PO Box 2506 Knoxville, TN 37901 Phone: 865-523-7543 Fax: 865-523-7312

January 17, 2019

Knox County Procurement Division Suite 100, 1000 North Central Street Knoxville, 37917

Attention: Ben Sharbel

Dear Ben,

I am pleased to submit a response to RFI #2767 on behalf of the Knox County Tourism Consortium.

The Arts & Culture Alliance (ACA) will again function as unpaid administrator of Knox County’s contract with 24 arts and culture organizations. Under the terms of the county’s contract with ACA and ACA’s contracts with the 24 organizations, the consortium will deliver more than 4,000 tourism geared events and activities from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The visitors the consortium attracts to Knox County will bring millions of dollars into the county as they patronize local restaurants, shops, vendors, and hotels. Of course, the Hotel Motel Tax the consortium’s visitors pay as a part of their lodging expenses will return to county coffers.

ACA has assembled an outstanding team of attractions, referred to within the RFI response simply as “the consortium”. These attractions are particularly well suited to draw visitors into the county by presenting vibrant festivals, live performances, history reenactments, gallery tours, nature experiences, and fairs.

Economic Impact In the past year alone, the consortium has attracted visitors from all fifty states and international visitors from more than 80 countries to Knox County bringing nearly $18 million into the county with them. Visitors from surrounding counties have added to that jackpot by more than $16 million. The consortium supports $12 million in jobs and pays $18 million more to local vendors.

Program Evaluation Each member of the consortium tracks its audiences, its own spending, and its sources of income on a quarterly basis. ACA gathers that data into one quarterly report to the county. Both ACA and the county know exactly how the consortium (and each member within it) is performing compared to previously stated goals.

Community Support The consortium enjoys the support of hundreds of corporations and foundations and thousands of individuals. No other single entity enjoys that breadth and depth of community support.

Budget/Accountability ACA has used 990 filings by the consortium to build the budget for this RFI response. Each member of the consortium is bound by a written contract with ACA and payments are made to consortium members only on a reimbursement basis.

Thank you for your many kindnesses these past five years since the county and the consortium have been partners in attracting tourism and economic development to Knox County.

We appreciate your consideration.

Liza Zenni Executive Director

KNOX COUNTY TOURISM CONSORTIUM

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION RESPONSE Defined Services for Non-Profit Agencies – Solicitation #2767

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Submission Forms Page 4

Economic Impact Page 7

Scope of Services Page 10

Program Evaluation Page 30

Community Support Page 35

Budget/Accountability Page 41

RFI Summary Page 44

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The Consortium Generates Tourism to Knox County

During FY 2018, the consortium attracted and entertained a whopping 522,992 visitors to Knox County, generating the following economic impact:

 $16,007,637 from tourists from surrounding counties (336,507 visitors @ $47.57 per day)  $17,900,695 from tourists from beyond the region (186,485 visitors @ $95.99 per day)

The above figures demonstrate that in the past year, the county appreciated a nearly $34 million return on its investment due to spending by visitors who were attracted here by consortium events and activities: that is a Return on Investment (ROI) of $90 to $1.

The consortium has used its previous contracts with the county to enhance its events and activities, increase its media coverage, and promote the county as an arts and history destination. Proof of the efficacy of the county’s investment in the consortium is found within the 2019 Official Visitors and Relocation Guide recently published by Visit Knoxville. The Guide highlights the arts scene, museums, and the historic homes and provides evidence that the consortium is increasingly recognized as crucial to the county’s attractiveness to visitors.

What is a Cultural Tourist?

It is essential for Knox County to continue investing in attractions that appeal to the cultural tourist. While all tourists are temporary tax payers, the cultural tourist spend an average of 173% more per person than local attendees ($95.99 versus $35.16) as a result of their attendance to cultural events. In The Cultural & Heritage Traveler Study by Rosemary McCormick, the cultural traveler is defined as someone who “travels to experience the places, people, activities and things that authentically represent the past and present, including cultural, historic and natural resources.”

In 2016, a national survey by Americans for the Arts revealed that 68.6% of nonresident audience members said the primary purpose of their visit to Knox County was “specifically to attend this arts/cultural event.” The audience-intercept survey also asked nonresident attendees if they would have traveled somewhere else (besides Knox County) if the event where they were surveyed had not occurred: 51.7% of nonresident attendees would have “traveled to a different community to attend a similar cultural event.”

Of the 40.2% of arts attendees who were nonresidents, 32.7% reported an overnight lodging expense, contributing to the increase in Hotel Motel Tax fund collections. Seventy-eight percent of all U.S. leisure travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities while traveling. Cultural and heritage activities identified by travelers include: visiting historic sites (66%); attending historical re-enactments (64%); visiting art museums/galleries (54%); attending an art fair or festival (45%); and attending a professional dance, music, or opera performance (44%).

Cultural tourists are more frequent leisure travelers, reporting 5.1 trips in the past twelve months versus 3.98 trips by non-cultural and heritage travelers. Twenty-four percent of leisure travelers will take a cultural and heritage trip in the next twelve months. A key element to Knox County’s future growth is its support of local cultural attractions, making Knoxville the choice for those leisure travelers.

The consortium attractions within this proposal help grow the Knox County economy by attracting foreign visitors who out-stay, out-travel, and out-spend other types of international tourists.

If a community fails to provide a variety of artistic and cultural experiences, it will not attract the new dollars of cultural tourists. Knox County does not want to lose discretionary spending by local residents traveling elsewhere for an arts experience: nearly one-half of local cultural attendees (41.9%) say that if the cultural event or exhibit during which they were surveyed had not happened, they would have traveled to a different community to attend a similar cultural experience.

In FY 2020, cultural tourists will be drawn to Knox County by thousands of activities presented by attractions within the consortium. Each year, consortium members attract visitors from all 50 states. In 2018 alone, consortium members hosted international visitors from more than 80 countries including:

Afghanistan Colombia Holland Korea Pakistan Switzerland Africa Costa Rica Honduras Latvia Peru Taiwan Argentina Croatia Hungary Lebanon Philippines Thailand Australia Czech Republic Iceland Lithuania Poland Tibet Austria Denmark India Mali Portugal Tunisia Bahamas Dominican Iraq Mexico Puerto Rico Turkey Belarus Republic Ireland Morocco Russia Uganda Belgium England Israel Netherlands Saudi Arabia Ukraine Brazil Ecuador Italy New Zealand Scotland United Arab British Columbia Finland Ivory Coast Newfoundland & Slovenia Emirates Bulgaria France Jamaica Labrador South Africa Uruguay Canada Germany Japan Nicaragua South Korea Uzbekistan Chile Greece Jordan Niger Spain Venezuela China Haiti Kenya Norway Sweden

The following word cloud represents countries whose residents are most frequently attracted to Knox County by members of the consortium.

Attracting tourists is important work; the potential for Knox County to reap great economic returns is tremendous and growing. In fact, Tennessee is the fastest growing state for international travel, with international travelers spending four times as much as domestic travelers (Travel & Leisure Magazine, Apr 25, 2017). The consortium’s attractions are well-practiced at welcoming visitors into Knox County where they can experience a broad array of interesting and diverse activities 365 days of the year.

The Consortium Has a Positive Impact on Local Economic Development, Including Job Creation and Opportunities for Other Local Businesses

The consortium employs hundreds of people full-time, contributing more than $12 million per year in wages to the area. The consortium also supports thousands of households through its periodic employment of contract workers. In all, the consortium is a $30 million plus annual industry unto itself. Consortium attractions pay their employees, purchase supplies, contract for services, and acquire assets from within Knox County. Their audiences generate event-related spending for local merchants such as restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and parking garages. In fact, Knox County’s arts and culture attractions were responsible for more than $64 million in ancillary spending by their audiences during 2018!

How did they do it? Here is a breakdown of where the consortium’s audiences spend money every time they attend an art and culture event in Knox County:

Residents Nonresidents Souvenirs/Snacks/Gifts $12.91 per event $24.09 per event Meals Before/After Event $16.36 $30.60 Clothing & Accessories $1.47 $3.11 Ground Transport $2.46 $7.55 Event Related Child Care $0.59 $0.48 Overnight Lodging $1.37 $30.02 Other $0.14 Total Per Person Spending $35.16 $95.99

Members of the consortium also purchase goods and services directly from local vendors. The Arts & Culture Alliance has tracked the expenditures of the consortium since 2013. In FY 2018 alone, consortium members wrote checks totaling more than $25.4 million to Knox County vendors.

The Knox County Tourism Consortium needs Knox County Hotel Motel Tax funding to maximize its ability to attract visitors and generate tourism. As nonprofits, every member of the consortium is bound by law to render services to the community at prices the public can afford. It may cost more than $100 per person to produce a play, symphony, or opera. However, nonprofit arts and culture organizations are obligated to serve the public, which is why consortium members offer $5, $25, and $30 tickets for their events. Museums in Knox County offer admission either for free or for less than $5 per person.

