Opera-Oriented is a term we use to indicate Artists whose work is related to the creation and performance of Opera or other Classical Vocal Works, such as Art Song, Chamber Music, or Oratorio. When we say Artists, we aim to include Vocalists, Pianists, Directors, Conductors, Coaches, etc. Any local Artist is able to submit a Project Proposal as long as their Proposal includes Classical Singing or some variation of the style.

All financial contributors to OOPS are Patrons. Project Sponsors are the individuals whose funds go directly to a Sponsored Project. By definition, a Sponsor is a Patron.

One of the most influential art collectors, Peggy Guggenheim, kept an entire generation of artists, their artworks, and their artistic movements alive by buying and showcasing her collection in galleries and museums across Europe and America. In the introduction to Confessions of an Art Addict, Barr writes, “The Collection is Peggy Guggenheim’s most durable achievement as an art patron, but it is quite possibly not her most important. I have used the threadbare and somewhat pompous word ‘patron’ with some misgivings. Yet it is precise. For a patron is not simply a collector who gathers works of art for his own pleasure, or a philanthropist who helps artists, or founds a public museum, but a person who feels responsibility towards both art and the artist together and has the means and will act upon this feeling.” Source: Barr Jr, Alfred H. Introduction. “Confessions of an Art Addict,” by Peggy Guggenheim. Hopewell: The Ecco Press, 1997, p. 11.

Identity - Musical arts contribute to the unique identity of a community. Supporting local Artists strengthens the identity and sense of pride in Minnesota and its communities. Access to the Arts - All OOPS sponsored performances are free and accessible to any who wish to attend. Community Engagement/Education - Each Artists-led Project will include a component to engage or educate a local community. Examples include educational videos, performances in economically disadvantaged schools, nursing homes, or rehabilitation facilities, Q&A with classrooms, public performances at Libraries, etc. Diversity - OOPS believes that diverse voices are an essential part of a healthy Arts community. The Diversity Council advises the Board of Directors, Patrons, and Artists on how they can serve under-served and under-represented communities and lift up diverse voices through Classical Singing. Examples include recruitment of Artists of Color for Project Sponsorship, encouraging Artists to create Projects outside of the typical Western (White Male) Canon, and creating access to Classical Vocal Arts in under-served communities through performances and direct engagement

Culture of innovation and creativity - OOPS provides a community that encourages and supports personal artistic perspectives and allows Artists to create according to their own vision, to ask tough questions, and to commit to a deeper understanding of themselves, their art, and Opera. Collective leadership - We believe in the value of working with others and achieving together what may not be possible alone, learning from the insights and leadership of others, and sharing openly so that others may be able to learn from us. Diversity - We believe that the arts are enriched when we embrace diversity, inclusion, and equity. People of Color make up 20% of the Minnesota population. According to census data, from 2010-2018, the population growth for POC was 5x higher than it was for non-Hispanic white residents. The fastest growing racial group in MN was the Black population, which grew by 36%. It was followed by the Asian population at 32% and the Latin(x) population at 24%. The growing diversity in MN must be reflected in a growing commitment to the promotion of diversity within the arts. The OOPS Diversity Advisory Committee is a group selected to represent the voices of non-white artists in Minnesota and help to guide the board and Patrons in selecting artists and projects that will amplify diverse voices and fill a need for diversity that is often overlooked in the arts. Asking for help - Asking for help may be difficult, but it makes us stronger as Artists, as individuals, and as a community. By asking for help, we admit that we have taken on a task that is outside of our comfort zone and is forcing us to grow and learn and change in order to accomplish it. By asking for help, we gain valuable outside perspective and insight. By asking for help, we are asking others to become invested in our work and its success. By asking for help, we build up those around us by telling them that we trust in their ideas, opinions, and advice. Integrity - We are committed to acting honestly and with integrity in all of our transactions and dealings, following through on our commitments, operating with transparency and straightforwardness of conduct, and being responsible and accountable for all of our actions. Learning from mistakes/hardships: We will make mistakes and face stumbling blocks along the way - we will make adjustments, and we will learn. We believe in facing challenges with humility, taking responsibility for the outcome, and embracing our mistakes and stumbling blocks as powerful tools for growth and learning.