Cleveland Orchestra Receives Futures Fund Grant

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra has received the American Orchestras' Futures Fund grant, worth between $80,000 and $150,000. Cleveland is one of only 19 U.S. orchestras to receive the grant.

“The Cleveland Orchestra is honored and privileged to receive this remarkable grant from the League of American Orchestras,” said Ross Binnie, chief brand officer of The Cleveland Orchestra. “These funds will allow us to explore a variety of digital subscription initiatives with our innovative Members Club mobile-app, ultimately engaging more people and helping them experience the power and passion of extraordinary music experiences.”

The grant was awarded through the League of American Orchestras and its Futures Fund. This year's grants were awarded to orchestras that were taking innovative steps to grow their audiences and increase their importance in local communities.

“This forward-looking work — on stage, in the community, and within the organizations themselves — is essential for the evolution of the art form and the institutions that perform it,” said Jesse Rosen, the League’s President and CEO. “The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation has been a catalyst for innovation, and we are grateful for their vision and support.”

This year's grants will support programs like engagement with veterans with PTSD, research on the effects of music education on social and neural development in children, new uses of digital marketing, and partnerships with schools and nonprofits creating musical experiences.

To meet the demands of an increasingly digital world, the Cleveland Orchestra said, the Orchestra created its Members Club: a mobile-app program designed for patrons who aren't served by traditional subscription services. The Futures Fund grant will be used to evaluate the program.

“The initiatives represented by the first two grant cycles far exceeded our expectations,” said Lisa Delan, director of the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation. “The level of press attention many of these programs received reflects the timeliness of these efforts and makes clear there is much to gain by venturing outside of our comfort zones and carving new pathways through which to connect with our audiences and our communities. We look forward in anticipation to what this next round brings.”

For more information on the Members Club visit https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/tickets/memberships/.