Two-Year Operating Support Grant

The Arrowhead Chorale will focus on visibility, marketing, and audience services in the next two years. Some of the Chorale equipment needs replacing or updating, and the cost of some of these capital items is also included in the request. Goals: 1. To increase visibility of the Chorale by means of a more interactive website, new email marketing, increased Chorale presence in social media, and create the capacity for new marketing options in the future. 2. To supply the Chorale with concert equipment that is up to date, that the Chorale owns avoiding the need to rent, borrow, or make do with less appropriate equipment. 3. To supply customer services through both the website and ticket purchases at concerts that includes the ability for purchases with credit cards, and the use of email receipts and e-tickets. 4. To expand staff to include an assistant director, grantwriter and marketing coordinator. This adds to current staff of Director, business manager and accompanist. The Board of the Arrowhead Chorale is in charge of the evaluation of all concerts, grants, and activities. Evaluation of this grant as a success will include: 1. Obtaining the required equipment listed in this request in a timely fashion, and having the ability to make use of it in the 2016-17 concert season. 2. Working with new staff in ways that increase the ability of the Chorale to offer outstanding concerts with a strong appeal to a wide variety of audience. The assistant director would assist with choir sectional rehearsals, help conduct portions of each concert, and sing with the group. The marketing coordinator would expand the venues for Chorale visibility, assisting in finding new outlets for advertising and marketing. The grantwriter would research new opportunities for grant applications and write narratives for the Chorale. 3. The roll-out of a website that is far more interactive, including allowing visitors to use phones and tablets to access the Chorale website, enabling the purchase of music as downloads, assisting in the easy purchase of e-tickets, with email receipts. Evaluation will include a review of final purchases, finalizing hires, including advertising for and hiring an assistant director for the 2016-17 season, and progress reports on all activities made monthly from the Marketing Manager, Grant Writer, Business Manager, and Artistic Director.