The member organizations of the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County are particularly grateful this holiday season for the support they received for their 2020 fund drive.

“The community’s support means so much as our performance and education organizations are hard at work eagerly preparing programming to welcome our loyal audiences back as soon as it becomes safe to do so. We’re also actively offering Zoom classes and lessons and online performances,” said Julie Newell, United Arts Appeal board president.

The UAA’s 2020 BRAVO! recognitions include local foundations, businesses and individuals, as well as Chautauqua County.

From the comfort of home area residents can view entertainment opportunities offered by United Arts Appeal member organizations: Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet, Community Music Project, 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center, Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, Jamestown Concert Association, Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, and Western New York Chamber Orchestra.

Since the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet is not able to perform The Nutcracker this year, they are partnering with the Fenton History Center to provide costumes for “The Nutcracker 2020 Holiday Exhibit.” Find the details at FentonHistoryCenter.org. Visit YouTube and you can have a front row seat for Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet at Chautauqua Mall.

Community Music Project has created an amazing audio and video collection of performances by the CMP Chorale and Chautauqua Chamber Singers. With full presentations of recent Chamber Singers “Twelfth Night” concerts and a “Video Jukebox,” they can be found at CommunityMusicProject.com/listen.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center was recently named the 2020 Western New York Arts Organization of the Year in the 7th Annual Arts Services Initiative of WNY (ASI) Spark Awards competition. For a delightful sampling of the Opera House’s programming, check out “The Community’s Living Room in YOUR Living Room … Virtual Concert from the Fredonia Opera House” on YouTube.

Since March, Infinity Visual and Performing Arts Center students have had more than 4,000 private digital lessons in music, art, dance, and theater, and more than 500 private in-person lessons since those resumed mid-September. Infinity’s Annual Holiday Performance will livestream Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m., on its Facebook page. To view dozens of online tutorials that Infinity instructors have made over COVID, go to Infinity14701 on YouTube. Visit Facebook or InfinityPerformingArts.org for more information or to enroll your student for digital, in-person, or hybrid lesson options. Also, Infinity recently announced Pearl City Clay House, a new community arts center for everyone from the novice crafter to the experienced artist.

Continuing its long tradition of a yearly Christmas season production, Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown is planning “Christmas From The Couch,” a whole month of short performances of your favorite winter and holiday-themed stories and songs. Learn more on Little Theatre’s Facebook page.

On the homepage of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, WNYChamberOrchestra.com, you can be thrilled by their recently produced concert recorded at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Buffalo. Artistic Director and Conductor Glen Cortese introduces the selections and Brent Weber is featured tenor soloist.

In addition to providing operating support for some of Chautauqua County’s larger arts organizations, the UAA’s Projects Pool Grants Program makes annual awards for artistic projects of nonprofit organizations and residents working in any artistic discipline. The 2020 Projects Pool grants enabled local artists to enhance their skills and share their work, Audubon Community Nature Center to give out nature art kits for kids, and Citizens for a Better Cassadaga to fund one of its summer lake concerts.

For more information about the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County visit UnitedArtsAppeal.org.

Tax-deductible contributions to support the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County can be mailed to PO Box 754, Jamestown, NY 14702.