Buy (Art) Local

I couldn't sleep this morning and got to thinking about all the news I've been hearing and emails I've been seeing from local nonprofits feeling the effects of the recession on their individual, corporate and foundation funding.

NPR announced layoffs; MPR projected a $2 million deficit; the Twin Cities United Way launched a "give $5" campaign to meet the increased demand for services; Intermedia Arts laid off all its full-time staff and closed its gallery; and yesterday In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre emailed saying they will do a lay off for six weeks in January and February, despite a current sold-out show, La Natividad (which sounds wonderful, by the way; I wish I could see it). And we all know there are many other stories to tell along these lines, or there will be soon.

So I couldn't help noticing the irony today when the Pioneer Press carried a review of Thursday's Celine Dion concert on the same page with an article telling about Heart of the Beast's temporary shutdown. HOBT needs $200,000 to plug a deficit caused entirely by sudden drops in corporate and foundation support (its individual giving is on track for the year).

Gee... let's see. If the 16,500 Celine Dion fans in attendance had each given $12 to HOBT, that would have covered the theater's shortfall and employed a bunch of local artists who create some of the most beautiful theatrical work in the area, and perhaps the country. HOBT is pretty much the epitome of a local artistic treasure. Their May Day festival is one of the best things about living in Minnesota.

Instead, the concert-goers gave their $12+ to Ticketmaster and another $50, $75 or $100 to Celine, who (I imagine) doesn't really need their money. Of course, it's not a zero-sum game -- they can still give $12 to HOBT! Or another local arts organization, because it's pretty likely they'll all be in the same boat soon.