Generous Match Launches Fund
The arts are fundamental to our humanity. They inspire us, they bring us joy, they help us to grow and express ourselves, and they build bridges. The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on the nonprofit arts sector, a $166 billion industry, and we are sure to feel the effects for years.
We have an opportunity. A generous donor has stepped forward, willing to match up to $50,000 in donations to help mitigate the effects this pandemic has on The Music Hall. This support will be essential, as more than 70% of our annual operating budget of $5 million is what’s known as “earned income.” That’s income from tickets, concessions, and rentals of our space, which we earn by offering an average of 50 events a month, bringing thousands of patrons to downtown Portsmouth. That source of income has been cut, but our expenses have not been eliminated. We ask that you consider making a gift now, as your support, doubled by this matching donation, will be essential to our future.
Beyond stabilizing the health of this cultural institution, supporting The Music Hall is a substantive step in the effort to ensure stability for our region during this difficult time. When you support The Music Hall, you support our artists, employees, and vendors, as well as local restaurants, shops, and more. Your dollar is recycled repeatedly throughout the community.
There’s nothing more exciting for us than the moment before an artist takes the stage. The lights dim and the crowd quiets down. We miss the crowds. We miss you! This will end at some point, and we need The Music Hall to be there when it does.