Letter to the editor

To the editor:

Your recent article “Student groups and clubs take hard financial hit” (Sept. 15, 2009) was an excellent depiction of the financial challenges facing student groups. I would like to add, though, that there are other sources of funding for student events besides governing boards.

I have produced several shows on campus and I work with CUArts. In both capacities, I have been fortunate enough to utilize the Gatsby Charitable Foundation Student Arts Support Fund. The Gatsby Fund, established by Columbia alumnus Lord David Sainsbury and his wife Lady Susie, is administered by the Arts Initiative. The fund is designed to inspire the creation of new and non-curricular student artwork and enrich students’ artistic endeavors. You can apply as an individual or as a group; the most important requirement is that the event be arts-related in some way and open to all Columbians. Some of my favorite recent Gatsby projects have been the Postcrypt Folk Festival at last year’s Greenspiration, the second annual photo exhibit at SIPA, Columbia Musical Theatre Society’s production of Cinderella, and Afrofest 2009 at the Law School.

The Gatsby Fund has been a godsend to many of the shows I’ve produced on campus. Especially in this economic climate when arts are too often the first thing to be cut, CUArts takes steps to ensure that student projects on campus flourish. I strongly encourage any student group feeling an economic pinch to consider applying for the Gatsby. This semester, applications are due Wednesday, September 30. They’re available on the CUArts Web site, http://www.cuarts.columbia.edu/.

Darcy Zacharias, CC ’10
Sept. 17, 2009