The Pandemic means less funding for ArtsinStark. The Canton Ballet, Players Guild Theatre, Canton Palace Theatre, Massillon Museum, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Sing Stark! and Canton Museum of Art may receive less funding from ArtsinStark due to the effect of COVID-19 on donations. Those groups collectively account for about $1 million in annual ArtsinStark grant dollars.
But they are not charities, says Angela Meleca, Executive Director of CreativeOhio (formerly Ohio Citizens of the Arts) in an article in the Canton Repository. “Meeting fundraising goals will help arts providers fully emerge from the pandemic,” she says, noting a complete recovery isn’t expected for the arts sector until 2024.
“They’re not charities. They don’t survive on handouts,” she says. “They operate just like any other business.” They also bolster hospitality and tourism in Ohio.
