Basement Beat: Time is running out to "Keep Your Arts Alive"

Voting for ArtsAlive, an Allegan County Community Foundation fundraiser for local arts and cultural organizations will wrap up tomorrow.

Public votes, at $1 each, may be pledged to any of 18 participating nonprofits through midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

In case you’re curious, as of Aug. 21 (the last update in the standings) the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society has opened up an impressive lead in the voting with $30,202 in donations. Bringing up second place is Dorr Township Library with $11,049.

Saugatuck Center for the Arts is in third with $5,012; the Saugatuck-Douglas District Library has 3,592 for fourth place; and Design Street, an art studio in Plainwell, 2,140, good for fifth.

Individuals may cast as many votes as they please. The nonprofits receive all of those donations. The top five receive additional cash bonuses from the community foundation of $4,000. Places six through nine will receive additional awards of between $1,500 and $250.

The organization with the most votes will receive $1,500.

In four years, more than $400,000 has been generated for more than 22 organizations.

To vote, contact the participating organizations or vote online at www.alleganfoundation.org/artsalive/.

Here’s the full list of 2015 participants:

Allegan Area Arts Council

Allegan Community Players

Allegan District Library

Design Street, Plainwell

Dorr Township Library

Fennville District Library

Forever Curious Children’s Museum

Henika District Library

Hopkins Public Library

Lakeshore Arts Alliance

Mid-Lakes Chorus of Sweet Adelines

Otsego Area Historical Society

Outdoor Discovery Center—Macatawa Greenway

Regent Theatre—City of Allegan

Saugatuck Center for the Arts

Saugatuck-Douglas District Library

Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society

West Michigan Glass Art Center