Giving Tuesday has become a global “thing,” reminding us what comes after Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday (skipping over the yet-unnamed Sunday after Thanksgiving): a day to give.
Give what? Well, mostly money, continuing the time-honored importance to the American economy of spending dollars and cents (yes, even pennies, although no longer minted, still count in the world of philanthropy).
Many nonprofits reminded you on Tuesday, December 2 to support the causes that matter most to you—to supply the fuel that drives their missions. All worthy causes, and absolutely worth supporting, especially those organizations that fuel our creative souls.
San Luis Obispo County is home to many of those worthy nonprofits, each enriching our lives with art and culture on a daily basis. It’s even SLO Review’s mission (we are a nonprofit, after all) to help keep you informed of the variety of creative work and experiences available locally.
But there’s another way to give that you might want to consider in addition to making those tax-deductible contributions:
Please consider supporting a local artist by purchasing a unique piece of their art, either for yourself or for another lucky someone on your holiday shopping list.
What friend or family member wouldn’t enjoy a unique, hand-crafted gift, selected especially for them by you to give them joy. It could be a one-of-a-kind painting, a functional ceramic bowl, a CD of songs performed by a local musician, a lovely beaded necklace, a sparkling glass ornament, or even a book of poetry penned by one of our local creative writers. Creativity knows no bounds!
When gifting, please think creatively.
Supporting our local artists contributes to a thriving, creative economy in which we all want to live. Literary, performing, and visual artists and their endeavors are a key part of our spirit of community and the vibrant cultural environment that we all enjoy here on the Central Coast.
Editor’s Note: Need help finding a local artist? Explore the Central Coast Arts Coalition Artist Directory, find a visual artist in the 2025 Open Studios Art Tour catalog, find a small work of art at Art Central’s “Little Treasures” show, or visit local shops that specialize in local artisans such as Studios on the Park, Costa Gallery, The Natural Toolbox, Hands Gallery.