Support the Arts: Buy Local

So you want to be a patron of the arts? If you love the arts, show it.

Many people I know are fascinated with artists and their work. If questioned, of course they support the arts. But do they buy art? And how much does the average person spend on art per year? I would guess that most people spend more on to-go coffee than they do on art. So if you want to be a true patron of the arts, here's what you can do.

The first bit of advice is simple: buy local. Most cities or towns have local art galleries where you can purchase art from a gallery, or a co-op gallery where you buy in a more direct way from the artist. Buy what you like, what pleases your eye and what you will enjoy looking at for years to come. Do not buy art for its potential investment value in the future. Unless you are buying art from a known artist (in which case you would be spending a minimum of several thousand dollars). Buy from the heart.

Go to see a play, concert, or poetry reading; it sounds simple, but in this way you are supporting the arts in your community.

Buy a CD directly from the artist whenever possible. You can even write a review of such an event for your local newspaper which takes that support even further. A note of thanks to a performer is a good way to show gratitude, and a letter to the editor of your local paper is good also - it gets the word out that good things are happening in the arts in your community.

Donate money or volunteer for an arts organization in your community. It's a great way to meet people who share similar interests and it can be very rewarding. My mother volunteers every year for a public radio station and always has a great time meeting people and getting a free lunch.

So support the arts - get out there and be a true patron of the arts.