can to keep the community entertained despite the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Creative efforts to keep audiences engaged include TheaterWorks’ immersive shows that turned the Peoria theater space into Wonderland and will soon take guests to the North Pole. The Heard and Phoenix Art museums have transitioned entire art exhibitions into virtual experiences.
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix
delivered boxes of art supplies to families for after-school activities. Phoenix Theatre Company and Herberger Theatre have added stages built outside.
While these art institutions create ways to keep guests safely entertained and employ artists, designers, directors, choreographers, singers, actors, dancers and crew members, they are simultaneously fighting to stay afloat.
The American Alliance of Museums reported that museums are losing significant funds while operating on slim reserves, leaving about one-third of all institutions at risk of permanent closure.
“The financial state of U.S. museums is moving from bad to worse,” Laura Lott, president of AAM, said in a press release. “Without financial help, we could see thousands of museums shutter forever.”
AAM’s survey also states that eight months into pandemic-related shutdowns, nearly 30% of museums remain closed and most do not have plans to reopen soon. For those museums that have reopened, each museum has spent an average of about $30,000 to $750,000 to reopen safely.
In Arizona, many arts facilities have either reopened or have virtual options available, but their big-ticket shows and productions have been postponed until 2021. Several art galleries in the Valley still remain closed.
The state and some cities have allocated COVID-19 relief funds to local artists and arts and culture organizations. Nonprofits like the National Endowment for the Arts have also donated funds to Arizona arts groups.
Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, donors can receive an additional federal tax deduction for charitable contributions — up to $300 — to a qualified charitable organization. Here are more ways you can help Arizona arts nonprofits.
Musical instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum reopened in August. Gift a membership to the MIM for $100.
Donate:/ mim.org/support-mim/
Scottsdale Arts
The home of SMoCA, Scottsdale Public Art and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Arts offers memberships starting at $50.
Donate: tickets.scottsdalearts.org/ donate/q/one
Arizona Museum of Natural History
This Mesa museum ships starting at $75.
Donate: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/ charity/1319047
Phoenix Art Museum
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member
The downtown Phoenix museum launched Adopt a Firefly, a digital experience inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s beloved installation “You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies” on display at the museum. With your named digital firefly, you or your gift recipient receive a one-year membership to the Phoenix Art Museum. Fireflies are $70.
Donate: phxart.org/get-involved/ donate/
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
This downtown Phoenix museum reopened with a new outdoor activity area featuring a straw maze made of 400 bales of straw. The organization is asking for donations to its reOPEN the FUNd drive to help it survive.
Donate: childrensmuseumofphoen ix.org/support-us/make-a-gift-today/
Heard Museum
Every Friday and Saturday until January, the Heard Museum hosts outdoor musical performances and features local artists at the Heard Museum Shop.
Donate: heard.org/support/
Arizona Broadway Theatre
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, Arizona Broadway Theatre recently reopened with musical performances including a tribute series, a concert series, comedy dinner theater and mid
week musical movie screenings.
Donate: azbroadway.org/support abt/individual-giving/
Black Theatre Troupe
The theater company closed temporarily earlier this year and has postponed all in-person performances until 2021. The company marked its 50th year of operation in 2020 and, as always, welcomes donations.
Donate: new-wp.blacktheatretroupe.org/
Childsplay
The Tempe theater group is keeping active by holding performances at The Pavilion outdoor stage at the Herberger Theater. Donors can specify gifts to the Education, New Plays or Benjamin funds.
Donate: childsplayaz.org/give
Fountain Hills Theater
The theater company is open with a new drive-in theater with live music. It is also seeking donations for its 2020 Theater Recovery fund.
Donate: app.arts-people.com/ index.php?donation=fht
Herberger Theater
Programming at Herberger Theater Center will take place on a new outdoor stage. The first 100 people to donate $200 or more to the Herberger Theater by Dec. 31 will receive a 14-inch fine art portrait from Biltmore Portrait Studios.
Donate: interland3.donorperfect .net/weblink/weblink .aspx?name=E349032&id=3
Valley Youth Theatre
From now through the month of December, owners of LDV Winery will donate a portion of all sales from its holiday gift guide to Valley Youth Theatre.
The theater group also has virtual winter classes and a concert series.
Donate: vyt.com/support/ donate-now/
Arizona Theatre Company
The Arizona Theatre Company launched the Bring Us Back Live fundraiser. A group of anonymous donors pledged $250,000 in dollar-for-dollar matching funds. From now until Jan. 28, all donations will be matched for up to $250,000.
Donate: donate.arizonatheatre.org/ campaign/back-to-live
The Phoenix Theatre Company
The theater company has a new outdoor stage with new holiday shows beginning in December.
Donate: phoenixtheatre.com/ support
TheaterWorks
The Peoria Center for Performing Arts, home of TheaterWorks, wowed audiences with a new immersive show, “Curiouser, Curiouser,” last month. The show is back for December with “A Curiouser Nutcracker.” The company is currently collecting donations through the Resilience Campaign.
Donate: theaterworks.org/resilience-campaign/
Chandler Center for the Arts
The Chandler Center for the Arts has a light show on display on the building and a new way to donate: text CCA to 243725.
Donate: chandlercenter.org/ donate-now
Arizona Science Center
From now until Dec. 31, the Arizona Science Center has a buy one get one special. When you purchase one membership, you can give another as a gift — for free. Members receive unlimited self-guided admission for a full year. The offer is valid for new memberships only.
Donate: azscience.org/join-give/ donate/
Eye Lounge
This downtown Phoenix artist collective is having a holiday art sale and fundraiser until Dec. 6. Purchase art from Eye Lounge artist curbside pickup, and local delivery is available.
Details: eyelounge.com/