IRS Grants Non-Profit Status to O+ Festival

National Charity Revitalizes Communities Through Weekend-Long Wellness, Music & Art Events.

Kingston, N.Y.–O+ Festival, which is dedicated to the exchange of health and wellness services for works of art and musical performances, is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The new tax-exempt status, granted by the IRS, is vital to the Festival’s future impact, says Joe Concra, executive director of O+.

“O+ would like to thank every Artist, Musician, Wellness Provider, Business Owner, Festival Goer and the hundreds of volunteers who make it happen,” Concra says. “Achieving our 501(c)(3) means that your donation is now tax deductible and will provide the foundation for O+ to grow from New York’s Hudson Valley to California and beyond.”

Chapters of O+, which was founded in Kingston, N.Y. in 2010, host weekend-long annual art and music events during which participating artists and musicians exhibit their talents in exchange for access to health and wellness services from art-loving, health care professionals.
The Festival has plans to open a year-round multi-use facility to provide artists and musicians with complementary care services, wellness education, and other preventative care options. In addition, the new space will function as a location for ongoing support of art and music activities. 

“The goal here is wellness. Not only the physical, mental and emotional wellness of artists and musicians, but the overall wellness of community,” says Theresa Widmann, director of operations for the Festival. “We want to continue to be a part of the growth of the communities we serve by developing employment opportunities both internally and externally. There is a very clear shift taking place, where local and sustainable are becoming the priority. This is how we can make meaningful change in the lives of our neighbors.”

The first O+ Festival brought together 100 artists and musicians, 48 healthcare providers, 30 volunteers and one amazing dentist. O+ attendees who paid $25 received a red hospital wristband good for three days of art and music. Those that couldn’t afford the admission were asked to make some kind of donation. Organizers were amazed at response from the crowds, which numbered more than 1,000. Everyone had a great time and a lot of uninsured or under-insured artists and musicians got the health and wellness care they needed and deserved, and were appreciated for the cultural contribution they were making to the area. The providers, who cared for the members of the creative community during the festival, told organizers about the satisfaction they felt knowing they had changed lives. And as a bonus they got to experience performances and view artworks.

In 2013, the festival launched O+ San Francisco. In the two cities combined the non-profit has provided more than 1,470 clinic visits and hosted 195 artists, including internationally renowned street artist/muralist, Gaia, and performance artist Linda Montano, and 210 bands, including Lucius and Spiritualized. O+ has attracted 350 volunteers and more than 250 wellness and health providers, not to mention 271 dental appointments by six dentists. Of course, all of the musicians call out the providers at every festival and say they are the real rockstars. Thousands of people have attended O+ Festivals, donating what they can to the cause.

The next O+ Festival in Kingston takes place Oct. 10, 11 and 12, 2014.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.