(Above image from GOPAR’s Facebook)
ORLANDO | Due to the continuing hardships COVID-19 has placed on Central Florida’s arts community, leaders in the local entertainment industry are creating a nonprofit to help offer relief.
The Greater Performing Arts Relief, or GOPAR, aims to “help industry professionals navigate successfully through uncertain times with a variety of support and financial services.”
“Central Florida is so blessed with a tremendous talent pool, but at the moment so many of those artists are unemployed due to the coronavirus and are in jeopardy of losing any state or federal assistance they may have had,” said Jim Helsinger, Artistic Director at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, in a press release. “Our community needs to take steps to ensure we can keep talented artists who are in temporary distress in our area for the future enjoyment of all.”
GOPAR is an extension of the Social Distance Showcase Series, launched by local theatre leaders Kenny Howard, Rich Charron and Michael Wanzie. To date, the showcase has raised nearly $20,000 to help artists in need.
GOPAR will officially launch Sept. 4 with a virtual fundraising event on GOPAR’s Facebook page. The event will “highlight local performances and insight to the arts community’s activities during the COVID-19 Crisis.”
For more information, go to Greater Orlando Performing Arts Relief’s Facebook page.
