In last week’s “Keep the Love Alive” article, we let you know that the Brown Grand Opera House has nearly a $400,000 economic impact in Cloud County every year. This calculation is based on Concordia’s total population, the Brown Grand’s shoestring budget, and the 8,000 patrons who visited the Brown Grand last year. This year, our very own local historic theatre is looking to clear 10,000 visitors, which will only make their economic impact at local restaurants, shops, gas stations and hotels increase. Can you imagine what their current capital campaign will do for our community once they have industry-standard lighting and sound equipment? The Brown Grand will not only become more of a destination for rising artists, but even more audience members will be flooding our community and increasing demand at all of Concordia’s local establishments.
When guests visit the Brown Grand for a live performance, it is not uncommon for them to “make a night of it” and spend time around town. They frequently eat out, set up tours at other local attractions, spend the night, visit the downtown retailers, and see a show.
The Brown Grand can track demographic information for ticketed events, so they can easily see where their patrons are traveling from. However, when the Brown Grand offers non-ticketed events like Christmas Vespers, Deck the Halls, preschool programs and movie series, they can only take a total headcount of how many people attend. One of the many goals the Brown Grand has is to make sure they are accessible to the community, which is why they have so many events that are free or by donation to support the important work they are doing. For example, in December the Brown Grand had six events, and only one of those required a ticket purchase. The Brown Grand also strives to bring in a diverse season to expose North Central Kansas to a wide variety of the arts. With a mission to enhance cultural life in our region, a large arts offering is what they deliver with 60-plus events each year.
To help continue this impact for North Central Kansas, keep the love alive at the Brown Grand by helping them close the gap to reach the $402,000 goal for “Giving Voice to the Past, Illuminating the Future” this year. Thanks to many grants and donations, they are now 75% to their goal. A gift in any amount will help bring this project to fruition. To make a tax-deductible donation to support this timely lighting and sound project, mail a gift to The Brown Grand Opera House, P.O. Box 347, Concordia, KS 66901. Checks made payable to the Brown Grand, or give securely online at www.browngrand.org/donate-now. For more information, reach out to Brown Grand Executive Director Melissa Swenson at 785-243-2553.
