For many, entering a Young People’s Concert might be a little intimidating. Imagine it: An auditorium packed with hundreds of middle school students. A chattering, squirming swarm of tweens moving in and out of their seats, back and forth between their giggling classmates. Be honest…wouldn’t you be just a tiny bit put off? At least until the administrator comes to her feet, moves to the front of the stage, and – in silence! – raises her hand for order…and miraculously achieves it. In a slow but sure wave advancing from the first row to the very last, at her inaudible command, quiet descends. Then, house lights go down, stage lights go up, and the concert begins.

Performed by members of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, last November’s concert featured an opera singer as well as members of the Orlando Ballet. The entire program was moderated by the Philharmonic’s Director of Education, Leia Barrett, who explained each piece, a little about its composer, and its place within musical history. And that mass of middle-schoolers? They lapped it up! As one, not-precisely-synchronized whole, they sang along to an old but familiar tune, gasped when a dancer lifted a ballerina up onto his shoulders, and laughed when the opera singer twirled his cape. In fact, they danced in their seats to – of all things – the William Tell Overture.

United Arts of Central Florida, our region’s nonprofit full-service arts agency, believes that’s why the arts matter. They delight all of us, young and old alike. They inspire us, challenge us, take us out of our everyday lives to lift our spirits, minds, and hearts to imagine and achieve. Still not convinced being artsy is beneficial? Well, for the past 25 years, United Arts has served as the primary partner to Orange County Public Schools, facilitating arts and cultural educational services with fiscal responsibility, including field trips, hands-on activities, and performances that enhance learning, expand literacy, and provide overall enrichment.

“The arts are important for test scores,” says Linda Landman Gonzalez, United Arts’ Chairwoman of the Board. “It has been shown that children who are exposed to arts in the classroom are better at math and science than those who are not.” Combined funding through United Arts from school boards, governments, and corporate sponsors provide 115,000+ free educational experiences annually. These include, for example, sending 2^nd graders to an Orlando Ballet performance and 3^rd-5^th graders to an Orlando Philharmonic concert.

The United Arts is similar to the United Way, except they work with more than 50 cultural institutions and artists. “We’re a one-stop-shop to support the arts, sciences, and history in Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties,” explains Flora Maria Garcia, United Arts President & CEO. In fact, in the past 25 years, the organization has invested more than $131 million in local arts and cultural organizations and education…all of which serve the Central Florida community!

You may wonder why philanthropic giving to arts and cultural organizations is necessary. Sadly, only about one-third of the necessary funds come from ticket sales and sponsorships; thus, the generosity of donors provides the remaining funds. United Arts is supported by individuals, major corporations and foundations, as well as Orange County, Orange County Public Schools, and the City of Orlando. From a public perspective, power2give.org, an innovative web-based fundraising tool, provides an accessible way to connect personal passions to projects in need of support. Since the site launched in May 2013, it has raised $155,000 for 61 projects, including field trips for local students.

Explore Orlando’s Arts & Culture

*Designates ‘large-budget groups’ supported by United Arts of Central Florida. 

Art Museums

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Music

Performing Arts

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Access 300+ events, virtual box office, ticket discounts, public art directory, and surrounding restaurant options at OrlandoAtPlay.com.

Research themed activities ─ including arts, music, and more ─ through Orlando Family Magazine’s After School Activity Guide at OrlandoFamilyMagazine.com.

Ticket deals: Get a United ArtsCard, a valuable buy-1-ticket-get-1-FREE and discount card, to experience a wealth of arts, sciences, and history.

Save the date: In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission every day, Museum Day Live!, an annual event in which museums welcome guests for free, will be held on September 27, 2014. For a list of local participating museums, visit SmithsonianMag.com/MuseumDay.