Grass Valley, CA, March 25, 2020 – After an extensive multi-million dollar renovation, The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, CA, opened its doors to the community on March 12. Just one day after re-opening, the Center was compelled to shut down again in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. Now, instead of celebrating, the Center finds itself needing emergency funds to sustain both its venue and its mission.
The Center for the Arts is more than a concert venue, it’s a hub for arts and culture in Nevada County, capable of attracting over 68,000 concert-goers each year. The community has invested over three million dollars in renovating The Center. After closing for 18 months of renovations, the Center had already sold hundreds of tickets for its 2020 season. The grand re-opening was to be a rebirth, of sorts, for both the venue and the historic downtown.
Now, in the wake of the pandemic, The Center for the Arts is scrambling to protect the community’s important investment in the arts.
There is an immediate need to raise $150,000 to keep The Center running and to preserve and protect the community’s investment in the arts. A relief fund, The Art Center Emergency Fund, has been established to retain a skeleton staff, support the team that fostered the reopening, and to ultimately reopen the doors again.
When the shelter-in-place orders are lifted, the need for live music and community gatherings will be stronger than ever. Audiences will be craving the emotional, intellectual, and sensory stimulation of the arts, and the local bars and restaurants will need The Center to help draw crowds again.
So far in the U.S., the arts and cultural sector is estimating a loss of $3.6 billion due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Although The Center for the Arts has applied for loans and grants, systems are being inundated with requests – many from far bigger institutions – and funds are needed fast. The Center has been looking at the most efficient way to raise money. In the scrappy, can-do spirit of the Gold Rush, the Center decided to launch a campaign itself.
You can help The Center for the Arts by donating to the The Art Center Emergency Fund, by joining or renewing a Center membership, and by purchasing gift certificates for future shows at The Center.
The Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization that typically presents around 150 events per year. To learn more, to donate, to become a member, or to purchase tickets please visit their website at thecenterforthearts.org.
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Learn More at: https://thecenterforthearts.org/emergency-fund/
