Columbia Arts Fund

Celebration of the Arts

Celebration of the Arts is the annual Columbia Arts Fund fundraising event hosted by he Office of Cultural Affairs. Typically occurring in late August or early September,  this event honors Columbia’s vibrant arts community by showcasing local artists and arts organizations, unveiling the City’s annual Commemorative Poster, and by recognizing a dedicated arts supporter for their outstanding contributions. 

What is the Columbia Arts Fund?

The Columbia Arts Fund (CAF) is an arts endowment fund created by the City of Columbia to provide resources to organizations that foster practice, education, accessibility, and appreciation of the arts for the benefit of the citizens of Columbia. 

As an endowment, the Fund provides perpetual support for our local arts organizations. Each year, distributions are awarded along with city dollars to organizations in every field: dance, theatre, literature, film, music, and visual arts.

GIVE ONLINE

Why should I contribute?

SUSTAINABILITY: Our community has an opportunity to contribute to an arts funding tool that will affect the next generation and beyond. An arts endowment is about impact for decades.

SPREAD YOUR SUPPORT: The Fund allows you to support many diverse organizations at once, each with a mission that reaches different targets and brings art opportunities to all types of audiences and participants.

STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY: Supporting clusters of art businesses and organizations helps to contribute to the economic vitality of our community by increasing tourism and by attracting new businesses and corporations to settle in our community, affecting not only quality of life, but also economic health and public safety.

Who do we support?

During fiscal year 2022, funding from the City of Columbia and distributions from the Columbia Arts Fund will support 24 organizations, including the following:

THEATRE – Columbia Entertainment Company, GreenHouse Theatre Project, Maplewood Barn Community Theatre, Talking Horse Productions, and TRYPS
MUSIC – Choral Arts Alliance of MO, Columbia Civic Orchestra, Columbia Community Band, Columbia Handbell Ensemble, Dismal Niche Arts, Jazz Forward Initiative, Missouri Symphony, Odyssey Chamber Music Series, and “We Always Swing” Jazz Series
VISUAL ARTS – Access Arts, Columbia Art League, North Village Arts District, and Orr Street Studios
DANCE – Jabberwocky Studios, Mid-Missouri Traditional Dancers, and Missouri Contemporary Ballet
AND MORE! – Boone County Historical Society, Ragtag Film Society, KOPN, Unbound Book Festival, and University Concert Series

How can I contribute to it?

Give online! You can mail check donations to the Office of Cultural Affairs, PO Box 6015, Columbia MO 65205. Checks should be made out to the Community Foundation of Central Missouri with “Columbia Arts Fund” specified in the memo line.

You can also support the fund through gifts of appreciated stock, charitable IRA rollovers, and through a bequest. Contact the Community Foundation to explore those giving options.  The CAF is a 501(c)(3) entity, so your donation may be tax deductible depending upon your financial status.

Where is the money managed?

The CAF is a component fund of the opens in a new windowCommunity Foundation of Central Missouri and, therefore, is not a part of the city budget. Creating an arts endowment fund that is separate from the city budget ensures that there is a permanent source of revenue for our arts agencies for general funding.  Funds at the Community Foundation are pooled together for investment purposes and take advantage of an economy of scale principle and generally earn higher rates of return.