About Us
This is OperaBaltimore…the next great opera company!
The website is new and our “real” graphics and logo aren’t complete yet, but we have chosen to “go live” now with where we are—and with what we’re thinking. We want to engage Baltimore’s audiences, artists, neighbors, businesses and civic communities in a conversation about grand opera and arts education in Baltimore.
We want to engage you.
Over the last several months, an ever-growing group of artists and arts professionals have been talking about how best to form and fund a new institution to produce grand opera—great opera—in Baltimore.
This is not a marketing website and it’s devoid of slick-ness. But it is the place where OperaBaltimore will be growing and sharing as part of our commitment to transparency in our governance and business.
One of our initial goals is to produce our first grand opera in Baltimore in late 2010 or early 2011.
We encourage you to be a part of OperaBaltimore. Click on the link “Subscribe” on the right side of the page, so that you’ll automatically receive e-mail updates when information changes here. Comment on whatever post invites your commentary. We want to hear from you as this institution grows.
Local professional grand opera
Locally-produced fully professional grand opera has been an important component of the cultural fabric of Baltimore for over half a century. There is a place for grand opera in Baltimore and there is an audience that loves it and will support it.
OperaBaltimore’s premise is that grand opera of the highest artistic caliber can be created by a dedicated company of creative people in a community that acknowledges the interdependence of great art and good business. The institution will incorporate education for audiences of all ages and opportunities for young professional artists in all aspects of its activities.
Sustainability
Of equal import is the need for new arts institutions to be built on new models to foster sustainability. Hallmarks of OperaBaltimore’s model will include a Mission Statement and Artistic Vision that are independent of any one dominant personality, reliance on a broad base of recurring small contributions and ticket income instead of super donors and a financial model that pays production costs with contributions already-in-hand.
Big tent approach
This Steering Committee includes many perspectives in a “big tent” approach to creating and developing this new opera company. Our discussions thus far have led to these institutional Core Values:
- artistic integrity and excellence
- consideration, discipline, civility
- passion for the artform
- consensus-based collaborative decision making
- transparency in governance and business operations
- authentic stakeholder engagement.
Stay in the loop
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably a stakeholder. We invite you into this conversation. Click here to sign up for e-mail updates. (Or use the link at the top of the right hand column.) You’ll get an email whenever there’s something new on the website—but never more than one a day.
And please, comment on the things that you read here. We want your involvement and we need your help and support. You are an integral part of the Next Great Opera Company: OperaBaltimore.
Congratulations!!! These are the first bold steps into what will hopefully become a truly innovative and captivating arts organization.
Cooooool!
go for it, hons!
gene
This is wonderful! Your innovation, strong drive for excellence, and willingness to take strides to encompass the wants and needs of your community and fellow organizations are integral parts of the success I hope that your organization will achieve. Congratulations!!
This is truly awesome, for so many reasons. I can’t imagine what a great undertaking this must be. Also, your May 15 Steering Committee Notes show a working phone number that appears to be incomplete (only 9 digits). BUT, the rest of the site is comprehensively thought-out and adeptly articulated. I appreciate your expertise, energy and efforts for opera in the Baltimore area. On another related note, an experienced New York costume designer of opera, other theater and film originally from Baltimore, has a dream to also design opera in her hometown. Her site, http://www.sarahcubbage.com, may be of interest an use to you. Congratulations and Best Wishes!