2011 Grant Awards
SHREVEPORT OPERA
Shreveport Opera Xpress (SOX)
SOX, the educational touring arm of Shreveport Opera, takes opera and musical theater programs to underserved public school and adult audiences throughout Louisiana in hopes of developing an appreciation of the arts and to become opera-goers, passing on their appreciation of opera to future generations. The Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild expects to recruit volunteers for its mainstage productions while assisting at these performances.
OPERA TAMPA LEAGUE
ON YOUR TWEET! Social Media Training
Three social media training sessions open to all Opera Tampa volunteers will be offered at OT board meetings in September November and January of 2011-2012. The goal is to familiarize current guild members with current communication technologies, specifically social media such as Facebook and Twitter, to help them engage a new generation of volunteers and opera-goers. Younger audiences are more likely to engage when using their preferred communications tools because they are instantly part of a tangible group, a concept that doesn’t transfer using telephone or postal mail.
Lyric Opera of Chicago Education Corps
Opera in the Classroom
The grant supports the continued training of docents and evaluation and improvement of the school-base arts instruction that targets third- through sixth-graders in Chicago public schools. Professional staff instruct volunteer docents in teaching methods and in the use of the various curriculum materials. Opera in the Classroom reaches 1,500 students annually.
ST. LOUIS OPERA GUILD
Funding for Epson MovieMate 62 Projectors and Establishment of DVD Library
Projectors and opera DVD’s will be used during docent presentations before adult and student audiences. Docents give an average of 50 presentations before 800 adults.
Over 700 students at 20 urban and rural schools, many under privileged, are introduced each year to opera during St Louis Opera’s children’s opera by docents specially trained. During both adult and student presentations many docents use DVD’s and other audio visual sources to enhance their talks.
Due to shortage of DVD’s available, copyright laws, some docents have to purchase their own DVD’s. Current equipment varies widely in quality, dependability and accessibility, often with no in-house technician available. The grant proposal would give docent volunteers access to a library of operas that grow and provide them with a reliable audio visual system.
The projector will be housed at the Opera Center where docents receive their training. A comprehensive training program for those using the projector will be developed. Having access to the same equipment during both practice sessions and live presentations would eliminate many of the technical unknowns we currently face.
SKAGIT OPERA GUILD
Community Outreach and Audience Building
Skagit Opera’s 2011-12 season will open in October with Tosca.
The company is developing a 30 minute presentation, with musical excerpts and historical context designed to pique the interest of those to whom opera is foreign. The programs will be arranged and presented by the Guild in middle and high schools, continuing education forums such as the Senior College, which provides free adult education, and public spaces, such as the Cascade Mall.
The money will be used to product the visual materials including signs and posters, pay stipends for singers and accompanist. The number of venues we reach will be determined by the amount of money we receive. Each “performance” is expected to cost approximately $500.
This is a long term investment in audience development and community support for Skagit Opera and will not be possible without help from OVI.
Skagit Opera Guild, now in its 7th year is the cornerstone of Skagit Opera’s community outreach program.
OPERA MEMPHIS VOLUNTEER GROUP
Co OPERAtive
Opera Memphis would like to expand its appreciation/recruitment program into Co OPERAtive. This program will have two main components:
- Events to be held in the spring and summer of the year. The goal is to introduce a group of current volunteers to interested visitors and share personal stores and encourage participation among potential volunteers.A very special feature of the event will be live demonstrations that current volunteers will be trained to present. The intention of these demonstrations is to answer questions frequently asked. We hope to recruit at least 30 new volunteers at each event.
- Incentives for volunteers. Incentives will be offered to dedicated volunteers. Bonus items will be distributed during the season to volunteers that display reliability and commitment to Opera Memphis.
We hope to spread the word about Co OPERAtive through e-blasts to current patrons, on our website and with personal invitations that are mailed.
Recently, we reevaluated our system of recruiting volunteers and found we needed a change. We have now recruited over 100 volunteers and need to address sustainability. The biggest contribution volunteers make is during the production of our operas.
We hope as this program develops, volunteers will become class docents for our expanding student dress rehearsals.
