EARLVILLE - The Earlville Opera House is compiling results of a regional survey that may prompt financial support for local artists and arts organizations experiencing the aftermath of the COVID-19 shutdown.

The organization recently partnered with the Community Foundation for South Central New York to initiate a cultural needs assessment survey which helps to identify current needs for artists and venues throughout the region.

Michelle Connelly, executive director at the Earlville Opera House, said information gathered will be used to help prioritize arts organizations’ needs and pinpoint future funding opportunities. Those needs might range from PPE for staff to equipment, technology, software, or training for personnel to effectively stream live shows and programming on a virtual platform.

“We put out a survey that asked what their dire needs are at this time. For some it could be simply operating support, which is the situation the Opera House is in,” she said. “We thought we would cast a pretty wide net to get consensus on what it is they feel they need. The community foundation of South Central New York is going to use the results from the survey to attract patrons to donate to a large art fund.”

Connelly noted that the fund now has a $100,000 balance. But because the needs of the field are so great, the Community Foundation of South Central New York is seeking to grow it in order to provide a greater grant program for small organizations.