The consortium needs Knox County to help fill the gap. At a $90 to $1 return on investment, the consortium truly earns it. More important, without the support of Knox County, the consortium would be severely handicapped and unable to fulfil the expectations of visitors and tourists. In short time, the unhappy consequences would become obvious as Hotel Motel Tax collections shrank and the local economy depressed. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The following Knox County Guide for the Cultural Tourist includes five sample itineraries, one for each season of the year and an additional late summer itinerary. The second section of the guide contains details about each attraction within the consortium, including, for FY 2018: the value of the jobs they create within Knox County, the number of their out-of-town audiences, the economic impact of their operations on Knox County, and the sales tax generated by each attraction.

Welcome, traveler, to exciting and adventurous Knox County, Tennessee!

Inside this Guide to Arts and Culture, you will find five ideal itineraries for making the most of your visit to Knox County at any season of the year. These itineraries highlight some of Knox County’s finest attractions!

Winter Wonderland Itinerary January 2019 Rise and Shine! Watch the sun come up from Mabry-Hazen and imagine that you’re a Union or Rebel soldier in 1864! Then, grab some hearty grub at Rankin’s on Central Avenue.

Peruse Art Galleries Come to 100 S. downtown to see the best of local Latino art at HoLa Hora Latina’s gallery AND view the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Commemorative Commission’s Gallery of Art. Then, head over to the Knoxville Museum of Art for their dazzling glass display. While you’re there, visit the gift shop for a one-of-a-kind memento of the morning. The Blue Plate Special! Order a sandwich to go from Steamboat Sandwiches in Happy Holler and take it with you to the Knoxville Visitors Center where you can enjoy free live music at the WDVX studios while you eat. Walk Down Memory Lane! Further down on Gay Street, stop into the East Tennessee History Center to “listen” to the Voices of the Land exhibit or search for stories of your own ancestors. Later that afternoon, take a short walk to Hill Avenue and visit James White’s Fort where a genuine blacksmith might be working the forge. Closing It Down! We’re back on Gay Street where you can eat a scrumptious meal at Bistro at the Bijou just before the curtain rises for the Historic Bijou Theatre’s presentation of the celebrated Steep Canyon Rangers!

Knoxville has a live, free concert nearly every day year-round – that’s impressive! – The New York Times: A $50 Day in Knoxville, Tennessee Dogwood Time in Tennessee Itinerary April 2019 A Healthy Start Start your beautiful spring day at the Plaid Apron in Sequoyah Hills before heading out to Marble Springs on John Sevier Highway for a walk to the crystal clear springs on this historic property.

Where It All Began After your walk at Marble Springs, head into downtown for a tour of Blount Mansion, dubbed by the Cherokee as “The House with Many Eyes”. Flowers abound in the heritage gardens which overlook the Tennessee River.

A Taste of Italy As you step outside Blount Mansion’s Visitor Center, turn right onto Gay Street and follow your nose to the Knoxville Opera’s Rossini Festival where 800 dancers, singers, and musicians perform. Be careful not to get caught in a stage combat demonstration. Italian ice and, of course, wine flow freely as you wander among the artisan booths shopping for souvenirs of your trip! Time for Dinner and a Show Enjoy an al fresco dinner in Market Square at the Tomato Head before heading back for a night at the opera at the magnificent Tennessee Theatre!

Knoxville has an array of fun, educational, cultural and musical festivals throughout the year from an Italian Street Fair to Civil War reenactments. – TripAdvisor Active Summer Fun Itinerary June 2019 It’s Great to be Alive! Greet the day with a brisk walk around the historic fields of Ramsey House in South Knoxville where you might catch a game of vintage baseball underway!

Fun for the Fittest! Fortify yourself with breakfast at Pete’s downtown before heading to Ijams Nature Center for a late morning paddleboard adventure on Mead’s Quarry!

Where Art Thou? Call ahead to Vic and Bill’s on Broadway before a free matinee showing of Tennessee Stage Company’s Shakespeare on the Square. After the show, shop Market Square’s many boutiques for treasures to take home from your trip!

Grab Your Partner! Have you ever square danced to a live band? You will tonight when you visit the Jubilee Community Arts at the Laurel Theatre on Laurel Avenue to listen and swing to The Hellgrammites!

Between the arts and entertainment offerings, dining and shopping, and outdoor pursuits, one could easily spend a week or more [in Knoxville]. – Western North Carolina Magazine: Knoxville Rising September Song Itinerary September 2019

It’s a Breeze! With a cup of coffee from Java on Central Avenue in your hand, you’re ready to tour Dogwood Arts’ Outdoor Art Exhibition which will take you all around downtown and culminate in Krutch Park.

Music and Magic! At noon, wander into the marbled elegance of the Tennessee Theatre for a free Mighty Musical Monday concert, often featuring one of the only original Wurlitzer Organs still in service.

Family Fun at the Fair! You’re lucky you’re in town during the Fair on Magnolia Avenue. Where else can you see prize winning sheep, chickens, rabbits, and canned beans without having to prepare or care for any of them?

Pop the Cork! Join the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for a champagne toast and a swingin’ Pops concert featuring a range of genres from the Beach Boys to Frankie Valli.

From theme parks and camping to train rides, museums, and other outdoor recreation, Knoxville has plenty of options for travelers. – USA Today: Ten Best Attractions and Things to Do Fall Fun (without football) Itinerary October 2019

Shh, It’s a Secret! They’ll never be able to tell you from a genuine local when you stop into Long’s Drug Store for breakfast! Now that your tank is full, give yourself plenty of time to enjoy a visit to Egypt, China, or the Mayan ruins when you visit the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture in Circle Park Drive. Don’t worry, the life size dinosaur, Monty, just outside the museum doesn’t bite!

Jazz it Up! Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Café 4 in downtown’s Market Square where the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra performs for you while you eat!

Travelin’! You’re really getting around today! Just outside Café 4, the HoLa Hora Festival has begun! Take a tour through the festival visiting booths and displays from Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, and Mexico. The Flamenco Dancers will make you feel young again!

Life is a Stage! Take in a show at the Clarence Brown Theatre on Andy Holt Drive where you can catch either an August Wilson play or a Kander and Ebb musical!

Music and crafts, storytelling and fine art abound in this part of Tennessee and always have. – Design & Build Magazine: How Tennessee Pink Marble Blazed a Beautiful Trail Big Ears Festival Founded in 2009, Big Ears has established itself as one of the most exciting and imaginative cultural gatherings in the world. Over four epic days, Big Ears celebrates Knoxville with 100+ world-class concerts, discussions, workshops, installations, film screenings, surprise collaborations and more. Performances occur in downtown’s most iconic venues, such as the Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre, St. John’s Cathedral, Church Street United Methodist Church and the Knoxville Museum of Art (KMA) and feature the world’s most celebrated jazz, classical, bluegrass, rock and folk musicians. Featured collaborations include fellow consortium members the Knoxville Symphony and Knoxville Jazz orchestras. The Big Ears Festival annually: Creates $867,650 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $1,670,000 Attracts 4,648 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,536,239, contributing $147,864 in sales tax

x Bijou Theatre A beautifully historic downtown landmark at 803 S. Gay Street, the Bijou Theatre is sometimes called the “Gem of the South” and is the third oldest building in Knoxville. Built in 1816, it is known for its unparalleled acoustics and seats over 700 people for its presentations of everything from comedy shows to opera. David Sedaris, Gaelic Storm, Big Ears, Arlo Guthrie, Zappa Plays Zappa, Jeanne Robertson, and the Dirty Guv’nahs have all played the Bijou in the past 12 months. The Bijou Theatre annually: Creates $501,335 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $2,047,633 Attracts 29,273 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,536,239, contributing $234,602 in sales tax Blount Mansion Built in 1792, Blount Mansion is the “Birthplace of Tennessee” and the former home to Governor William Blount, the first and only territorial governor of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio and a signer of the United States Constitution. Visitors can tour the home, kitchen, Gov. Blount’s office, the beautiful Colonial revival gardens and enjoy a beautiful view of the Tennessee River. Located downtown at 200 West Hill Avenue, Blount Mansion is open Tuesday-Friday 9:30 AM – 5 PM and Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM.

Blount Mansion is a National Historic Landmark and recipient of a major Aslan Foundation Grant. Blount Mansion annually: Creates $61,973 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $140,120 Attracts 1,536 out-of-town audiences who spend $166,752, contributing $15,425 in sales tax Clarence Brown Theatre The Clarence Brown Theatre, as East Tennessee’s Premiere Professional Theatre, produces a wide variety of plays and musicals for tourists across three stages at 1714 Andy Holt Drive on the University of Tennessee campus: the 576 seat proscenium Mainstage, the historical theatre-in-the round Carousel Theatre and the more intimate Lab Theatre. Among the Clarence Brown’s eight annual productions are Shakespeare’s classics, commissioned world premieres, family favorites like A Christmas Carol, collaborations with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra such as this year’s production of Candide and current Broadway hits like Peter and the Starcatcher!

The only professional LORT theatre located in Tennessee, CBT has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Roy Cockrum Foundation and the Theatre Development Fund.

