Ballet Oklahoma, Inc. DBA Oklahoma City Ballet

PROJECT PURPOSE

Oklahoma City Ballet requests capital funds for the creation of new sets and costumes for its annual production of The Nutcracker. While the initial investment of $2.5M is high, Oklahoma City Ballet will benefit from this investment for 20 years or more while also driving tourism to the OKC metro. OKC Ballet?s The Nutcracker draws nearly 18,000 people to the Civic Center each December, who come from across the state and parts of the region to attend this popular event. Meanwhile, ticket sales provide financial stability for OKC Ballet. The arts industry leverages a significant amount of event-related spending by its audiences, with patrons of The Nutcracker included. Most productions presented by OKC Ballet involve costly rentals of sets and costumes, sometimes costing more to produce than ticket sales cover. However The Nutcracker performances are strikingly profitable, having an enormous impact on the Ballet?s budget. The current sets and costumes for The Nutcracker were purchased before OKC Ballet matured as an organization. We bought what we could afford at the time, and now those sets and costumes are aged and in disrepair. As the season?s most important performance for our bottom line, it is imperative that they be replaced.

EVIDENCE

In 2014, Oklahoma City Ballet invested in new sets and costumes for The Nutcracker, thanks to Devon Energy. That purchase was a catalyst for monumental growth of the organization since then. Ticket sales for The Nutcracker have tripled in under ten years, and led to a renaissance for Oklahoma City Ballet. Since that initial investment, the operating budget has doubled, we have tripled enrollment in our dance school, we have more than doubled the Ballet staff, and can now offer free community programs to thousands of Oklahomans annually. Unfortunately the current sets and costumes are now in disrepair.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Oklahoma City Ballet makes its performances and programs accessible to as many people as possible. Tickets to The Nutcracker can be purchased for as low at $15 through our ticket lottery, or $13 for students. While there is nearly always a charge for performance tickets, Oklahoma City Ballet provides FREE programming to: school children from across Oklahoma; students at eight Boys and Girls Clubs location; adults and children with special needs; underserved schools; adults with Parkinson?s disease; children with autism; and senior adults. Revenue generated from The Nutcracker ticket sales make for a more financially secure Oklahoma City Ballet, and in turn allows for free programs for special populations listed above. The Ballet also has an annual free outdoor performance at Scissortail Park that serves all demographics. Simply put, The Nutcracker is our single largest income-generating program that allows us to conduct other meaningful programs throughout the year. In December 2022, OKC Ballet will present a ?sensory-friendly? performance of The Nutcracker geared toward children with autism and other sensory issues. Tickets will be 75% off regular ticket prices to make this accessible to families in need.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Oklahoma City Ballet will measure success of this project numerically through ticket sales and other revenue generated from performances of The Nutcracker. Using that data, we can also measure the greater economic impact of this investment.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma