A dozen Orlando arts groups that could use your support

Every year, in a little play on “The 12 Days of Christmas,” we encourage readers to give back to some of the nonprofits that make Orlando the City Beautiful — and we’re not talking about turtledoves or French hens, either. This year, we’re focusing on local arts groups.

ArtReach Orlando

A creative outlet is one of the most essential parts of a young person’s growth and development. ArtReach Orlando provides local young people with artistic opportunities that foster creativity, while instilling life lessons like persistence and problem-solving to use in everyday life. Children living with economic hardships or difficult social situations are the focal point of the organization. “Through art and self-expression, youth can safely explore these issues and create personal solutions that develop their self-worth and emotional resilience,” says the organization’s website. Founded in 2012, ArtReach is a private 501(c)(3) foundation governed by a board drawn from Orlando’s business and art communities. Donations cover the costs of healthy snacks, full days of visual art classes and scholarships for local adolescent artists. (artreachorlando.org)

Black Theatre Girl Magic

It has never been easy for Black and brown women to enter the performing arts industry, much less thrive in it. But the local nonprofit group Black Theatre Girl Magic is making it possible for women of color nationwide to shine. What started in 2017 as just a small Central Florida-based network grew into a nonprofit organization committed to creating a more equitable and racially just entertainment industry. In addition to its annual Facets of Freedom festival, a celebratory Juneteenth event to honor the rich history of Black Central Florida, Black Theatre Girl Magic also provides educational and professional programming for performers. For this organization, every dollar earned goes toward supporting artists at all stages of their careers and uplifting women of color in the industry. (facebook.com/blacktheatregirlmagic)

Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts

It’s been a triumphant yet bittersweet year for the venerable venue and performing arts signal booster Blue Bamboo Center. The Bamboo finally opened the doors of their new home in the old Winter Park Library space on New England Avenue. The team behind the Winter Park jazz institution had been hard at work, renovating the old public library building on New England Avenue for its new incarnation as a performance and rehearsal space and arts hub, and the first concerts at the new space were a triumph. Then the shock announcement: Founder Chris Cortez was stepping away after a brain cancer diagnosis. The Bamboo will survive and likely thrive even with this huge loss, but support is more crucial now than ever. (bluebambooartcenter.com)

Descolonizarte Teatro

Over the last few months, we’ve watched the Trump administration target members of the Hispanic and Latinx community. In fact, we could extend that out to all marginalized peoples. But in the spirit of decolonization, this Latinx social change theater company is challenging systemic oppression through theater, arts and cultural enrichment. By performing in Spanish and centering immigrant and LGBTQ+ identities, Desco is working to break down barriers and promote parity. When it comes to DEI and intersectionality, this organization isn’t just advocating for communities, but empowering the voices of immigrants, farmworkers, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people living with HIV or with disabilities. Along with year-round programming and free workshops, Desco proves that art is not just a form of connection, but an act of resistance. (descoteatro.org)

Little Radical Theatrics

Originally from Yonkers, New York, but no less welcome to take the stage in the City Beautiful, Little Radical Theatrics is a nonprofit community theater that has staged dozens of musicals in Orlando, including regional premieres for shows like The Addams Family and Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Unlike our state government, Little Radical Theatrics isn’t afraid to embrace diversity and inclusivity in their productions, welcoming performers (often everyday folks in the community) from diverse backgrounds. We love to see tenacious and ambitious community theater productions that make Broadway shows (and other familiar titles) more accessible for Orlando families. Plus, you have the added benefit of being able to support and help nurture local talent. Who knows, you may be able to say you saw a future Broadway star at your local theater first! (littleradicaltheatricsinc.com)

Orlando Fringe

When you think of Orlando Fringe, you can think of it as local creatives’ biggest cheerleader. The organization has been providing a platform for live performance and visual arts from around the world since 1992. Crucially, however, Orlando Fringe has created a space where Orlando artists can be authentically themselves, no matter what. The Fest’s mission to be uncensored, inclusive and accessible to everyone — shows are chosen by lottery — is one that Gov. Ron DeSantis is not fond of. Last year, he vetoed all $32 million budgeted for state arts and culture support and attributed it to the way that Fringe Festivals make him feel. Almost $70,000 of that money would have gone directly to the Orlando Fringe, according to the Daytona Beach News Journal. You never have to wonder “where is my money going” when contributing to the Orlando Fringe; the organization gives 100% of ticket sales to the artists, funding festival administration separately. (orlandofringe.org)

Orlando Gay Chorus

The spirit of giving has become a lost art, but the Orlando Gay Chorus offers Orlando some perfect opportunities to give back. The nonprofit community organization has served the Orlando community in a multitude of ways for over 35 years. As one of the nation’s largest and longest-standing mixed-voice LGBTQ+ choruses, its work centers on affirming diversity through the performing arts. Each performance acts as a catalyst for promoting inclusion and authenticity — much-needed in a time where these values are under legislative attack. Also offered are educational, cultural and social enrichment for singers and audience members alike. As a nonprofit community organization, OGC relies on donations to continue this work. (orlandogaychorus.org)

Orlando Girls Rock Camp

If you, the Orlando gig-goer and music fan, are pleasantly surprised by the influx of young musicians and bands onto local stages of late — well, you can thank Orlando Girls Rock Camp for some of that action. The summertime seminar sees young femme and nonbinary rockers receive tutelage and mentoring from a dedicated group of seasoned volunteers (including some well-known faces in the scene) on all aspects of the music grind, but with the focus on forming an ad hoc band and getting ready to perform a song or two at the culminating showcase. This nonprofit has already gifted us with acts like S.M.O.P., Catnap and other young ragers, so the future is bright. Donate funds (or your time) directly, buy merch online or head over to the Girls Rock Fest benefit Dec. 27 at Will’s Pub and empty your wallet. (linktr.ee/orlandogirlsrockcamp)

Orlando Sings

A relatively new voice (heh) on the local arts scene, Orlando Sings is an artistically rigorous and forward-thinking symphonic choral organization, dedicated to performing vocal music inspired by the many cultures of our community. Within their range of ensembles, listeners can experience everything from well-loved classical masterpieces to some of contemporary music’s most thought-provoking compositions, all presented with utmost professionalism. As for any nonprofit, community financial support is the key to that professionalism — donations and subscriptions allow Orlando Sings to assemble their exquisitely curated seasons well in advance. (orlandosings.org)

The Renaissance Theatre Co.

Orlando upstart theater troupe Renaissance Theatre Co. ends 2025 on a defiant note of “the show must go on”: an appearance at U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost’s MadSoul Festival followed by a move into 54 W. Church St. for the next couple of months, for productions of The Office Holiday Party Musical Extravaganza Show and Mean Girls — as well as Off the Record Wednesdays, which now includes a future RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant in regular Myki Meeks. This doesn’t mean, however, that this year was easy for the troupe. In late September they were evicted from their Ivanhoe headquarters by the City for code violations and have yet to be able to full resume operations there. It was a massive loss of revenue, interrupting the run of Nosferatu, their annual Halloween hit. The Ren has become a local institution, so you should donate a few dollars or, better yet, buy tickets to several nights of Office and the drag afterparty. (rentheatre.com)

The Singhaus Scholarship Fund

The Singhaus Scholarship for the Performing Arts provides support and assistance to LGBTQ theater artists, honoring the late Sam Singhaus (Orlando drag’s iconic Miss Sammy), his costume designer sister-in-law, Marcie, and his brother, Steve. The Fund grants scholarships to local LGBTQ+ students studying for future careers in the performing arts. It’s a wonderfully fitting way to honor performing arts trailblazers of the past by fostering the next generation of stars. You can donate directly or attend fundraisers like cabaret shows and an annual Oscar watch party featuring Ginger Minj. (singhausscholarship.org)

United Arts of Central Florida

If we haven’t touched on the single arts mission that touches your heart — or if your simply unable to decide on one — you can always give to United Arts, Orlando’s grant-making, fundraising powerhouse. United Arts beats the bushes to raise money for the arts and takes on the administration work of collecting and distributing it; they even spend a lot of time in Tallahassee talking to the people holding the purse strings. (All of those are things no artist wants to or should spend time doing.) UA deals with artists and arts group at every level, supporting their needs while reminding the business folk and politicians that art matters to the bottom line as well as to the soul. (unitedartscfl.org)

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A dozen Orlando arts groups that could use your support

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