Todd Oliver & Friends at the Backus Auditorium in International Falls

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$2,114

Project of

Arrowhead Library System Legacy Grant SFY 2014 - SFY 2015

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient Type

Libraries

Status

Completed

Start Date

February 2015

End Date

February 2015

Activity Type

Education/Outreach/Engagement

Counties Affected

Koochiching

Lake of the Woods

St. Louis

Project Overview

Nationally known for his amazing real-life talking dogs and hilarious comedy, Todd Oliver & Friends presents an all-new show with his canine companions Irving and Lucy, plus a "real" cast of characters like Pops and Miss Lilly, and his outstanding Smiling Eyes Band. A major draw for many years in Branson, Missouri, now they are bringing their brand of family fun to towns across America. So sit back and enjoy or get ready for some audience participation, either way you’re going to enjoy some doggone, rockin' fun music and good clean comedy with Todd Oliver and Friends!

Project Details

87 participated

Project Details: 2015 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota for 2013 Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 4

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$2,114

Other Funds Leveraged

$1,069

Direct expenses

$3,184

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The intended outcome of the event tickets program is to create access to professional art (music and theatre) by providing free tickets to a live performance. Live art is dynamic; patrons can experience and be inspired by the energy that comes from a live performance. When patrons pick up free event tickets at the library they fill out a short survey answering questions about how many Legacy events they have attended, who they are attending with, how they heard about the tickets, if they could attend without these tickets and if they knew that Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund paid for these tickets. Only one survey is filled out regardless of how many tickets are picked up at the library.

Measurable Outcome(s)

87 tickets were used for a 58% return rate. Our surveys indicated 21 of the patron groups that attended had never attended a Legacy funded event or had only attended one other event. 16 groups also indicated they would probably not be able to attend if these tickets were not available.

Source of Additional Funds

The Border Concert Association agreed to a 20% reduction in ticket price for reimbursement of tickets. This savings allows us to participate in more ticketed programs and issue more tickets to live performances. 7 libraries distributed tickets and 9 regional newspapers provided marketing through press releases, photos and interviews with artists and performers.