Ever wondered what the Colorado Springs arts scene is like? Well, get ready to immerse yourself into a flurry of vibrant visuals, prose and poetry compositions, snazzy music, and theatrical performances this month in celebration of Arts Month here in Colorado Springs.
Arts Month is a celebration of the creative arts produced by talented innovators living in the Pikes Peak region. As stated on the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region’s (COPPeR) website, the Colorado Springs program started in 2014 and took root in the 1993 establishment of the National Arts and Humanities Month. This national program was initiated to “encourage Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong habit of participation in the arts and humanities.” Twenty years later, it has become the nation’s largest communal celebration of the arts.
After a single year, Arts Month has already established an integrative bond between the creative humanities and the Colorado Springs community. According to a recent COPPeR study, the nonprofit art industry and its audience produce a $72 million impact on the Pikes Peak region alone and provide 2,168 jobs every year.
“A vibrant arts and cultural sector is essential to local economic vitality and to quality of life for residents and visitors,” Andy Vick, the executive director of COPPeR said.
This month, the October Arts Month exhibits will be split into four separate weeks based upon their artistic themes. Theatre and film productions will be exhibited throughout the first week, the visual arts during the second week, music and dance during the third week, and poetry, prose, and comedy during the fourth and final week.
Films such as “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat” will be shown at various performing arts centers in Colorado Springs during the first week of the month. In addition, film documentaries produced by students across Colorado Springs will be presented at the Cornerstone Arts Center at CC.
The second week will include workshops on various art medias such as canvas painting and photography in venues across the Pikes Peak region and will also host art exhibits from famous artists like Floyd D. Tunson.
To bring out the melodic sounds of art, the third week will encompass musical performances by artists and acapella groups such as Johnny Craig and St. Mary’s Cathedral Classics. Moreover, the third week will also anchor lively dance parties to music from funky R&B and Reggae groups like the Phat Horn Doctors.
Finally, to conclude the month with compassion and light-hearted humor, the fourth week will be comprised of performances from comedy groups such as the Lezberados and spoken poetry from William Logan, a poet who will be reading his work at CC’s Visiting Writer’s Series on Oct. 8.
During the first week, Colorado College will take its first steps to integrate its students into the artistic celebration and will be screening six film documentaries titled “Adult YDA Bootcamp” in the Edith Kinney Gaylord Cornerstone Arts Center on October 6. The film portrays six documentaries produced by six students who participated in a Documentary Production Bootcamp hosted by the Bemis School of Art and the Youth Documentary Academy in Colorado Springs. In accordance with its attempt to connect its students to the Colorado Springs community, CC will be presenting the documentary series on campus to bring the community and the scholars together through the meaningful art culture that defines Colorado Springs’ October Arts Month.
For more information, visit http://www.coppercolo.org to see how you can join in the artistic celebration.