The Clarence Brown Theatre annually: Creates $1,572,071 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $2,442,339 Attracts 11,267 out-of-town audiences who spend $769,749, contributing $71,202 in sales tax Dogwood Arts

Year-round, downtown provides the backdrop for Dogwood’s Art In Public Places outdoor exhibit. During April, Dogwood Arts features a vibrant mix of blooming gardens and trails, visual arts and fine crafts, sidewalk chalking and family fun. In May, Dogwood Arts celebrates the culture of our region with their Rhythm N’ Blooms Music Festival that blends a top notch musical experience with the identity and spirit of our East Tennessee roots. In addition to the music festival, the Chalk Walk, the Regional Fine Art Exhibition, and Dogwood Arts Festival on Market Square are some of the Dogwood Arts events that draw visitors from around the country every year. Dogwood Arts annually: Creates $477,102 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $2,024,600 Attracts 76,108 out-of-town audiences who spend $4,782,612, contributing $442,392 in sales tax

East Tennessee Historical Society As one of the most active private historical organizations in the state, the East Tennessee Historical Society specializes in finding creative ways to introduce the public to the fascinating world of history. It presents free lectures, tours, award-winning exhibits, family heritage programs, and genealogy workshops at 601 S. Gay Street that appeal to people of all ages. In addition to its highly acclaimed permanent exhibit “Voices of the Land: The People of “East Tennessee,” in 2018, the History Center presents two changing exhibitions based on Knoxville and East Tennessee topics. The Center is open Monday- Friday 9 AM – 4 PM, Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM and Sunday 1-5 PM.

Recognized by Humanities Tennessee and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the East Tennessee Historical Society has received no fewer than 10 Awards of Excellence of superlative achievement from the Tennessee Association of Museums.

East Tennessee Historical Society annually: Creates $438,084 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $1,063,397 Attracts 32,846 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,656,098, contributing $245,689 in sales tax

HoLa Hora Latina HoLa Hora Latina celebrates Hispanic culture and creates bridges between the rapidly-growing local Hispanic population and the broader community. Some of the many activities that HoLa presents include the annual HoLa Festival in downtown’s Market Square, Day of the Dead programs, monthly art exhibitions, bilingual children's reading at Barnes & Noble, Frutos Latinos Art Contest which kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month, exhibit at the Knoxville Museum of Art, and other cultural events. All events are free.

HoLa Hora has been recognized by Humanities Tennessee and its HoLa Festival has been honored with proclamations from the city, county, and state.

HoLa Hora Latina annually: Creates $8,695 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $65,764 Attracts 3,058 out-of-town audiences who spend $185,310, contributing $17,141 in sales tax

Ijams Nature Center Ijams is a 300-acre wildlife sanctuary and outdoor recreation area in South Knoxville offering free hiking year round and fee-based recreational activities from April-November including paddleboard and kayak rentals on Mead’s Quarry Lake and a Navitat Canopy Adventure course. Ijams also offers a wide variety of programs such as an outdoor Horror Film Festival, Sunday concert series, and mountain biking socials. The grounds and trails are open every day from 8 AM to dusk.

Ijams was recently ranked #4 of 157 Things to Do in Knoxville by TripAdvisor, and USA Today named it one of Knoxville’s Top 3 Attractions. Ijams Nature Center annually: Creates $723,440 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $480,928 Attracts 32,457 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,313,471, contributing $213,996 in sales tax

James White’s Fort The first log cabin within James White’s Fort was built in 1785. Today, visitors to the property can tour the original two-story Main House, the adjoining kitchen, as well as a smokehouse and cabins for weaving and blacksmithing. A guesthouse recreates living conditions for settlers, and on special event days, volunteers use period tools to demonstrate open hearth cooking, hand- spinning and blacksmithing. Considered the birthplace of Knoxville, James White’s Fort is located downtown at 205 Hill Avenue and is open Monday-Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM.

James White’s Fort was the 2014 recipient of the Historic Preservation Award from the Tennessee Society of Sons of the American Revolution. James White’s Fort annually: Creates $50,135 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $81,359 Attracts 4,658 out-of-town audiences who spend $394,014, contributing $36,446 in sales tax

Jubilee Community Arts at the Laurel Theater Jubilee Community Arts annually presents 45 traditional music concerts plus a music festival and hosts 200 community dances all at the Laurel Theater at 1538 Laurel Avenue. Its programming focuses on older musical forms including old-time music, ballads, blues and community dance. Over the years they have featured RB Morris, Wallace Coleman, The Freight Hoppers, and Dikki Du and the Zydeco Crew. Many of its events are broadcast on local radio stations covering all of East Tennessee and parts of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia.

The Laurel Theater is listed as one of only fourteen “Historic Tennessee Stages” by the Tennessee Arts Commission. Jubilee has been recognized by the National Endowment for the

Arts for over 40 years and serves as the institutional host of the Tennessee Folklore Society.

Jubilee Community Arts annually: Creates $120,364 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $155,654 Attracts 39,009 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,964,903, contributing $274,254 in sales tax Knoxville Jazz Orchestra Said by Jazz da Gama to have musicians with the artistry to persuade listeners to follow them anywhere, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra produces dozens of concerts each year, ranging from free events on Market Square during the summer months to ticketed performances at the Tennessee and Bijou Theatres that feature guest artists such as Doc Severinsen and Gregory Porter. The organization also co-produces a series of programs with East Tennessee PBS called Live at Lucille’s. These shows are taped in front of a live studio audience and began airing across the state in 2019. KJO also sponsors two honors bands for students across the region: the Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra for grades 9-12 and the Knoxville Jazz Middle School Band for grades 5-8. Both groups are chosen by audition each Fall, rehearse weekly throughout the school year and perform six to eight concerts each season.

Vibrations.com, Paris, France wrote of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra “This orchestra of Knoxville, Tennessee has transformed its city into a new Jazz Mecca.”

Knoxville Jazz Orchestra annually: Creates $27,362 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $259,724 Attracts 2,519 out-of-town audiences who spend $124,449, contributing $11,512 in sales tax

Knoxville Museum of Art The Knoxville Museum of Art, East Tennessee’s premiere visual arts destination, is always free. Its permanent exhibition Higher Ground: A Century of the Visual Arts in East Tennessee spotlights the visual arts legacy of our region over the past 150 years. Other attractions include Richard Jolley’s Cycle of Life, the world’s largest figural glass installation and the Thorne Miniature Rooms, dioramas built to a scale of one inch to one foot. Their popular Alive After Five series also draws people of all ages and backgrounds to hear quality live jazz and blues music. The museum is located at 1050 World’s Fair Park Drive and is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 1-5 PM.

The Knoxville Museum of Art is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest national recognition for a museum.

Knoxville Museum of Art annually: Creates $1,131,000 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $2,159,900 Attracts 36,105 out-of-town audiences who spend $3,454,623, contributing $319,553 in sales tax

Knoxville Opera Each year, Knoxville Opera presents three major professional opera productions (e.g. Madama Butterfly, Romeo et Juliette, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, The Pirates of Penzance), usually at the Tennessee Theatre, along with 85+ Education/Community programs. These programs are highlighted by in-school opera productions, the annual Knoxville Opera Goes to Church concert (combing gospel, spirituals, opera, and Broadway) and the annual Rossini Festival in . The free- admission Festival, now in its 18th year, features about 1,000 performers on several outdoor stages and is attended by 35,000-75,000 depending on the weather.

Knoxville Opera is the recipient of Opera America’s Bravo! Success Award and has been recognized by the Tennessee Arts Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Aslan Foundation, The Cole Foundation, and the Regal Entertainment Foundation.

Knoxville Opera annually: Creates $984,631 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $1,258,537 Attracts 27,584 out-of-town audiences who spend $1,687,776, contributing $156,119 in sales tax

Knoxville Symphony Orchestra The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the oldest continuously- performing orchestra in the southeast, presents more than 300 performances a year including Masterworks, Pops concerts, the Clayton Holiday Concert and a free Festival on the Fourth in World’s Fair Park. Its Chamber Orchestra performs five concerts of its own at venues as diverse as Ijams Nature Center, Market Square, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, Getty Foundation, and the League of American Orchestras.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra annually: Creates $2,516,455 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $3,975,147 Attracts 36,827 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,063,037, contributing $190,831 in sales tax Mabry-Hazen House The Mabry-Hazen House Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located atop Mabry's Hill. Built in 1858, three generations of the same family resided in the Italianate-style home overlooking downtown Knoxville, the Tennessee River, and Great Smoky Mountains. The museum showcases one of the largest original family collections in America with over 2,000 original artifacts on display. Furnished and decorated in the style of several decades, Mabry-Hazen gives a rare view into 130 years of Knoxville history. Visitors receive guided tours and learn about the origins of Knoxville's iconic Market Square, bitter divisions of the Civil War, the infamous 1882 Gunfight on Gay Street, a mountain city in the New South, a scandalous 1934 breach of promise and seduction trial, and much more through the rich, colorful lives of the Mabry and Hazen families. Bethel Cemetery, just a quick drive down the hill from the house, is the final resting place of more than 1,600 Confederate soldiers. Mabry Hazen is located at 1711 Dandridge Avenue and is open Monday-Friday 11 AM – 5 PM and Saturday 10 AM – 3 PM. Tours typically start at the top of each hour.

