The Cowles Center IMPACT
The Largest Dance Nonprofit in the Midwest
The Cowles Center is a dance and performing arts hub that promotes movement and growth for artists through supportive programs and spaces; engages audiences through dynamic performances; and educates learners of all ages through robust and inclusive initiatives.
Located in the heart of Minneapolis’ theater district, The Cowles Center is nationally recognized for cultivating a flourishing community of dance artists, dance learners and dance lovers. Here, one can experience everything from beginner workshops to professional classes and world-class performances. You can also find our work throughout Minnesota delivering educational and community engagement programs in K-12 schools, colleges, senior living facilities, and more.
From providing well-being and enrichment through education programs, to compensating professional performing and teaching artists for their time, and providing extremely subsidized, competitive creative and office space in our building, The Cowles Center provides significant impact to the Minnesota creative and educational ecosystems.
Impact by the NUMBERS
120,000+
6,000+
students served through Arts in Education programs annually
25,000 annual visitors including audience, professional dancers, teachers, students, parents, and independent artists
dance lovers in our audience
900
50%
30,000 performers showcased on our stages annually of organizations in our performance series are BIPOC-led or heavily serving performance postcards and benefit invitations mailed directly to households
11,000 137,000
22,000
50 social media followers website visitors email subscribers receiving weekly newsletters emails sent per year
Gotta Dance! SERIES
Our benefit series presents six vibrant fundraising celebrations that provide a platform to promote to our donors and fellow corporate partners.
That’s a one-year lifetime value of a promotion vs three to four months for a typical one-time philanthropic event, including six times the impressions from printed invites to digital marketing initiatives. Attendees will enjoy exclusive access and special activities designed to enhance their dance-loving experience.
Corporate Partnerships
The Cowles Center partners with leaders, change-makers, and artists to support Minnesota’s creative community and learners of all ages. Corporations who sponsor The Cowles Center align their brands with a first-rate organization that embodies innovation, collaboration, and industry-leading DEIA efforts. Our partners contribute to the vibrant arts community in which we all live, work, learn and play.
Gotta Dance! 2023-24
Backstage Pass
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Event: 6:00 pm
A rare opportunity to be immersed on the Goodale Stage. Celebrate the start of our 202324 season with a behind-the-scenes tour, tasty bites, and a champagne toast. The event also features dynamic performances by student learners served by our education programs and a compliment of seasoned professionals. At just sixty minutes, this event allows plenty of time afterward to find a dining or entertainment experience in our evolving downtown.
Crash Dance Party
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Show: 7:30 pm
After-party immediately follows
Dance the night away on stage with aweinspiring contemporary dance company, Crash Dance Productions. A live DJ, desserts, and drinks highlight this oneof-a-kind performance afterparty.
Drag Social
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Reception: 12:30 pm
Show: 2:00 pm
Make Fall fabulous at this pre-show reception with drag performers, mimosas, and brunch bites. Stay after the social for the Fall Forward Festival performance featuring incredible Haitian, jazz, and tap dance.
Corporate Partner Holiday Bash
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Reception: 6:00 pm
Show: 7:30 pm
Get into the holiday spirit and take a break from December stress with the tap dance, variety show spectacular, Who Brought The Humbug? Family, friends, and clients will love the funkiest show in town along with fun appetizers and drinks before the performance. Corporate partners enjoy complimentary tickets to this special event
Brunch with BRKFST Dance Company
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Reception: 12:30 pm
Show: 2:00 pm
Connect and chat with hip-hop company, BRKFST Dance Company and their collaborators. Enjoy brunchy bites, bloodygood drinks, and networking before the performance. Co-presented with Northrop.
That’s a Wrap, Under Wraps!
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Event: 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
A speakeasy-themed power-lunch and Jazz celebration! Event Exclusive: See the reveal of our 2024-25 season before it is announced to the public on May 14 and toast the end of our 2023-23 season.
Sponsorship LEVELS and BENEFITS
ONE SOLD
Complimentary tickets to Corporate Partner Holiday Bash or another event and performance from the Benefit Series.
20% off tickets during the 2023-24 performance season.
Logo recognition on The Cowles Center’s website and Year-in-Review.
Recognition on digital displays in our lobby spaces and onsite event signage.
Pledge by May 1st for full inclusion!
Logo recognition on Benefit Series materials including save-the-dates, invitation, programs, website, and social media.
Recognition in the Cowles Center’s “Thank you, Sponsor!” video shared at events, on our website, and digital platforms
Special one-time advertising opportunity in multi-channel digital marketing during 23-24 season
One additional digital advertising opportunity during the 2023-24 season or provide a takeaway item at a series event.
Opportunity to be a ‘featured partner’ for one event in the series
Sponsorship OPPORTUNITIES
In-kind and food and beverage sponsorships are also available. For more information, please contact April Houston, Individual Gifts Manager
ahouston@thecowlescenter.org
Thank you for your consideration.
Snapshot of Corporate Partners
Ameriprise, AVM Construction, Best Buy, BMO Wealth Management, Cedar Lake Winery, Crawford Merz Construction, Dorsey & Whitney, Eide Bailly, EY, Faegre, Great Clips, Greenberg Traurig, KPMG, LHB Architects, Maslon, McGough Construction, Miller Dunwiddie Architecture, Navigate Forward, Nuveen, RR Donnelle, Taft, U.S. Bank, Xcel Energy
Media Coverage
Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Minnesota Monthly, Minneapolis
St. Paul Magazine, Lavender Magazine, MinnPost, Dance Magazine, FOX 9, Minnesota Public Radio, Art Hounds, Dispatch, Racket MN, Southside Pride