The goal was to raise $75,000 to get a match of the same amount from an anonymous donor, but the Berrien Community Foundation says its Arts Challenge has ended with more than $141,000 raised for ten local arts organizations. BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey tells WSJM News the challenge was a way to help support the arts at a time when they’re forced to cancel events due to the pandemic. She’s been impressed by the response from the community.
“It let us know that the arts are important,” Cripps-Downey said. “They are a vibrant part of our community, and the arts are really personal to everyone. They want to make sure that when we come out of this, the arts will still be there.”
Cripps-Downey says the arts mean something to just about everyone.
“I took phone calls from people who said ‘I wish I could give more, but this is what I would have given if I had bought a ticket to something. Here’s $10. I wish it could be more.’”
With the BCF Arts Challenge now wrapped up, more than $216,000 will be divided between groups that include the Acorn Theater, the Citadel Dance and Music Center, the Krasl Arts Center, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and the Twin City Players. Cripps-Downey says they all worked together to run the Arts Challenge campaign, and may work together on similar initiatives in the future.