Mabry-Hazen House annually: Creates $35,990 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $93,510 Attracts 1,967 out-of-town audiences who spend $192,873, contributing $17,841 in sales tax

Marble Springs State Historic Site Marble Springs is the last home and farm of John Sevier, Tennessee' s first governor, elected in 1796. Sevier served six terms as Tennessee governor in Knoxville, the state's first capital city. Named for its numerous springs and the Tennessee "pink marble" quarried nearby, the site features a period tavern, kitchen, cabin, loom house, and spring house that help interpret the area's pioneer history. Visitors can enjoy touring the historic structures, hiking on its beautiful nature trails, and picnicking under the site's pavilion. Marble Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a certified wildlife habitat, and has served as a significant educational resource for thousands of area school children for more than 50 years. The site is open to the public Wednesday-Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 12- 5 PM, March through December.

Marble Springs is the recipient of an Award of Excellence and Commendation from the Tennessee Association of Museums. Marble Springs annually: Creates $59,626 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $85,076 Attracts 829 out-of-town audiences who spend $48,939, contributing $4,527 in sales tax Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission Every January, the MLK Commission presents ten free events designed to reaffirm the American ideals of freedom, justice, and peace. The opening event is a Gallery of Arts Tribute held on the First Friday in January. In the following weeks, the Commission sponsors an interfaith prayer service, leadership luncheon, forum, and business and youth symposium. Perhaps the most visible of the Commission’s events are the Memorial March Parade offering a visual and audible salute to the ideals of Dr. King and the Night of the Arts/Symphony Orchestra Tribute.

The MLK Commission annually: Creates $11,477 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $90,426 Attracts 1,500 out-of-town audiences who spend $106,500, contributing $9,851 in sales tax

McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture The McClung Museum contains collections and exhibits in anthropology, archaeology, geology, natural history, and decorative arts. Among the museum’s permanent exhibits are: Archaeology and the Native Peoples of Tennessee; Ancient Egypt; Decorative Arts from Around the World; Geology and the Fossil ; and The Civil War in Knoxville. Each year, the museum hosts special temporary exhibitions that highlight outstanding collections from around the world. Located within Circle Park Drive on the University of Tennessee campus, the McClung is free and open Monday-Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM and Sunday 1-5 PM.

The McClung Museum is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a consistent recipient of Excellence Awards from the Tennessee Association of Museums. In addition the museum is a currently listed as #9 of 170 things to do in Knoxville on TripAdvisor and was recently voted the 2018 Knox Stars “best museum in Knoxville.”

The McClung Museum annually: Creates $1,200,362 in jobs, pays local vendors and businesses $1,647,089 Attracts 26,788 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,372,412, contributing $219,448 in sales tax

Ramsey House Known as the “Finest Home in Tennessee,” Historic Ramsey House was built in 1797 for Col. Francis Alexander Ramsey, one of the founding fathers of the State of Tennessee and Blount College, which became the University of Tennessee. Ramsey House is a Georgian-style pink marble and blue limestone home filled with period antiques sitting on 100+ acres of park-like property. Ramsey House is located at 2614 Thorngrove Pike and is open Wednesday-Saturday 10 AM – 3 PM.

Ramsey House is a member of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities.

Ramsey House annually: Creates $43,224 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $85,304 Attracts 2,781 out-of-town audiences who spend $249,675, contributing $23,095 in sales tax

Historic Tennessee Theatre The magnificent Tennessee Theatre first opened its doors as a movie palace on October 1, 1928 and was hailed as “the South’s most beautiful theatre.” Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and honored as the Official State Theatre of Tennessee, today's Tennessee Theatre has something for everyone: classical music, vintage films, dance, Broadway, and stellar performances by today's hottest musicians and yesterday's stars. This nonprofit aims to preserve the historic and decorative interiors of the theater while making sure it is available for everyone to enjoy. The Theatre offers a variety of free programs throughout the year, a favorite of which is Mighty Musical Monday, featuring the Wurlitzer organ and various local performing groups. Senior citizens from around Knox County and beyond arrive by the busload.

The Tennessee Theatre has been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and consistently ranks in the Pollstar Top 200 Theatre Venues based on worldwide ticket sales.

The Tennessee Theatre annually: Creates $977,782 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $5,113,006 Attracts 100,537 out-of-town audiences who spend $7,385,391, contributing $683,149 in sales tax

Tennessee Stage Company The Tennessee Stage Company is best known for its summer Shakespeare in the Square festival, which includes 22 free performances outdoors in Market Square. Tennessee Stage also produces a yearly New Play Festival from January through March in various venues and libraries downtown.

Tennessee Stage Company annually: Creates $34,688 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $65,993 Attracts 3,390 out-of-town audiences who spend $186,450, contributing $17,247 in sales tax

Tennessee Valley Fair

Celebrating 100 years in 2019 at historic Chilhowee Park, the Tennessee Valley Fair is the only nonprofit organization celebrating and promoting East Tennessee’s agricultural heritage. The Tennessee Valley Fair showcases traditions of the region’s past and emphasizes the ingenuity of Tennesseans through their agricultural, artistic, trade, and industry products. The Tennessee Valley Fair hosts more than 3,200 competitions showcasing local talents of all ages with over $50,000 going towards youth competitions and scholarships every year. The concert series has featured some of the biggest stars across all genres such as Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, Lauren Daigle, Boyz II Men, En Vogue, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Kansas and many more.

Tennessee Valley Fair annually: Creates $451,915 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $1,163,301 Attracts 38,400 out-of-town audiences who spend $2,112,000, contributing $195,360 in sales tax WDVX

East Tennessee's own WDVX is East Tennessee's cultural ambassador to the world. Programming originates from our studios in downtown Knoxville with special features like the live at noon "WDVX Blue Plate Special" that airs Monday through Friday at noon featuring live performances with a live audience. WDVX plays a wide variety of Americana and grassroots music with an emphasis on local and regional music.

WDVX has been featured on ABC World News Tonight, The News Hour on PBS, BBC Radio, CBC Radio, CMT, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Boston Globe, Oxford American, No Depression and more.

WDVX annually: Creates $369,324 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $401,403 Attracts 14,303 out-of-town audiences who spend $1,599,255, contributing $147,928 in sales tax

Westwood / Knox Heritage Opened in 1890, Historic Westwood was built for Adelia Armstrong Lutz, recognized by many as Tennessee's first professional female painter and great-granddaughter of Robert Armstrong III, one of Knoxville's founding fathers. Designed by the notable Baumann Brothers architecture firm, Historic Westwood is an excellent example of Queen Anne style with Richardsonian Romanesque influences. The home features an art gallery of Adelia Lutz's work on loan from the McClung Collection. Located west of downtown at 3425 Kingston Pike, Historic Westwood is open for tours by trained docents Monday-Thursday from 10 AM until 4 PM.

Westwood is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the recipient of a major Aslan Foundation Grant. Westwood annually: Creates $484,696 in jobs Pays local vendors and businesses $33,517 Attracts 1,628 out-of-town audiences PROGRAM EVALUATION

The consortium generates data to be coalesced for Knox County reporting quarterly, not only because it is required by the Defined Services Contract, but because of an East Tennessee trait that the arts and culture industry reflects: The consortium is in constant competition with itself and others. As a result, the consortium weaves evaluation processes into all aspects of its planning and programming. Some programs have been eliminated altogether when technology or other changes have made them obsolete. The consortium has found that building evaluation into the foundations of its programs is most effective, as follows: 1) in June, each member of the consortium establishes a quarterly base line of attendance figures broken down by Knox County residents, East Tennessee residents, and those from beyond East Tennessee; 2) each quarter, the consortium will measure its actual attendance figures against its projections; 3) at the end of each quarter, the consortium reports the attendance figures to Knox County, both by individual consortium member and in the aggregate; 4) as the fiscal year closes, consortium members note external and internal factors that may have impacted attendance. The consortium is always anxious to know how it is doing in comparison to years past, and it is equally keen to know how it (and its members) are performing compared to other cities; and 5) audience participants are also surveyed (usually immediately and in person) to obtain feedback the consortium then uses for future planning.

It is notable that some consortium members, especially those that do not charge admission, quantify their audiences in alternate ways. For example, Ijams Nature Center, which offers free walking tours and outdoor activities enjoyed independently by each visitor, actually counts the number of cars in its parking lot, logging the out-of-town and out-of-region license plates. WDVX positions a volunteer at its entrance door to request zip codes from visitors when they attend a live performance.

The consortium uses the data to gauge their own attendance against that of similar organizations.

The consortium’s reporting measures the anticipated economic impact of arts and culture activities against the actual economic impact realized by the county as a result of those activities. The consortium quantifies its direct impact by reporting on the actual payroll and production expenses of each member as taken verbatim from the organization’s checkbook. This data makes it possible for the consortium to calculate the economic impact of its activities and events on local vendors and businesses.

