“From Here to There Fund” protects AVA’s future during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wow! We’ve received $45,500 as of April 25!
We need only $4,500 more to unlock the $50,000 matching pledge!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Donate to AVA’s From Here to There Fund

Dear AVA Family,

The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts community are sobering. Americans for the Arts estimates there is currently nearly $5 billion in losses across the 120,492 arts nonprofits in the United States, jeopardizing the future of organizations like AVA. The long-term risks of diminished exposure to the arts affects us all. Harvard Health Publishing reflects on the importance of art for physical and mental health, and a University of Chicago study funded by the Art Works program at the National Endowment for the Arts finds “individuals who have both direct and indirect exposure to the arts are more engaged in civic activities within their communities, have higher levels of social tolerance on some dimensions of the measure, and demonstrate higher rates of other-regarding behavior.”

AVA needs your help. Your tax-deductible contribution to AVA’s “From Here to There Fund” will provide our organization with critically important support during this challenging time. The temporary closing of our facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant loss of income from class and camp tuitions, art sales, events, and our most important annual fundraiser, the Silent Auction. We are experiencing a shortfall in revenue that will limit our future capabilities even though we have been approved for a Small Business Administration Payroll Protection Program loan.

Still, we remain more committed than ever to staying connected with the AVA family, including our instructors who are losing valuable income, our non-profit partners, and the larger community. We continue to offer free community programs online (see AVA Online for info and links) and are distributing art supplies and lessons to those who need them. We are dedicating significant resources to launching new online offerings – free tutorials, open studios, inventive classes, artist galleries, themed exhibitions with societal impact, and all-inclusive events (Mudroom Online takes place tonight, Thursday, April 16 at 7pm) as well as methods of delivering that content to remote and isolated individuals and communities. Your financial support will enable AVA to emerge from this crisis with an even stronger ability to address the importance of art in our lives and to carry out our mission to cultivate an openness of space and mind to inspire, nurture and showcase the creative spirit.

Your gift to AVA today will help us get from here to there, and we thank you!

Donate to AVA’s From Here to There Fund

Heidi Reynolds & Bente Torjusen
Executive Director & Strategic Adviser