‘Light Up Locals’ fundraiser to provide emergency relief to local artists
In what would be its 34th year entertaining Salt Lake City, the Twilight Concert Series will go completely virtual as the Salt Lake CIty Arts Council teams up with S&S Presents to put on the Light Up Locals fundraiser and digital benefit concert.
The Twilight Concert Series is a beloved tradition for Utah concertgoers. Every summer for the over three decades, the Salt Lake City Arts Council has put on this six-night outdoor concert series.
Kellie Call, the Arts Program Manager for the Arts Council, has been involved with the Twilight Concert Series since 2013. It was difficult for the Arts Council to cancel the live event, but as COVID-19 cases kept increasing, it was apparent the concert would have to change its format.
“We transitioned our thought process to, OK, what can we do with some of the money we have and still work with our partners S&S?” Call said. “What can we do to really help bring the community of music together? Musicians are, you know, a lot of them are out of work because of this. They can’t play gigs, venues have remained closed, so it definitely was like, OK, this is the right idea. Let’s move forward with this.”
Access to the digital concert is given to those who donate $10, but higher donations can receive more incentives, such as ticket vouchers to future S&S shows, Twilight Concert Series merchandise and gift cards to Downtown Salt Lake restaurants.
The virtual show features local Utah musicians Lord Vox, The National Parks, Marqueza and Joshy Soul.
“It will be a virtual show that people can watch, but we also offer some incentives,” Call said. “So instead of just getting nothing for $10, you get the virtual show. And the more you give, the more you get back.”
Donations can be made on the Twilight Concert Series website. The fundraiser will run until Sept. 25.
“It helps our community as a whole when we support each other,” Call said. “I think there’s a lot to be said for keeping the momentum of art alive, especially now. It’s a key thing that gets lost in something like a pandemic. We’re investing in our locals and our efforts in an artistic way.”
All donations will go towards funding $500 grants for local musicians. The goal is to raise at least $25,000 to give grants to 50 or more artists.
“We want to support those that are continuing to try to work as a musician right now, and give them some money if they can’t pay rent,” Call said. “We know people are struggling, and we want to see the artists survive this pandemic.”
Local musicians can look to the Twilight Concert Series website for details on how to apply for the grant. The application will open later this month, and funds will be distributed in the fall.
“We’re hoping that it’s a success,” Call said. “I think it’s a needed time for some people to apply for this. It was never meant to go this way, but it did, so hopefully we can make some people’s lives a little happier.”
Darcy Ritchie is a second-year journalism student at Utah State from Idaho Falls, Idaho. Outside of writing for the Statesman, she loves to DJ for Aggie Radio, eat french bread in the Walmart parking lot, and tweet.
—darcy.ritchie@usu.edu
@darcyrrose