Success indicators utilized by the consortium calculate the economic benefits that Knox County realizes when tourists, initially attracted to the consortium’s activities, eat at local restaurants, shop at nearby stores, fill their gas tanks at area service stations, and stay in Knox County hotels.

Another of the consortium’s success indicators quantifies the value of the corporate, foundation, individual, state, and federal dollars that the Knox County contract helped leverage. It takes $30 million to produce the consortium’s diverse array of events and activities. The Knox County contract represents less than two percent of that amount. The value of the county’s contract to the consortium is far greater than its actual dollar amount because the county’s imprimatur and support give the attractions the institutional capacity to solicit and attract the remaining 98.35% of their revenues.

Taken together, reporting by the consortium allows the county to quantify the direct and indirect results of its contract.

The final goal included in the consortium’s evaluation guarantees that each member credits the county’s support in its promotional materials so citizens are aware that their county is working hard to boost tourism.

The following pages include a sample quarterly report form from Ijams Nature Center (annotated for this RFI response) and a sample quarterly report form that the Consortium submitted to Knox County in FY 2018. The Consortium measures impact on tourism via visitation numbers as part of its evaluation plan.

The Consortium measures local economic development in terms of creating jobs and providing opportunities for local vendors as part of its evaluation plan. Knox County Tourism, Arts, and Culture Report Form 4th Quarter FY 2018

Instructions: This form must be completed by an authorized official or project director. The original form should be signed and submitted by mail or scanned and submitted as an email attachment. Please answer each question briefly, summarizing the results of your project or programs. Please be as specific as possible. Attach additional pages if necessary.

Date: June 15, 2018 Agency: The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville Address: P.O. Box 2506, Knoxville, TN 37901 Contact: Liza Zenni, Executive Director Phone: 865-523-7543 Email: [email protected]

Award Amount: $375,000

Total Number of Individuals Benefiting:

1) List the actual attendance figures for your funded project for the past quarter. If the grant award was for operating expenses, list total attendance during the quarter.

During the fourth quarter of FY 2018, total attendance at the consortium’s museums, historic homes, theatres, concerts, festivals, outdoor cultural sites, and radio station was 485,050.

2) Did your project or organization attract the expected audience and attendance figures? Why or why not?

The total attendance anticipated by members of the consortium was predicted to be 468,648 which means that the consortium as a whole met more than 100% of their attendance goals for the quarter.

3) For FY 2018, the Knox County grant funds for your organization were part of the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund. Please describe the impact your program/organization has had on economic development this quarter, particularly relating to the creation and retention of jobs, both directly and indirectly through vendors and contracts.

All told, members of the consortium contributed more than $5,911,682.82 to the local economy through DIRECT expenses in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year. That does not include any multipliers or related economic impact realized by local restaurants, hotels, parking garages, gas stations, or sales tax collections.

4) For FY 2018, the Knox County grant funds for your organization were part of the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund. Please describe the impact your program had on tourism this quarter. Particular emphasis should be placed on the number of individuals attending programs from outside of Knox County and the financial impact this brought.

The consortium estimated that it would attract approximately 168,483 visitors from outside the county during the fourth quarter of FY 2018. After tracking its out-of-town visitation, the consortium is able to verify that, in fact, it attracted and entertained 176,172 people from outside Knox County during that time period. Estimated impact on the local economy by visitors outside the 15 county region is $135/day for lodging, food, parking, gas, and gifts. That means that the consortium helped other Knox County businesses realize more than $7,870,230 in revenue from visitors outside the region as a result of their activities, not counting sales tax collections. The economic impact of those visitors outside Knox County but within the 15 county region is $39/day. That means that the consortium helped other Knox County businesses realize $4,597,086 in revenue from regional visitors attracted to Knox County by arts and culture activities during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year.

5) Were Knox County’s funds used to leverage private, state, or federal dollars? If so, please describe.

The consortium was able to leverage $6,541,566.18 in additional income during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year from corporations, foundations, individuals, state, federal, admissions, and in-kind services as a result of Knox County’s support.

6) Please describe your advocacy and promotion efforts for Knoxville/Knox County. Please show where/how Knox County was given credit for its funding in promotional materials.

Promotional samples will be submitted via post.

Consortium Members FY 2018 ALLOCATIONS 4th Quarter Knox 4th Quarter Estimate Knox 4th Quarter Actual Regional 4th Quarter Estimate Regional 4th Quarter Actual 4th Beyond Quarter Estimate 4th Beyond Quarter Actual TOTAL4th Quarter Expenses4th Quarter Cash Income4th Quarter In-Kind4th Quarter Request Bijou Theatre $20,000.00 5,000 7,016 2,000 3,024 1,500 2,056 12,096 $399,542.80 $317,419.48 $414.00 $0.00 Blount Mansion $15,000.00 250 365 60 31 200 421 817 $28,698.43 $7,858.20 $0.00 $0.00 Clarence Brown Theatre $20,844.66 4,100 3,655 1,550 1,196 475 679 5,530 $846,542.00 $630,236.99 $0.00 $0.00 Dogwood Arts $17,019.42 132,000 140,000 52,000 50,000 14,500 13,900 203,900 $1,287,918.74 $207,918.33 $895,532.40 $0.00 East Tennessee Historical Society $22,000.00 2,500 2,570 2,500 2,412 2,500 2,356 7,338 $196,322.57 $125,104.03 $10,197.50 $5,500.00 Governor John Sevier at Marble Spgs $15,000.00 2,300 1,600 600 45 80 83 1,728 $21,922.37 $46,746.39 $0.00 $5,215.77 Hazen House Historical Museum $15,000.00 500 490 250 250 250 300 1,040 $17,020.38 $15,844.00 $809.00 $0.00 Historic Tennessee Theater Fund $15,000.00 29,900 29,595 13,600 14,801 7,100 8,696 53,092 $21,922.37 $2,420,474.00 $500.00 $0.00 HoLa Hora Latina $9,500.00 1,500 1,553 100 87 100 106 1,746 $4,978.55 $23,547.96 $0.00 Ijams Nature Center $11,444.66 38,751 39,321 7,809 7,793 3,284 4,057 51,171 $187,098.00 $179,485.00 $0.00 $0.00 James White's Fort $15,000.00 2,000 1,761 700 719 700 636 3,116 $19,738.67 $20,406.00 $397.87 $0.00 Jubilee Community Arts at the Laurel $10,186.21 6,900 6,945 5,800 5,761 3,800 3,724 16,430 $42,090.00 $15,112.00 $7,500.00 $0.00 Knoxville Jazz Orchestra $9,500.00 1,984 1,256 689 436 82 53 1,745 $53,103.48 $36,778.00 $0.00 $0.00 Knoxville Museum of Art $31,200.00 9,375 9,171 3,937 3,852 5,438 5,320 18,343 $688,000.00 $415,000.00 $200,000.00 $0.00 Knoxville Opera $31,200.00 42,550 42,968 16,160 17,332 2,150 6,092 66,392 $535,138.00 $479,821.00 $184,229.00 $0.00 Knoxville Symphony Orchestra $31,200.00 9,000 9,562 4,000 4,913 800 1,571 16,046 $744,291.00 $1,050,707.00 $0.00 $0.00 MLK Jr. Commerative Commission $10,000.00 ------$0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 McClung Museum $21,844.66 3,800 3,604 2,900 2,613 3,200 2,793 9,010 $475,581.00 $371,163.00 $0.00 $0.00 Ramsey House $15,000.00 2,316 2,447 1,245 1,271 1,267 1,385 5,103 $61,106.96 $44,356.76 $0.00 $0.00 Tennessee Stage Company $9,400.00 700 650 200 125 100 75 850 $15,533.50 $5,490.00 $0.00 $0.00 Tennessee Valley Fair $11,000.00 ------$122,086.00 $92,250.00 $0.00 $0.00 WDVX $18,660.39 4,739 4,379 2,240 1,213 2,617 3,995 9,587 $143,048.00 $59,396.00 $36,690.00 $9,238.80 $375,000.00 300,165 308,908 118,340 117,874 50,143 58,298 485,080 $5,911,682.82 $6,541,566.18 $1,359,817.73 $19,954.57 COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The Consortium Collaborates with Other Community Resources

The consortium works hard to support Visit Knoxville (the local Convention and Visitor Bureau), sharing its calendar information, images, and text to complement Visit Knoxville’s efforts to attract visitors to the region and purchasing ads in its publications and mobile apps. The consortium’s WDVX is located within the Visitors Center where it may attract visitors, and consortium events are included in Visit Knoxville’s weekly eblasts and online calendar. More than fourteen pages in Visit Knoxville’s 2019 Visitor and Relocation Guide are devoted to arts and culture attractions along with twelve ads paid for by the consortium’s attractions, which help support the printing of the publication.

The consortium partners with literally hundreds of other local businesses from which each side appreciated more than $1.7 million worth of in-kind trades and services in FY 2018 alone.

The Consortium Attracts a Diverse Group of Other Funding Sources

The corporate and foundation communities recognize the contributions that arts and culture attractions make to the community’s financial well-being. They understand the role the consortium plays in attracting jobs to the region, supplementing the educational services of the school system, enhancing the quality of life in Knox County, invigorating older adults, creating positive outlets for at-risk youth, and, of course, generating the economic boon that accompanies the tourism created by the consortium. Their support contributes to the consortium’s sustainability and lessens the burden on taxpayers.

More than 300 local corporations donate $2.4 million dollars annually to support the non-profit attractions making up the consortium.

In addition, more than 50 foundations contribute a total of $1.7 million, prioritizing their support of the work of the consortium.

A Small Sample of Corporate and Foundation Supporters of the Knox County Tourism Consortium July 1, 2017—June 30, 2018

ABBREVIATED LIST OF FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING THE CONSORTIUM: AHB Foundation First Tennessee Foundation LAMP Foundation Aslan Foundation Frank and Virginia Rogers Foundation MacLean Foundation Clayton Family Foundation Haslam Family Foundation Melrose Foundation East Tennessee Foundation Niswonger Foundation

ABBREVIATED LIST OF CORPORATIONS SUPPORTING THE CONSORTIUM: @home audio-video Aubrey’s Bob’s Package Store 42nd Street Bandit Lites Brogan Financial Akima Club Bass, Berry & Sims Budweiser All Convention & Expo Services BB&T Wealth Management Bush’s All Occasion Catering Bennett Cade’s Cove Good Fixin’s All Occasions Party Rentals Beverage Control, Inc. Campbell Station Wine and Spirits Altar’d State Big Wheel Cazzy’s Grill Amica Insurance Bistro by the Tracks Cherokee Distributing Company Aside Project Studio Blackberry Farm—The Beall Family Choice DATA Atlantic Capital Bank Bluejack Concrete Surfaces Cigna Clayton Homes, Inc. Joseph Construction Company Rogers Group Clayton Volvo Jupiter Entertainment ROQUE Events—Raquel Bickford Coldwell Banker Wallace & Wallace Keurig Green Mountain Oranges Realtors Knoxville Airport Authority Rotary Club of Knoxville Coleman's Printing Knoxville Beverage Company Schaad Companies Compass International Resources, Inc. Knoxville Chapter of the Links, Inc. Schmid and Rhodes Construction Co. Connor Concepts Knoxville Garden Club Shafer Insurance Agency D & V Distributing Company Knoxville Graphic House Skyview Entertainment/DIRECTTV Dalen Products Kroger SmartBank Denark Construction K-Town Bonding Company Stephenson Realty and Auction East Tennessee Portables LAMAR Outdoor Advertising Stokely Special Arts Endowment Elm Hill Law's Interiors Stowers Machinery Corporation Emerson Automation Solutions Lexus of Knoxville SunTrust Bank & Foundation Emerson Process Management Little Debbie SVS Empire Distributing of Tennessee Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue Swaggerty’s Farm English Mountain Loch & Key Productions Tennessee Lottery Farm Bureau McCarty, Holsaple, McCarty Architects Tennessee National Guard Fast Frame Mendenhall Designs Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Finch Photo Mercedes Benz of Knoxville Texas Instruments Foundation First Citizens Bank Merchant & Gould Texture Photo First Tennessee Messer Construction Co. The Trust Company of Tennessee FirstBank Misty’s Pet Depot Thermal Label Warehouse Food City Monaco Toffee Friedman's Appliances O. P. Jenkins Furniture & Design Town & Country Market & Deli G & G Interiors ORNL Federal Credit Union Triple C Distributing Gilliam, Montgomery Group of UBS Parkview Retirement Communities True Grip & Lighting Great Clips Pediatric Consultants Turkey Creek Land Partners Harper Auto Group Pellissippi State Community College Twin City Dealerships Hickory Construction Pepsi Tyler Brothers Farm Equipment, Inc. Hillcrest Healthcare Communities Petree’s Florist U.S. Cellular Home Choice Windows & Doors, LLC Pharma Packaging Solutions UBS Financial Services of Knoxville Home Federal Bank Philippine Connection US Foods Homestead Inc. Pilot Flying J UT Campus Chest IMS (Investors Management Services) Pinnacle Financial Partners UT Federal Credit Union Jerry’s Artarama Prestige Cleaners, Inc Visit Knoxville JFG Special Coffee Prism Pool & Backyard Wampler’s Jim Cogdill Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Publix Super Markets Charities William Andrews Architects Jimmy’s Concessions Regal Entertainment Group Willis Towers Watson of TN, Inc. Jonathan Miller Architects Regions Bank

Thousands of individuals appreciate the contributions of the consortium enough to make cash donations. In fact, more than 465 unique leaders in Greater Knoxville serve on the boards of the consortium, proof (if any were needed) that the work of the consortium is highly valued as a force in the local economic landscape. Fifty of those trustees serve on two consortium boards and four actually serve on three consortium boards.

