"Culture Cash Cards" sent as reward to arts patrons who recruited new
members/subscribers
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank One and the Greater Columbus
Arts Council (GCAC) today announced the arts audience expansion and retention
program, "One for One: Bank One's Gift to You and the Arts," has brought 1,000
new patrons to 15 local arts organizations to date.
"We established the 'One for One' program to expose new people to the high
quality of arts offerings in Columbus," said Beth Bubis, vice president for
community affairs for Bank One. "Through this program we will build a loyal
group of supporters who in turn can increase the earned income and enhance the
financial stability of the local arts organizations."
The new members have been recruited by current arts patrons. The
recruiters are being rewarded for their efforts in the form of "Culture Cash"
dollars, which are to be spent at participating organizations for upcoming
events and gift-shop purchases. Top recruiters have received as much as
$1,000 in the form of "Culture Cash." The "Culture Cash" dollars represent a
value half the amount of the membership/subscription paid by a new
member/subscriber.
Bank One and GCAC created the "Culture Cash Card," an incentive card
program and the only one of its kind in the country. The card is the vehicle
for the recruiters to track and spend their reward dollars.
Among the top recruiters for the "One for One" program was Artie Isaac,
president of Young Isaac, who recruited new patrons for ProMusica and The
Columbus Museum of Art. "'One for One' is very useful and exciting because it
gives a reason for people who already enjoy the arts to invite others to join
them," said Isaac. "I didn't have to sell people about this; I just told them
about it. People subscribed. There was no hard sell. The value sold
itself."
The "Culture Cash Cards" will continue to be distributed each month to
those who recruit new patrons. Anyone who brings in more arts patrons will
have the additional Culture Cash added to the balance on his or her card.
Bank One and GCAC have a three-year commitment to the "One for One" program.
"Bank One's partnership program is a unique and generous way to encourage
new patrons to the arts," said Ray Haley, president of the GCAC. "The program
is helping the arts organizations engage their own patrons in growing their
audiences."
Participating groups believe the program has the potential to create
sustained growth. "We believe that when our existing patrons recruit new
ones, we're targeting the people more likely to become a permanent part of our
audience," said Michael Ring, marketing director, Opera Columbus.
Any arts patrons interested in knowing more about the program should
contact their participating arts organization including: BalletMet, CAPA,
CATCO, Columbus Children's Theatre, Columbus Light Opera, Columbus Symphony
Orchestra, Columbus Museum of Art, Jazz Arts Group, King Arts Complex,
Opera/Columbus, Phoenix Theatre, ProMusica, Red Herring Theatre Co., Thurber
House, and Wexner Center for the Arts.
Bank One is the fifth-largest bank in the nation with assets of more than
$256 billion. In Columbus, Bank One supports more than 150 local
organizations and has the largest employee volunteer network.
The Greater Columbus Arts Council, a not-for-profit organization,
encourages and supports cultural development in the Columbus area. In this
capacity, GCAC provides technical services to artists and arts organizations,
acts as the community's voice on arts advocacy issues, and serves as the
official agency for City of Columbus grants for the arts. GCAC administers
the Columbus Arts Festival, the Business Arts Partnership program and the
Community Arts Education program consisting of Artists-in-Schools and Children
of the Future(R), an AmeriCorps(R) public safety project targeted to youth
ages five to twelve.
SOURCE Bank One
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Related links:
http://www.bankone.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/084675.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 084675
CONTACT:
Lisa Antolino of Bank One, 614-248-9079; or
Tim Kauffman of The Greater Columbus Arts Council, 614-224-2606
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