Give It up for the Arts Year End Appeal
Give Today. Help Creativity Grow in 2027.
A first music lesson. A painting shared with the public. A moment onstage that becomes a lasting memory. Creative experiences can open doors we never expected.
This season of giving, help East End Arts Council open those doors for more people.
Our 2026 Give It Up for the Arts Year-End Appeal supports the education, artistic opportunities, and community connections that keep creativity thriving on the East End. Your generosity helps make room for new voices, new discoveries, and new possibilities in 2027.
Help Unlock Creativity and Build Community
The arts bring people together across generations, backgrounds, and abilities. They give us ways to express ourselves, learn from one another, and feel connected to the place we call home.
Your gift helps sustain opportunities throughout East End Arts Council:
Art and Music Education: Lessons, classes, and workshops where children, teens, and adults can explore their interests and develop their skills.
Scholarships: Financial assistance that helps students participate in creative learning.
Arts for ALL: Inclusive experiences designed to welcome people of different ages and abilities through adaptive, supportive programming.
Exhibitions and Artist Opportunities: Spaces for artists to share their work and for the public to discover new perspectives.
Community Programs: Performances, celebrations, and creative experiences that bring neighbors together.
Every gift helps support the people, teaching, and spaces that make these experiences possible.
Behind Every Program Is a Personal Story
For one student, a lesson may be the beginning of a lifelong passion. For another, making art offers a new way to communicate. For an adult returning to a creative interest, it can be a chance to reconnect with something they love.
The stories below offer a glimpse of what access to the arts can mean. Your support helps make the next story possible.
Bodhi Benedict
“Because of EEAC, My Child Found Their Voice Through Music”
When Bodhi Benedict walked past the East End Arts Council building in Riverhead, no one could’ve guessed how impactful that moment would become.
Encouraged by friends who had nothing but praise for the programs, Bodhi’s parents enrolled him in guitar lessons and it’s a decision that has shaped his confidence and creativity ever since.
Now eight years old, Bodhi has been studying guitar at East End Arts Council for three years. Thanks to the guidance of Greg, a gifted and patient instructor, Bodhi has not only developed a love for music but also grown in confidence. “Greg has been an amazing teacher, extremely talented, patient, and kind. My child really enjoys learning from him,” Bodhi’s parents shared.
What started as a curiosity has become a passion. Bodhi looks forward to every lesson, eager to build new skills and dream big. He already knows what he wants to be when he grows up: a musician.
“Because of East End Arts Council, he will be able to play an instrument, which is an invaluable skill,” his parent reflected. “East End Arts Council is a wonderful organization. They truly bring the community together and offer so many enriching art programs and camps to Riverhead.”
Your support helps young artists like Bodhi discover their voice, and their future.
Caitlin DiMola
“Because of East End Arts Council, I’ve Grown With the Arts, From Age 10 to 36”
For Caitlin DiMola, East End Arts has been more than just a creative outlet, it’s been a lifelong companion.
Now 36 and living in Calverton, Caitlin first walked through the doors of East End Arts Council when she was just 10 years old. Over the decades, she’s taken a variety of classes in music and visual arts, but one journey stands out: learning to play the cello.
“I always wanted to play, but I had no experience and didn’t know where to start,” Caitlin shares. “It was something completely new. But my teacher at East End Arts Council was patient and encouraging from the very beginning. She made learning a brand-new instrument feel exciting instead of intimidating.”
That support, combined with a welcoming community of fellow artists, has helped Caitlin build the confidence and skill to pursue her passions, not just as a hobby, but as a working artist. “East End Arts Council is a place where people come together with a shared love of the arts. And it’s inspired me to continue developing my skills and hopefully share them professionally in the future.”
What began as a childhood spark has become a lifelong journey of growth and discovery. And East End Arts has been there every step of the way.
“Because of East End Arts Council, I’ve had the opportunity to pursue my creative interests from childhood to adulthood. I hope to do so for years to come.”
Your support ensures that artists of all ages, from 8 to 80, have a place to learn, create, and grow.
Lilou Zugmeyer
“Because of East End Arts Council, I Found My Voice – On Stage and Behind the Scenes”
Sixteen-year-old Lilou Zugmeyer of Southold doesn’t just sing with the East End Arts Rocks teen band, she’s grown up with it.
Lilou’s journey with East End Arts Council began in 2019 when her mom signed her up for private vocal lessons. That spark quickly turned into a spotlight when East End Arts Council invited her to join a brand-new program: EEA Rocks, a band made up of young musicians from across the East End.
“At 11, I became one of the lead singers,” Lilou says. “Five years later, I’m still in the band and I’ve loved every second of it.”
From playing a full set on a float in the Fourth of July Parade to rocking out at the Southampton Battle of the Bands, Lilou has gained unforgettable performance experience, and so much more. “I’ve learned how to work with people, how to build a set list, how to lead a band, and how to own the stage. It’s taught me how to be confident, not just as a performer, but as a person.”
Her teacher and mentor, Chris Jones, has played a huge role in that growth. “Chris is so dedicated. He truly cares about us, and he brings so much experience to the table. He’s helped me become not just a better singer, but a stronger, more thoughtful artist.”
East End Arts Council also gave Lilou the chance to explore music behind the scenes. After completing a Berklee Music Theory pilot program through East End Arts Council, she enrolled in a vocational audio production course at BOCES, a path she plans to pursue in college.
“Because of East End Arts Council, I realize how much I love music, not just performing it, but understanding how it’s created and produced. EEAC helped me discover that.”
Lilou is proof that one program can shape a passion and a future. Your support helps make that possible for the next young artist.
Anonymous
“EEAC Helped Me See Myself as an Artist”
When a high school student from East Moriches first discovered East End Arts Council through a simple web search, he never imagined how transformative that decision would be.
Drawn in by the inspiring atmosphere and talented instructors, he began taking classes at East End Arts Council in middle school, and never looked back.
One instructor in particular, Ken Jackson, reshaped how this student viewed painting. “Ken has transformed the way I see painting. I’ve learned so much from him,” he shared. With Ken’s encouragement, he even had the opportunity to display his artwork publicly, an experience that boosted his confidence and made him feel truly seen as an artist.
Today, he is studying art in college, pursuing a future shaped by the confidence, skills, and inspiration gained at East End Arts Council. “The instructors are top notch and so helpful,” he added. “I feel very comfortable here. East End Arts Council gave me the confidence to call myself an artist.”
To anyone thinking about supporting East End Arts Council, he has just one message:
“Do it! You won’t be disappointed.”
Make Your Year-End Gift
As we look toward 2027, we invite you to invest in a community where more people have the opportunity to learn, create, and belong.
Make a gift that feels meaningful to you. You can also ask your employer whether a matching gift program could extend your contribution.
Help unlock creativity. Help build community. Give It Up for the Arts.
Donate to the 2026 Year-End Appeal: