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
"Basement Beat" is an occasional online column by Allegan County News editor Ryan Lewis.