#CAArtsChampion: Matt D'Arrigo
From the arts front lines: Matt D’Arrigo: Small community-based organizations ‘now in peril’
COVID-19 poses an unprecedented threat to the arts and culture sector in our city. Our community needs to mobilize in response with renewed passion, vision and equity for the organizations that enrich our lives in so many ways. At greater risk than our incredible museums and performing arts institutions, but of equal importance to the local arts ecosystem, are the small arts and culture organizations rooted and growing out of our diverse neighborhoods and communities serving young people and their families.
These organizations not only provide deep, long-term arts education and experiences, they are a cultural and social-emotional lifeline for countless young people and their families. Taking a holistic approach, organizations like The SOULcial Workers engage youth in mental health education and encourage brave artistic expression to raise awareness about important issues like depression and suicide; A Step Beyond provides youth living in poverty a pathway for personal, college and career success through dance, academics and family services and A Reason To Survive (ARTS) has a “Community of Care Network” with mental health partners, focused on providing support and services to youth through arts-based community engagement. Young people rely on these organizations to provide essential services and to be a safety net in their daily lives.
“I found my studio home at David’s Harp Foundation when I was a 15-year-old ... . They aren’t ‘like’ family to me, we ARE family.” - Casemi, young musician
When in-person programs were suspended because of COVID-19, these and many similar organizations pivoted to produce virtual programming to keep connected to young people as they navigate this scary and uncertain time. They rose to the challenge by focusing on their social services: TranscenDance providing virtual therapy and counseling sessions, David’s Harp Foundation partnering with the local faith community to connect students facing food insecurity with delivered grocery distribution. They even produced a song, ”6 feet,” to raise social distance awareness for their peers.
Because these organizations are small, they are nimble and responsive to the needs of those they serve. However, their small size is also a threat to their survival: They are all now in peril.
These deeply impactful organizations primarily serve low-income communities of color and operate on lean budgets. Unlike larger institutions, they don’t have wealthy board members or connections to major philanthropists. Only a quarter of the groups have fund-raising staff. While 33 percent of these organizations have formally adopted fiscal reserves policies, only one in every 10 of them have been able to actually establish financial reserves. Without any financial cushion, they will be the hardest hit and first to close down.
If these organizations disappear, it will be the most vulnerable young people in our communities who will be most impacted. During this time, and coming out of this experience, these young people will need to lean on their artist mentors more than ever to creatively express themselves and reconnect with their community.
Let’s come together to ensure young people have access to these critical programs in the coming months and when it’s time to safely reopen their doors again. Visit sdcydn.org to choose organizations to support today.
About Matt D’Arrigo
About Matt D’Arrigo
Matt D’Arrigo is the Director of Creative Youth Development (CYD) for the Clare Rose Foundation in San Diego, CA. His role is to make direct investments and to increase awareness, resources, and opportunities for the field of CYD. The Clare Rose Foundation is the lead funder and driver of the San Diego CYD Network, helping to strengthen the field of CYD locally, regionally, and nationally by building the capacity of organizations and their leaders, coalition building, advocacy, grant-making, and hands-on technical support.