Peter Acly Joan Ashe Elizabeth Batchelor Sam Albritton Chip Bailey Cliff Beach Ron Alexander Stephen Bailey Kreis Beall Adam Alfrey Whitfield Bailey Walt Bearden Kari Alldredge Robert Baird Jan Bechtel Brad Anders Jenny Ball Jerrold Becker Cheryl Andrews Kim Ballard Ann Bennett Dr. Anthony Hodges Jenny Banner Julia Bentley William Arant Jennifer Barnett Harrell Patt Bernard Ezzell David Arning Doug Bataille Carla Bewley Henry Bird Terra Clotfelter-Gomez Yvette Fragile Harold Black Bill Cobble Sam French Lynda Blankenship Connor Coffey Lynne Fugate Kevin Bogle Trey Coleman Bobby Fulcher Jennifer Bolt Annie Colquitt Vincent Fusco Eric Botts David Colquitt Jane Gamble Chedester Beth Bowman F. Michael Combs Victor Garza Jenny Boyd Bo Connor Molly Gilbert Thomas Boyd Coby Cooper Rosemary Gilliam Tamara Boyer Caitlin Corbitt Tim Glazner Patricia Brake Christian Corts Dick Goldstine Charlie Brakebill Steve Cotham Rebecca Gomez Larry Brakebill Michele Cox Kathryn Good Kurt Brandt John Craig Gibson Gordon Jane Brannon Monica Crane James Gorney Michelle Brewer Betsey Creekmore Frank Gray Steven Brewington Barbara Crist Lynn Greene Judy Brietstein Joan Cronan Virginia Greene Tom Broadhead Tim Cross Nina Gregg Jim Brogan Allison Crye Duane Grieve Scott Brown Staci Dagahardt Marsha Grieve Shanna Browning Carson Dailey Madeline Griffey Bettte Bryan Jackie Daugherty Richard Grover Chip Bryant AJ Dave Elaina Gutierrez Gordon Bryant Joe De Fiore Mark Hahn Jim Buckenmyer Denise Dean Bryan Hair Kim Bumpas Steve Dean Frances Hall Don Burggraf Cindi DeBusk Ramon Halloun John Burkhart Robin Dehart Kathy Hamilton Melissa Burleson Kim Denton Doug Hammock Randy Burleson Roberts Dewy Katie Hannah Russell Byrd Orlando Diaz Rusty Harmon Chris Cannon Ann Dingus Jacob Harper Andre Canty Jim Dodson Jasmine Harper Ellen Capito Erin Donovan Tatia Harris Howard Capito Chris Doody Hunter Harrison Ashley Capps LeAnne Dougherty Kitsy Hartley Rick Carl Natalie Dowling Nazzy Hashemian Alan Carmichael Steve Drevik Natalie L. Haslam Scott Carpenter Phyllis Driver Will Haslam Lisa Carroll Mabrey Duff Cindy Hassil Dino Cartwright Jennifer Dunn Jacque Hawks Stuart Cassel Maureen Dunn McBride David Haynes Robert Chadwell Charleene Edwards Christine Hayworth Markus Chady Jeff Elliott June Heller Wilene Chalmers Sheryl Ely Mary Henderson Willene Chalmers Joe Emert Jan Henley Chris Chandler Marian Epps Kim Henry Melissa Charles Jason Eskridge Kimberly Henry Jeff Cheek Mel Evans Irene Hernandez Pamela Chips Dean Farmer Michael Higdon Ramsey Choen Susan Farris Christopher Hill Brooks Clark Roberto Fernandez‐Romero Hallerin Hilton Hill Maria Clark Joe Fielden Jenny Hines Peter Claussen Ruth Fielden John Hinkle Jackie Clay Dubose Nigel Fields Jennifer Holder James Clayton Jeremy Floyd, Jill Hollingsworth Jim Clayton Richard Fox Patrick Hollis Jeannie Hoover Sharon Lord Margie Nichols Jennifer Horn Mary Lou Teague Phylis Nichols Don Hough Mark Love Karen Nidiffer Marv House Jan Loveday Dickens David Nix Julie Howard Chalie Lutz Robert Nobles Maria Hristov Charlie Lutz John North Diane Humphreys-Barlow Beauvais Lyons Elizabeth Offringa Joshalyn Hundley Teresa Mabry Townes Osborn Ralph Hutchison Justin Maierhofer Fanita Overstreet Susan Hyde Adrienne Malcom Sherri Parker Lee Richard Ince Mark Mamantov Paul Parris Lee Ingram Brooke Maner Becky Paylor Lyle Irish Mike Mangione Katharine Pearson Criss Melinda James Karen Mann William Pender Paul James Eddie Mannis Karen Peterman Richard Jansen Rosa Mar John Peters Gail Jarvis Gordon Mark Cramolini Sylvia Peters Adrian Jay Chad Martin Sara Phillips Tanisha Jenkins David Martin Bill Pittman Courtney Jernigan Heather Martin Brian Pittman Preston Johnson James Martin Mary Pom Claiborne Tonja Johnson Angela Masini Ken Porter Annie Jones Kevin Matherly Eddy Pratt Carlos Jones Emily Mathis Stephanie Quist Deborah Jones Chris McAdoo Maxwell Ramsey Dylan Jones Jay McBride Whitney Ray-Dawson Robert Jones John McBride Sherry Rayson Raja Jubran Sheena McCall Melanie Reid Beckye Justice Thomas Rachel McClelland David Reynolds Tammy Kaousias Douglas McDaniel Susan Richardson Williams Kim Kearney Daniel McGehee Todd Richesin Paul Kedrow Deborah McMillan Lee Riedinger Mike Keller Summer McMillan William Riley Penny Kemp Ben McMurry Ronald Rimer Martha Kern Eden McNabb Bishop Roger Roark Jonathan Kerr Eric McNew Ellen Robinson Renee Kesler Mandee McNew Jessica Rodocker Renee Kessler Katherine McPhaul Stephanie Romer Chris Kinney Jerome Melson Tim Romero Robert Kirk Dawn Michelle Foster Frank Rosamond Chris Kittrell Allen Miller Carroll Ross Ken Knight David Miller John Rosson Allen Koch Sharon Miller Pryse Frank Rothermel Elizabeth Koester David Mink Ed Rottmann Sharon Laing Tina Minnick William Rukeyser Eric Lattimore Janice Mitchell Tommie Rush Jon Lawler Amy Morris Hess Lauren Sampson Amy Lawless Rose Moseley Herbert Sanger Vickie Lawson Meredith Mousa Steedman Sarbah Edwin Lay Cynthia Moxley Finbarr Saunders Allison Lederer Tracy Mulder Scott Schimmel Robert Lederer Charles Naftalin Debby Schriver Courtney Lee Alvin Nance Suzanne Schriver Jeffrey Lee Bonny Naugher Gerald Schroedl Ron Lee Jeremy Nelson George Schweitzer Kay Leibowitz Jordana Nelson Evelyn Sevilla Joseph Leo Collins Kim Nelson Arthur Seymour Farris Long Jonathan Newberry Susan Sgarlat Linda Shahinian Jeffrey Taylor Jim Wansley Ryan Shaw Matt Teglas Twuanna Ward Tom Shaw Bob Thomas Alexander Waters Julia Shiflett Brent Thompson Russ Watkins Ed Shouse Joe Thompson III John Weaver Gerald Shroedl John Thurman Robert Wertz John Sibley Rosalyn Tillman Mariane Whittemore Tyvi Small Chad Tindell Jeff Wilke Chris Smith Pedro Tomas Herb Williams Fred Smith Alice Torbett Jack Williams Jared Smith Bo Townsend Kristin Williams Steve Smith Lance Tracy Susan Williams Margaret Sood Paige Travis Tim Williams Caesar Stair Steve Trigg Wilhelmina Williams Dorothy Stair John Trotter Jim Willis Marshall Stair Mollie Turner Angie Wilson Richard Stair Peggy Turner Tammy Wilson L. Caesar Stair IV Robin Turner John Winemiller Jeanette Stevens Terry Turner Anthony Wise Rick Stone Tonia Turner Brenda Wood Theresa Stone Jeannie Ullrich Melanie Wood Lamarr Stout Loida Velazquez Karen Wooten Kay Stoutt Georgiana Vines Taylor Wortham Latisha Stubblefield Greg Vital Wendy Wortham Joseph Sullivan III Steve Wachter Tom Wright Sandi Swilley Charles Wagner Eleanor Yoakum Jack Talmadge George Wallace Martha Yoakum Connie Taylor Lacy Wallace Pat Young

The City of Knoxville so appreciates the consortium’s contributions to the quality of life that it has allocated Community Agency Grants totaling more than $383,000 to the consortium. Additionally, the State of Tennessee invests more than $300,000 in the consortium, every penny of which is matched by other income sources, doubling the overall positive impact. Finally, the National Endowment for the Arts recognizes the consortium for its contributions to the cultural life of the nation by chipping in $65,000 of support to the consortium as well.

As important, the consortium earns for itself $11 million through ticket sales, which in addition to income from souvenirs, rentals, and service fees, places the consortium in the enviable position of having to fundraise for less than 50% of its operations. That earned/contributed income ratio means the consortium is into the norm of nonprofits across the nation. The excellent work of the consortium attracts support from many corners, minimizing its reliance on taxpayers.

The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville FY 2020 - 2022 Budgets 2018 2019 2020-2022 REVENUES Actuals Budget Budget Emporium Tenants 99,251.13 101,000.00 101,000.00 Rental Fees 86,352.00 80,000.00 80,000.00 Annex 5,845.75 6,000.00 6,000.00 COK Grant 45,000.00 48,000.00 48,000.00 State Grant 21,250.00 29,080.00 29,080.00 ABC Grant Income 53,580.00 53,580.00 53,580.00 Art & Heritage Fund Income 475,000.00 475,000.00 600,000.00 Corporate Donations 8,775.57 8,500.00 8,500.00 Foundation Support 1,500.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 Individual Artist Membership 23,769.00 20,000.00 20,000.00 Organizational Membership 12,360.00 11,000.00 11,000.00 Patron Membership 5,600.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 Reimbursements/Pass Throughs 1,437.81 - - Workshop and Juried Show Fees 8,725.99 8,500.00 8,500.00 Art Sales 15,866.96 10,000.00 10,000.00 Publicity/Media Guide Sales 591.11 550.00 550.00 Interest Income 5.16 5.00 5.00 Food/Beer Sales 1,880.09 1,800.00 1,800.00 In-Kind 205,000.00 205,000.00 245,753.00 TOTAL INCOME 1,071,790.57 1,064,015.00 1,229,768.00

2018 2019 2020-2022 EXPENSES Actuals Budget Budgets Credit Card Charges 2,933.71 3,000.00 3,000.00 Marketing/Advertising 1,240.13 1,000.00 1,000.00 Equipment Rentals 570.00 600.00 600.00 Publicity 372.67 700.00 700.00 Juried Art Awards 3,150.00 6,150.00 6,150.00 Bank Service Charges 61.00 100.00 100.00 Building Maintenance & Repair 27,747.45 1,500.00 1,500.00 Pest Control 480.00 500.00 500.00 Building Supplies 2,891.20 3,000.00 3,000.00 Janitorial 8,351.00 8,600.00 8,600.00 Utilities 35,645.00 37,000.00 37,000.00 Office Machine Maintenance 800.00 800.00 800.00 Dues & Subscriptions 3,640.75 4,000.00 4,000.00 Hospitality - General 1,547.39 2,500.00 2,500.00 Hospitality - First Friday 4,288.42 4,320.00 4,320.00 Hospitality - Annual Meeting 566.72 600.00 600.00 Arts & Heritage Fund Grant Awards 475,000.00 475,000.00 600,000.00 ABC Grants Awarded 45,543.00 45,543.00 45,543.00 Office Supplies 1,458.43 1,600.00 1,600.00 Permits/Fees 1,702.61 2,000.00 2,000.00 Postage 163.94 250.00 250.00 Printing 669.94 650.00 650.00 Artwork Sales 12,086.51 8,000.00 8,000.00 Depreciation 300.00 300.00 300.00 Security 8,623.06 9,000.00 9,000.00 Audit Fees 6,819.00 6,900.00 6,900.00 Temporary Help 1,913.85 2,000.00 2,000.00 Other Awards and Artistic Fees 4,972.50 2,564.36 2,564.36 Staff Salaries 190,609.23 191,701.52 191,701.52 Payroll Taxes 14,031.63 15,336.12 15,336.12 Phone 1,944.93 2,200.00 2,200.00 Travel 1,024.86 2,000.00 2,000.00 Set Aside for 2024 15,000.00 15,000.00 Insurance 4,600.00 4,600.00 4,600.00 In-Kind 205,000.00 205,000.00 245,753.00 TOTAL EXPENSES 1,070,748.93 1,064,015.00 1,229,768.00

