Big Promise of Little Things Change Comes From Everyone
A BLANK CANVAS FOR PERFORMING ARTS When artists Eric Anderson and Roger Beck made Hawai‘i Island their home, they wondered if the community’s appetite for art was being satisfied, and if somehow they could give it a boost. “As artists ourselves,
we feel a very strong “This study could be a blueprint for Hawai’i Island need to support the performing artists to use as they please. arts. We think And hopefully, it will ignite interest not only among artists, there is a lot of but also anyone who loves art.” art on Hawai‘i Island, of various -Eric Anderson and kinds, but we also Roger Beck perceive the potential for more,” say Anderson and Beck. To realize their passion, the artists turned to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation, who brought a deep knowledge of nonprofit organizations in
this knowledge, Eric and Roger are eager to move forward with new support for the arts.
Hawai’i and worked closely to understand their wishes. “Eric and Roger want to support innovative opportunities, like helping a program reach new levels of what it can offer and how it operates,” says Diane Chadwick, HCF’s Hawai‘i Island Director of Community Philanthropy. “We shared our experience and knowledge about funding specific nonprofit sectors. The way we have learned to approach meeting a community need, is by understanding the landscape— and the idea for an [islandwide] arts study was born.” The study is almost complete, and results will be shared with the community and artists to gain their feedback. Armed with
“As Stephen Sondheim said ‘Art isn’t easy.’ But this study could be a blueprint for Hawai‘i Island artists to use as they please. And hopefully, it will ignite interest not only among artists, but also anyone who loves art,” say Eric and Roger.
Iona Contemporary Dancer at an event in West Hawai‘i in 2016.
Supporting your passion in life, and relying on expert guidance to make it happen — that’s the big promise of little things.
DID YOU KNOW: The Hawai‘i Community Foundation provides knowledge resources, reports and research data for nonprofits, givers and community members alike. Visit HawaiiCommunityFoundation.org/learning