For those who can give, the season has arrived. When thinking of the perfect gift, make it a two way giving. There are plenty of ways to give back to the community and purchase something fun and make it meaningful. Giving gifts is impactful in a myriad of ways. You are giving it to the maker (the store you got it from or the hand that creates it) and the receiver. This year is quite different in every way possible. Look around you and notice the people in your life who are creating something and buy from them. There are virtual markets, creatives, musicians, chefs, writers, weavers, jewelry makers, graphic designers, visual artists, all working hard to make a living.
Why not make your dollar matter and gift from the artist and creatives in your community?
“The COVID-19 crisis poses significant losses to the creative economy. Creative industries will lose an estimated 2.7 million jobs and more than $150 billion in sales of goods and services, amounting to nearly a third of creative-industry jobs and almost 10% of annual sales. Creative occupations are estimated to lose more than 2.3 million jobs and $74 billion in average monthly earnings, representing 30% of the industry’s jobs and 15% of its total average monthly wages,” According to LOST ART: MEASURING COVID-19’S DEVASTATING IMPACT ON AMERICA’S CREATIVE ECONOMY.
Arts Related Gift Ideas
1.Theme Songs by Jen Korte:
Get someone a theme song for a podcast, a business, or just for fun.
Jen Korte, a.k.a. Lady Gang, covers the scope of talents with her collaborations in Indie music and hip-hop. Jen embraces musical technology and harnesses it into a flow of creative energy that surges through her sounds.
To inquire email ladygangbooking@gmail.com and tell them about your dream theme song.
2.The Lyric Cinema Subscription:
The Lyric Cinema is a community creative epicenter for Fort Collins. The Lyric is a space to gather around film, food, beverages, live music, and wildly imaginative art installations. The Lyric is committed to social change and creating creative spaces.
The Lyric is closing per pandemic, but you can purchase the membership for the future to support the Indie Film Center in Fort Collins.
The Membership
- $19 a month
- unlimited movies
- unlimited showtimes
- unlimited events
- food and drink discounts
- No commitment. Start and stop anytime
Purchase directly on The Lyric Cinema website.
3. Wolverine Farm Patreon Membership:
Wolverine Farm Publishing is a 501(c)3 non-profit literary and arts organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Wolverine is a literary hub and so much more. Plenty of spaces to gather safely, including an open-air handmade market and a walkup window hand-built by the owner Todd Simmons.
Wolverine publishes books and newspapers, and operates a Letterpress & Publick House. They have a local maker’s retail space, work with local nonprofits, and do collaborative and custom letterpress work.
Wolverine has a monthly membership on their Patreon site.
Patreon
- $5, $10, $25 a month
- Hub for literary, art, craftwork, makers and all things craft
- Memberships get exclusive access to The Imaginable, a new monthly online magazine centering on literary, astrological, practical, and magical content
- Special surprise mailers, books, and letterpress items
4. Sustain Nature and Music Member:
For the lover of nature and music, there is Sustain. Sustain is a non-profit organization that “creates partnerships between the music industry and environmental organizations.” They connect musicians and nature organizations and highlight the work of both. Sustain promotes environmentally sound practices in the music industry. Sustain focus on three project areas: Songscapes, Sagebrush Sessions, and Green Roster.
Membership
- $20 a month
- Access to private Sustainer Facebook Community
- Exclusive content
- Invitations to events (including Songscape parties)
- Offer input
5. Sound Affects Singing Telegram:
Sound Affects music programming uses live performance, one-on-one residencies, and advocacy to connect professional musicians with elder individuals living in senior care facilities or at home. Their primary focus is on those who are prone to isolation or those who cannot access public music in the ways they wish. This holiday season, they are taking nominations for singing telegrams to be delivered through December 31st.
Nominations are grant-funded and free. You can nominate an elder loved one, a friend, a client, or anyone aging that might need some cheer.
- Send a little personalized music to those who need it right now
- Request a video telegram on behalf of family members, neighbors, senior care residents, clients, friends
- Sound Affects chooses the artist to record a video for your nominee then they send your personalized musical telegram to the email(s) of your choice.
Click here to make a nomination.
6. Wine Share at Emporium:
This is new from The Emporium in Fort Collins, CO, a monthly wine curation & tastings. The Chef Alec Hamamoto selects eclectic and approachable wines and snacks once a month.
The Wine Subscription
- Local pick up of wines in 2, 4, or 6 bottle increments
- Wines are hard-to-find, and hand-selected
- 2 bottle – $45
- 4 bottles – $80 (10% savings)
- 6 bottles – $110 (12% savings)
- Complimentary monthly treat to pair with your wine selections
Sign up at THE EMPORIUM WINE SHARE.
A portion of the proceeds benefit World Central Kitchen
8. Writers – Northern Colorado Author Books:
The NCW member library has new books, hopeful and inspiring anthologies, or 10 class webinar series.
9. Vinyl me – A musical journey right from home, every month:
Gift a membership – “The gift that keeps on giving, month after month.”
- Subscription package includes one album pressed exclusively for members, unique extras plus special access to select titles in the online store.
- Recipients can choose from three Track genres.
- or Shop records-single releases directly from Vinyl Me Please online shop without a subscription
10. Buy merchandise and music directly from your favorite artist or creator:
Musical artists in the community need your support. At this time their whole life has been uprooted and sources of income extremely limited. Bandcamp is a great resource and the money goes directly to the artist. Musicians websites and social media usually have merch and music for sale. Support musicians so the music doesn’t end.
11. Fort Collins Music Association – Donation:
FoCoMA, is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports Northern Colorado musicians, and are working hard through the COVID-19 crisis to support local musicians.
FoCoMA believes “music can change lives and every musician matters, now more than ever.”
Donations support:
- Communications to musicians about personal/professional resources
- Marketing campaigns about recovery resources and the value of musicians
- Connecting to relief funds, business help, music support resources and grants
- FoCoMA Programs that hire musicians (Details to come)
Donate on the FoCoMA website.
12. Fort Collins Museum of Art Online Store:
FoCoMoA launched an online gift shop. The online shop features local artists, authors, artistic gifts, jewelry, books and accessories. MoA Members can use their 20% discount on select items.
13. Lilith’s Daughters’ Alter:
Lilith’s is a unique online boutique created by two sisters who live on the opposite ends of the country ages 21 & 24. The business sprung up during the pandemic when both of the sisters were aching for a creative outlet.
“The Tale’s of Lilith are known to be intertwined with deep passion and individuality. Misunderstood and one of a kind, she made herself known and powerful in the feminine world. The daughters live and create by these same values. Tapping into the energy of the earth and Lilith herself, we use natural and curated mediums to create one of a kind pieces. Incorporating herbs, crystals, charms and our spiritual energy, we hope you can find something that speaks to you from our hearts.”
What they Make
- Handmade Jewelry
- Fairy Garden
- Cottage Core Wreaths and Decor
- Unique, one-of-a-kind pieces
Order from their website.
There are so many makers and creatives all around you. There is NoCo Virtual Farmers Market, Makerfolk Virtual Holiday Market, Fort Collins Marketplace, and Wolverine Farm Little Zurich.
So this season, give from the heart, give someone a gift of the arts.
Thanks so much! All great causes and art!