Pablo Center Donates ‘Together Chippewa Valley’ Funds To Eight Arts Nonprofits

as local arts venues face extinction, COVID-formed coalition seeks to support nonprofits

V1 Staff

The Pablo Center at the Confluence
The Pablo Center at the Confluence

The Pablo Center at the Confluence announced Wednesday that it has donated a total of $9,484 in funds from Together Chippewa Valley – a fundraising coalition formed amid the COVID-19 pandemic in response to local community needs – to eight local arts nonprofits.

These organizations include the Chippewa Valley Book Festival, the Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra, the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild, Chippewa Valley Writers Guild, Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, Eau Claire Children’s Theatre, and Eau Claire Jazz Inc.

“With 90% of arts organizations facing extinction nationwide, Pablo Center is focused on keeping the engines of our creative economy running.” –Jason Jon Anderson, Pablo Center executive director

During its fundraising campaign, Together Chippewa Valley received a total of $180,567 from organizations and individuals; the Pablo Center’s share of this amount was $9,484. In turn, each of the eight arts nonprofits will receive $1,185.50 to help them survive the crisis, which has particularly impacted the entertainment industry.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every portion of our economy, including the creative economy,” said Jason Jon Anderson, the executive director of the Pablo Center. “With 90% of arts organizations facing extinction nationwide, Pablo Center is focused on keeping the engines of our creative economy running. We are pleased to have united with the other 20 nonprofit organizations in Together Chippewa Valley and are proud to be passing our entire portion onto the smaller arts organizations who share in calling Pablo Center our regional home for the creative arts.”

A full press release is available here:

Pablo Center Passes On Their Portion of Together Chippewa Valley Donations to Eight Local Arts Nonprofits

Prioritizes Aiding Partner Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

(July 22, 2020 - EAU CLAIRE, WIS) – Pablo Center is proud to announce that it has passed on its portion of donations from Together Chippewa Valley to its partner local, arts nonprofits. This includes Chippewa Valley Book Festival, Chippewa Valley Jazz Orchestra (CVJO), Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra (CVSO), Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild (CVTG), Chippewa Valley Writers Guild, Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra (ECCO), Eau Claire Children’s Theatre (ECCT), and Eau Claire Jazz Inc.

Pablo Center was a charter member of Together Chippewa Valley, a coalition formed to coordinate a response effort to address ongoing community needs during the COVID-19 crisis. The goal of the coalition was to raise funds through a first-of-its-kind community-wide fundraising initiative, collectively support local nonprofits’ missions, and to survive and thrive during this crisis. The Chippewa Valley’s support exceeded expectations and aspirations with a total of $180,567 in donations received from individuals and organizations. Pablo Center and all other participating local nonprofits received a total donation of $9,484 which Pablo Center is now passing on to its partner arts nonprofit organizations. This equates to a donation of $1,185.50 to each organization.

The pandemic has hit the entertainment industry particularly hard with independent venues and arts organizations struggling to survive.

Jason Jon Anderson, Pablo Center’s Executive Director said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every portion of our economy, including the creative economy. With 90% of arts organizations facing extinction nationwide Pablo Center is focused on keeping the engines of our creative economy running. We are pleased to have united with the other 20 nonprofit organizations in Together Chippewa Valley and are proud to be passing our entire portion onto the smaller arts organizations who share in calling Pablo Center our regional home for the creative arts.”

Reflecting on the donation, Ann Sessions, Executive Director of the Chippewa Valley Theatre Guild said, “Thank you to all the community members who generously donated to Together Chippewa Valley and to Pablo Center who is graciously donating their portion to help reduce fees for local arts organizations using the facility. During this difficult time, we are extra appreciative of financial help. The arts are about being together and we look forward to the day we can be together safely.”