Allied Arts Council unites local arts organizations for collaborative fundraiser 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Leaders at local arts organizations are uniting under one banner to support their programs and activities. 

The Allied Arts Council announced a collaborative fundraiser with six other arts organizations this week to support musical and theater experiences. The Arts Fund is a grant local arts organization can apply for, and the fundraiser will help supplement what they receive.

"We try to raise the funds in order to help support financially those agencies that are funded through the Arts Fund Grant," Executive Director Jessica Agnew said.

Creative Arts Productions, Performing Arts Association, Robidoux Resident Theatre, Saint Joseph Symphony, St. Joseph Community Chorus and the St. Joseph Youth Chorale are involved in the fundraiser.

"We couldn't survive without it, to be quite honest with you," Nancy Schmidt-Brunson, Managing Director of the St. Joseph Symphony, said. "And it's not just the Arts Fund and the money that they give us in the way of grants every year. It also is the Allied Arts Council itself and the support that it gives to all of the independent agencies that are a part of it."

Schmidt-Brunson is the only full-time employee at the St. Joseph Symphony, with two employees working part-time.

"Because I have the resources of the Allied Arts Council, they can fill in the gaps for me," she said.

Money gained from the Art Fund can make up 10-35% of a budget depending on the organization. Agnew compared the efforts of art organization volunteers spreading awareness of the fund to members of a symphony.

"You have a cast of actors coming together to put the show together for patrons," she said. "That's exactly what it feels like for the Arts Fund and for being able to work together with the Allied Arts Council to be able to collectively be one voice together."

Anyone interested in learning more about the programs or donating can visit stjoearts.org.