Whenever people ask me why I am so wildly enthusiastic about the Internet and all things social media, I point to content like the blog post from the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra on Friday about the GiveList. (True confession: I was an enthusiastic but awful french horn player in high school.) Blogger, Lacey Huszcza, saw the tweets on GiveList and began to think about ways that people can support the arts without writing a check. Here is the list of sixteen ways to give to arts organizations from Lacey:
- Volunteer your time – arts organizations need docents, people to help with administrative time, and people to help with events. Your time can be worth even more than money
- Call a friend and tell them about your favorite concert or piece of art. Word of mouth is the best way to spread the mission of an organization
- Write a letter to the editor of the opinion section of your local paper to tell them about the importance of the arts in your community
- Have a listening party in your home (can be around a broadcast of your favorite symphony or your favorite recording). The holidays are a great time to get together and share great music with friends.
- Write or call your congressperson to thank them for the increase in the NEA budget for this year, and to encourage them to continue supporting the arts. Find your Congressperson here.
- If you are a musician or an artist, teach a lesson to a child for free
- Send CDs of your favorite music to the troops overseas (ok, this one costs a little, but it is a great gift to give someone far away from home)
- Someone you know probably loves the arts, but is unable to drive. Offer them a ride to his/her favorite concert or museum and see how much joy that brings!
- Serve on a city level or neighborhoods arts council to help direct funds to arts organizations in need
- Call your favorite arts organization and offer to distribute brochures to a local coffee shop or bookstore
- If you are a café/restaurant/bar owner, create a signature dish or drink and name it in honor of your favorite organization
- Create a wish list of your favorite arts organizations, and ask people to make donations in your name rather than buying you presents for the holidays
- Attorneys can call California Lawyers for the Arts and offer his or her services
- Write a blog post about a cause/charity that you are passionate about. Include a link to the cause/charity (OK, I borrowed this great idea from @rogercarr but it’s a good one!)
- Contribute, audition, comment on or follow the YouTube Symphony Orchestra project
- If your favorite arts organization has a blog, a facebook page, or some other form of social networking – leave a comment, post on their wall, or just send them an email telling them what you love about that organization.
Thanks, Lacey, and thanks to the many other folks generating such lovely ideas to support people, organizations, and communities!
Amy Sample Ward’s Version of NPTech
CauseWired
Laura’s Notebook
Qui Diaz – Evange.list
