The Arts in Boca

Giving Back - Where your money goes and why it is so important to donate to the Arts.

“Art affects people depending on how they experience it. It can just make your day better when you hear or see something that makes you smile.  You can make a statement whether large or small. As an audience member you can just enjoy the beauty of dance.”
Dan Guin, Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director of Boca Ballet Theatre

 There are many reasons to donate to the arts. The arts bring us joy and beauty and foster creativity. In addition, the arts strengthen communities and builds bridges between cultures. According to Mr. Guin studies confirm the benefits of having a culturally active community. “Arts uplift community’s spirit, have a large economic impact, and give young people the passion, focus and discipline to succeed in life."  But, where does your donation go? That may just depend on the organization that you donate to. For the most part, your donation goes to the operation of the art organization.

Why Art Organizations Ask for Donations?
It’s important to note that individual donations provide the lion’s share of art organizations' causes. As a matter of fact, it exceeds 80 percent of non-governmental income. Donations are a way of fundraising. For the Boca Ballet Theatre the donations are use to support programming. The community outreach programs include, BBT4PD and 1st Step . BBT4PD offer dance classes for those living with Parkinsons. The physical and emotional benefits are immeasurable. The classes are free to anyone with Parkinsons, regardless of age thanks to support from Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, APDA, and Firstlantic Healthcare. 1st Step offers creative dance lesson to at-risk children in our community.  Through the use of ballet and modern dance children learn to channel their energy in a creative, positive, and non-threatening environment. Family members and friends of 1st Step are invited to attend Boca Ballet Theatre's productions. Additional programs include College Dance Fair, scholarships and non-profit school. 

So, how do art organizations generate donations?
Typically performance ticket sales, individual donations, corporate sponsors, government institutions (City, County, State grant funding), and School tuition.

A great place to discover the artistic and creative community in Boca Raton in through The ArtsinBoca.org

The ArtsinBoca.org raises awareness of the arts and cultural programs in the community. It provides for a wide variety of events for everyone. The gold-domed Old Town Hall in Boca houses a museum to show off Boca’s rich history through tours and exhibitions. The Symphonia offers different shows from well-known soloists and conductors.

The ArtsinBoca.org has many different members, including Boca Ballet Theatre, Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum, The Children’s Museum, FAU College of Arts and Letters, Festival of the Arts Boca, Friends of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and the Mizner Park Amphitheater.

The Boca Ballet Theatre presents outstanding ballet performance and has engaging service and community outreach programs. The Boca Raton Museum of Art showcases sculpture, contemporary art and photography in addition to having educational programs and private events. The Boca Raton Children’s Museum utilizes play and age-appropriate activities to engage children in the arts. It’s a magical world for kids. The FAU College of Arts and Letters presents many concerts and theatre performances on campus at the Schmidt Center Gallery and the Ritter Art Gallery. They also have foreign films with lunch and dinner on the weekends. People of all ages can enjoy the events at the FAU College of Arts and Letters.

The Festival of Arts Boca showcases festive events in Palm Beach County and Mizner Park. Past artists include Richard Ford, Sir Salmon Rushdie, Pulitzer Prize winner Doris Goodwin and Itzhak Perlman. These activities allow both the young and old to celebrate the arts. The Friends of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is a 20-acre coastal preserve where visitors can stroll through butterfly gardens, visit the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility and large outdoor aquariums. It’s an environmentally friendly nature center that everyone can visit.  The Mizner Park Amphitheater features festivals, commercial concerts and community events. Past popular artists include Selena Gomez, John Legend and Steely Dan. Mizner Park Amphitheater is a popular landmark in Boca Raton.

Through the ArtsinBoca.org, all of its member organizations, and the creative, talented artists, everyone can immerse themselves in the joy of the arts. All these functions are just a glimpse of where your money goes after you donate. Without a doubt, art is fundamental to life. So, the next time you’re enjoying that exhibit at the Boca Raton Museum of Art or taking in a blockbuster musical at the Schmidt Center Gallery think about how all these great things came into fruition. Giving back to an art organization in the form of donating is a great way to say “Thank-you.”