How To Support The Arts During COVID-19
On Monday, the White House advised people not to gather in groups of more than 10. Preventative health mandates, while essential to stop the spread of COVID-19, are threatening the livelihoods of local artists in immediate ways. There are many ways to continue supporting local artisans, makers, artists, and art organizations from the comfort of your own quarantine zone.
Don’t Ask for a Refund
Maybe you already have tickets to a show in March or April that has already been canceled. Significant losses in ticket revenue will make for a challenging time for local theatres and their staff. Sudden cancellations and refunds hurt venues like the Bing who is already gracefully providing refunds to patrons. Other venues like the Fox theater have also closed their doors in a community-wide effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus. If a refund isn’t already coming to you, rethink asking for one. Consider the price you paid for your tickets as a donation. If you’ve already received a refund consider making a donation. You can show your support by donating here to the Friends of the Bing or donating to the Spokane Symphony's Annual Fund here.
Buy Merch Online
So, you can't see your favorite local band play this month. Help them out by buying merch online. While social distancing is becoming our new normal, independent artists need our help. Don’t simply listen to their music for free, show some love and drop into their websites to purchase band shirts, digital albums or vinyl.
Find a Fundraiser
With the widespread cancellation of events, Spokane’s arts community is directly impacted. Those who rely on gigs to pay their bills are losing income during this time. Spokane Arts recently launched a crowdfunding campaign that will support individual creatives like musicians, photographers, authors, teaching artists, actors, and so many others. If you feel compelled to donate, you can do so here.