This year, it feels more important than ever to participate in Giving Tuesday, the annual initiative that happens the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to make donations to causes near and dear to their hearts. While some brands are currently offering Giving Tuesday donations through Cyber Week deals, it's important to remember the local and national organizations that ensure we have access to incredible museums, theater, and arts education, while supporting the creatives that bring much-needed bursts of color and inspiration to our lives.
There is hardly an artist who remains unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we know they need extra support as the lights remain out on stages and in museums across the world. Several of these efforts also support diversifying the industry and highlighting creatives of color. Our editors have shared what they are doing to support the arts this Giving Tuesday in hopes that you will join in their efforts to donate to one of these fantastic causes or a similar one closer to home.
Giving Tuesday Ideas for Fans of the Theater
"I will be donating the money I would have spent on holiday show tickets to the Actor’s Fund, which provides emergency assistance to those who work both onstage and behind the scenes in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio, and dance. Rosie O’Donnell hosted a virtual benefit for this organization back in March, and it was interesting to hear famous actors like Billy Porter talk about how the fund had helped them out in times of need before they made it big. This year, the fund has partnered with several other local and national relief organizations to further expand their reach across the country." —Victor Maze, Design Director
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"The American Guild of Musical Artists champions the performers and artists who make up the opera, choral, and dance groups across the country. With in-person performances still on hold, AGMA's relief fund continues to support these artists through the pandemic. Also, one of my favorite Christmas traditions is seeing The Nutcracker, either locally or in New York City. Donating to the New York City Ballet (and tuning in to the 2020 online performance) will be this year's version of that tradition." —Rachael Burrow, Senior Style & Market Editor
Giving Tuesday Ideas for Local Patrons
"This year, I’m supporting two local organizations dedicated to arts education for children: the Alabama School of Fine Arts, a tuition-free magnet school for the arts serving the whole state, and the Desert Island Supply Company, a creative writing and arts center in Birmingham that seeks to ensure children have the creative tools they need to explore and document their worlds. Arts education is essential in cultivating creative and well-rounded citizens, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help cultivate that in my community." —Steele Thomas Marcoux, Editor-in-Chief
Giving Tuesday Ideas for Social Justice Advocates
"The Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund distributes $200 micro-grants to BIPOC artists and teachers of the arts who are facing incredible hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve raised more than $85,000 thus far. As of August 2020, more than 12,000 artists have applied for assistance, making this an important and impactful avenue through which to support artists of color in the U.S." —Ashley Leath, Copy/Research Editor
"I love the work the Social Justice Sewing Academy is doing, especially their community quilt projects. Their young artists are creating quilt blocks relating to social justice issues. The blocks will be sewn into quilts and displayed in museums, schools, and community centers. A statement from their website says, 'Through a series of hands-on workshops in schools, prisons and community centers across the country, SJSA empowers youth to use textile art as a vehicle for personal transformation and community cohesion and become agents of social change.' " —Katie Bowlby, Deputy Managing Editor
Giving Tuesday Ideas for Bookworms
"The City of Asylum in Pittsburgh provides sanctuary for exiled writers from across the world so they can continue to create and publish their works. Beyond proving housing, a stipend, and legal counsel to each writer, the organization also hosts events to connect the writers with other creatives and the community. One of my favorite things to do when in Pittsburgh is to stroll down Sampsonia Way to see the colorful writers' houses lining the street and read the latest works covering the facades. You can support the organization by donating directly or purchasing a book by one of the writers-in-residence." —Sarah DiMarco, Assistant Digital Editor
Giving Tuesday Ideas for Crafty Creatives
"This year, I’m going to be donating supplies to New York City’s Materials for the Arts, which provides arts nonprofits, city schools, and other city agencies with access to free art materials. After all these months at home recently, I’ve had time to finally sort through things like the extra yards of fabric and ribbon I have lying around, as well as excess paint and other craft supplies, and I’m happy to know that MFTA will see that these materials will be creatively reused." —Dayle Wood, Senior Style & Market Editor
Giving Tuesday Ideas for Foodies
"This year, I am looking to support my local chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, an international nonprofit which helps provide monetary support and mentorship for women pursuing a career in culinary or pastry arts or who are opening their own food or beverage business. I know my city wouldn't be the same without its incredible women bakers, bartenders, baristas, and business owners, and I'm sure everyone feels the same about their own. The artistry and thought put into the menus of my favorite cocktail bars, bakeries, and restaurants inspire me to get creative in the kitchen, which has offered a much-needed outlet for me during the pandemic. Another great way to support the culinary arts is by donating to scholarships for students at schools like The Culinary Institute of America, where nearly all students receive financial aid and help creatives get one step closer to reaching their dreams." —Lauren Wicks, Associate Digital Editor
These are just a few of the causes close to our hearts, and there are certainly many more avenues for supporting the arts. The National Endowment for the Arts has an ample list of organizations that support a variety of artists—from poets to museum directors—and we encourage you to be mindful of the way you shop and celebrate this holiday season. Local art makes a fabulous gift, while gathering your family around the fire to watch a virtual performance of The Nutcracker will offer support to the ballerinas you look forward to seeing each year.
