Engaging Our COmmunity - Hennepin Theatre District

“The programming that Hennepin Theatre Trust does is incredibly beneficial. They are both a Theatre District
neighbor as well as a great partner for our restaurant. When these theatres are actively programmed, they
increase foot traffic and contribute to the overall vitality of downtown Minneapolis.”
–Karen Ingram, General Manager of Palomino
visual artist srEE nair partiCipatEs in tHE
UTiLiTy ArT box proGrAM On HEnnEpin avEnuE
(Photo credit: Tom Hoch)
a leader in the Hennepin theatre District
Downtown Partners. In addition to Hennepin Theatre Trust’s core
presenting and preservation activities, the Trust works closely with
premier Minneapolis hotels and restaurants to enhance the experience
of our patrons. Our partnerships, key in making the Hennepin Theatre
District an exciting and inviting destination, grew substantially as
the interest in better serving visitors to the area reached an all-time
high. Local restaurant partners include Bellanotte, The Capital Grille,
Chambers, Cosmos, Manhattan’s, Mission, Palomino, Seven The
Steakhouse and Solera. Hotel partners include The Grand, Graves 601
and the Marquette.
The Minnesota Proud Walk of Fame, honoring Minnesota celebrities
in the film and entertainment industry, was launched in 2007–08
with the Trust’s support. Stars to be imbedded in the Hennepin
Avenue sidewalk were presented to Marion Ross of “Happy Days,”
Tippi Hedren of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” and Loni Anderson of
“WKRP in Cincinnati,” with ongoing plans to honor many more
talented Minnesotans.
The Utility Art Box Program was among the projects led by the
Trust to make Hennepin Avenue more attractive and pedestrian
friendly. The Trust, working with the City of Minneapolis, solicited
proposals to select artists who transformed non-descript metal utility
boxes up and down the street into works of art based on a theme
from Shakespeare.
aCtrEss anD minnEsOta nativE mariOn rOss,
wHO starrED in “Happy Days,” rECEivEs HEr
minnEsOta prOuD star (Photo credit: Karen Nelson)
9
Engaging Our audiences in an
Electronic Era
The Trust continued to embrace many tools to engage
audiences in an era that relies more on electronic and cyberbased
communications and less on hard copy materials.
Through online marketing, promotional emails and the
monthly Hennepin Theatre Trust Insider newsletter, we seek to
extend the conversation without a paper trail.
• During 2007–08, nearly 4.5 million emails were delivered
to members and tickets buyers.
• The Trust’s online Insider newsletter, emailed monthly to
more than 3500 people, continued its above industry
standards readership rate.
• The HennepinTheatreDistrict.org
website averaged 250,025 hits per
month in 2007–
08, an increase
of more than
40% from the
previous year.