Proceeds from a virtual concert boasting a lineup that includes more than a dozen St. Louis theater, music and dance companies will help support artists struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arts United STL will feature performances from 15 arts organizations in a streamed concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 31, in support of the Regional Arts Commission’s Artist Relief Fund, which has been providing emergency relief grants since April 1 to artists whose livelihoods have been hit hard as organizations suffered pandemic-related setbacks, including season cancellations, postponed fundraisers and staff furloughs.
The virtual benefit was first envisioned by Andrew Jorgensen, general director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL), which had to cancel its entire 2020 Festival Season due to the pandemic.
“As OTSL moved past our season cancellation, we became aware of just how devastating the impacts of COVID-19 were on our community’s vibrant arts ecosystem, and particularly on individual artists who were some of the first people to have work cancelled – and will be among the last to return. We wanted to do our part to help,” Jorgensen said. “Last month, the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) set up an Artist Relief Fund to provide emergency funding for individual artists, but the need has far outpaced RAC’s initial fund. We thought a benefit concert would be a perfect way to contribute to that very important, and much-needed fund.”
Jorgensen says the benefit hopes to raise at least $250,000 through 1,000 individual donations and sponsorships to replenish RAC’s Artist Relief Fund.
“We brought this idea to other arts organizations, and the St. Louis arts community is rallying support in an incredible way,” he said. “We can’t come together in person right now, but organizations are finding briliant ways to adapt and create new performances.”
Some of the organizations slated to perform include The Big Muddy Dance Company, The Black Rep, Circus Flora, COCA, Jazz St. Louis, The Muny, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Saint Louis Ballet, St. Louis Children’s Choir, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, The Sheldon, STAGES St. Louis, Tennessee Williams Festival – St. Louis and more.
All groups involved are donating their time, wiith OTSL providing overall organization, as well as covering production costs and staffing. Shakespeare Festival executive producer Tom Ridgeley is the benefit’s artistic producer; and RAC commissioner and local artist Andrea Purnell will serve as emcee.
Viewers may watch the livestream free via YouTube on Opera Theatre’s channel. Viewers will be encouraged to donate during the concert to the RAC Artist Relief Fund, which has distributed $136,500 in direct support to individual artists. So far, the fund has helped more than 130 local artists.
Donations can be made at any time before, during or after the live event. For a link to the concert, or for more information and to donate, visit ExperienceOpera.org/ArtsUnited.