NET INCOME/LOSS 1,041.64 (0.00) (0.00) BUDGET/ACCOUNTABILITY

Knox County Tourism Consortium Budget

EXPENSES Organization Program Expense Administrative Total Big Ears 1,107,544.46 101,849.00 1,209,393.46 Bijou Theatre 1,577,012.00 150,957.00 1,727,969.00 Blount Mansion 99,567.00 76,949.00 176,516.00 Clarence Brown Theatre 2,185,827.00 261,750.00 2,447,577.00 Dogwood Arts 784,196.00 463,309.00 1,247,505.00 East Tenn Historical Soc 292,940.28 924,965.65 1,217,905.93 HoLa Hora Latina 78,048.00 15,466.00 93,514.00 Ijams Nature Center 777,163.00 369,401.00 1,146,564.00 James Whites Fort 45,470.00 36,836.00 82,306.00 Jubilee Comm Arts 115,630.98 23,248.02 138,879.00 Knox Heritage 525,688.00 130,092.00 655,780.00 Knoxville Jazz Orchestra 183,717.00 22,691.00 206,408.00 Knoxville Museum of Art 1,780,167.00 714,301.00 2,494,468.00 Knoxville Opera 1,207,879.00 357,011.00 1,564,890.00 Knoxville Symphony 3,294,040.00 647,041.00 3,941,081.00 Mabry Hazen 118,708.00 23,437.00 142,145.00 Marble Springs 89,555.00 - 89,555.00 MLK, Jr. Comm. Comm. 12,097.00 12,097.00 McClung Museum 1,236,829.00 719,002.00 1,955,831.00 Ramsey House 104,000.68 20,440.00 124,440.68 Tenn Stage 63,507.00 7,444.00 70,951.00 Tenn Theatre 5,989,592.00 537,720.00 6,527,312.00 Tenn Valley Fair 1,478,730.00 286,888.00 1,765,618.00 WDVX 442,416.00 165,637.00 608,053.00 TOTAL EXPENSES 23,590,324.40 6,056,434.67 29,646,759.07

REVENUES Organization Earned Contributed Knox County Total Big Ears 835,750.00 458,700.00 30,000.00 1,294,450.00 Bijou Theatre 1,689,483.00 169,101.00 24,000.00 1,858,584.00 Blount Mansion 55,500.00 113,601.00 18,500.00 169,101.00 Clarence Brown Theatre 775,500.00 1,695,307.00 25,013.59 2,470,807.00 Dogwood Arts 352,400.00 969,050.00 20,923.30 1,321,450.00 East Tenn Historical Soc 295,683.86 984,329.67 26,400.00 1,280,013.53 HoLa Hora Latina 63,589.00 28,150.00 11,900.00 91,739.00 Ijams Nature Center 522,461.00 700,742.00 14,233.59 1,223,203.00 James Whites Fort 25,990.00 56,766.00 18,500.00 82,756.00 Jubilee Comm Arts 49,990.00 89,541.00 12,723.45 139,531.00 Knox Heritage 211,859.00 367,765.00 12,000.00 579,624.00 Knoxville Jazz Orchestra 113,555.00 117,001.00 11,900.00 230,556.00 Knoxville Museum of Art 642,583.00 1,667,876.00 37,440.00 2,310,459.00 Knoxville Opera 701,285.00 1,089,719.00 37,440.00 1,791,004.00 Knoxville Symphony 1,704,064.00 2,243,526.00 37,440.00 3,947,590.00 Mabry Hazen 52,998.00 49,045.00 18,500.00 102,043.00 Marble Springs 18,726.00 66,458.00 18,500.00 85,184.00 MLK, Jr. Comm. Comm. - (5,903.00) 12,500.00 (5,903.00) McClung Museum 32,346.00 1,923,487.00 26,213.59 1,955,833.00 Ramsey House 25,743.64 101,999.36 18,500.00 127,743.00 Tenn Stage 43,090.00 19,207.00 11,780.00 62,297.00 Tenn Theatre 6,554,249.00 399,584.00 19,000.00 6,953,833.00 Tenn Valley Fair 1,547,016.00 39,202.00 13,700.00 1,586,218.00 WDVX 53,562.00 551,716.00 22,892.48 605,278.00 TOTAL REVENUES 16,367,423.50 13,895,970.03 500,000.00 30,263,393.53

Consortium Efficiency Percentage 80%

Percent of Consortium Income coming from Knox County 1.65% Budget Narrative As the budget on the previous page demonstrates, the consortium’s efficiency percentage is accurate and reasonable. The consortium’s efficiency (detailed in Budget page) is 80%. The consortium administrator (the Arts & Culture Alliance) enjoys an even better efficiency percentage of 88%.

Given the $30 million operations of the consortium, proof of the efficacy of the county’s highly successful investment in it, and the unmatched efficiency of having one defined services contract for 24 organizations, the amount of funding requested for the upcoming year is reasonable and justifiable.

The salaries of the administrator’s top two officials are reasonable considering the Arts & Culture Alliance’s (ACA) mission and revenue versus expenditures. The Alliance is itself nearly a $1 million operation, yet it employs only two regular employees with a combined tenure of 31 years between them. It is important also to note that ACA handles all of the management and reporting of the consortium contract at NO COST to the county or to the consortium. Exactly 100% of Knox County contract funds go directly to the consortium members allowing them pay for and promote their visitor-geared events and activities.

There are other evidences of the consortium’s innate efficiencies. For instance, the consortium allows the county to contract with, communicate with, and monitor one agency (the Arts & Culture Alliance) instead of having to spend the time, supplies, and manpower administering 24 individual contracts. It also makes the reporting more efficient and, more important, more meaningful since the county can easily track the overall impact of its tourism investment.

The county may rest assured that there is a high level of accountability in the administration of the contract as consortium members are paid on a reimbursement basis only.

Contract Awards Rationale ACA uses three criteria to determine the contract amount for each attraction. First, an attraction gets credit for the number of visitors it can accommodate. In that case, the Tennessee Valley Fair, which accommodated more than 150,000 over ten days last fall, scores well.

The second criteria pertains to the amount of time the attraction is available to be enjoyed by the general public. Using the second criteria, a gallery or museum would score well because they are open and attract visitors arriving in town nearly any day, time, or season of the year.

The third criteria is whether or not an attraction fills a particular or unusual niche. Visitors want to see things that are new to them; experiences that may add to the overall diversity of the tourism experience are highly valued under these criteria. HoLa Hora Latina’s HoLa Festival is a good example of programming that adds diversity to the overall tourism offerings in Knox County.

When considering the consortium’s preparedness for unexpected shortfalls, it should be noted that during the past five years’ worth of contracts with Knox County, the consortium has consistently produced high quality events on schedule and within budget. Also important: as a group, members of the consortium have consistently exceeded their attendance projections.

These factors DO NOT suggest that the attractions within the consortium do not need Knox County support. The quarterly reports that the consortium has filed over the past five years demonstrate, in quantitative data, that during the years in which their contract amounts with Knox County have increased, the visitor attendance of the attractions has likewise increased, sometimes dramatically. For instance, between FY 2013 and FY 2014, when operating contracts increased $80,000, visitor attendance at the attractions showed a resulting increase of an incredible 25%. The converse was also proven to be true: between FY 2016 and FY 2018, years in which the contract amounts remained flat, visitor attendance to the attractions in the consortium increased a mere four percent.

The consortium also wisely utilizes the more than 75 unique partner organizations that offer them nearly $2 million of in-kind support.

The Consortium is a Cost-Effective Investment for the County

Knox County appreciated the following return on investment through its FY 2018 contract with the consortium:

Every dollar the county invested in the consortium in FY 2018 returned: $32.80 in the value of contributions to Knox County jobs $67.73 in income to local vendors and businesses $8.36 in sales tax collections

RFI SUMMARY

The Tourism Consortium – History and Background

For the past five and a half years, from FY 2013 to FY 2019, the Arts & Culture Alliance has led a tourism consortium that currently includes 24 attractions which together produce 4,000 visitor-focused activities and events every day of the year between July 1 and June 30. As a result, the Knox County Tourism Consortium has returned hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefit to Knox County residents (through jobs and contracts) and local businesses (through direct purchases by the consortium members and indirectly through the purchases of their visitors), contributed to the growth in Hotel Motel Taxes, and swelled county sales tax collections.

The consortium demonstrates it can provide the programs and services effectively because it proves, year after year, it HAS provided those programs and services – efficiently and effectively.

The organizational chart on the next page demonstrates the reporting structure for the Consortium’s contract with the county. Knox County Purchasing | | Arts & Culture Alliance | |

WDVX Bijou Theatre Big Ears Festival Blount Mansion Dogwood Arts Knoxville Opera Marble Springs Ramsey House HoLa Hora Latina James White's Fort McClung MuseumTennessee Theatre Ijams Nature Center Knoxville MabrySymphony Hazen House Tennessee Valley Fair Clarence Brown Theatre Jubilee CommunityKnoxvilleKnoxville Jazz Arts Orchestra Museum of Art Tennessee Stage Company Westwood/Knox Heritage East Tennessee Historical Society MLK Jr. Commemorative Commission