tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515867638516076497.post7143932281502659197..comments2023-10-25T04:41:58.838-07:00Comments on COPPeR: Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region: Austin Trip: Part IIIUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515867638516076497.post-64962899721906765242009-06-05T11:36:35.356-07:002009-06-05T11:36:35.356-07:00Point well taken Bettina-- It's true that I do...Point well taken Bettina-- It's true that I don't get around as much as I used to and I tend to be at classical music and dance concerts when I do... so I probably am not seeing the shift. That's good news - although I am mostly advocating for the installing of appreciation, involvement and attendance of more "fine art" forms. It is an wonderful arts community we have and remains largely unknown-- here at home and throughout Colorado (hence the lack of interest generated by the CS Phil's amazing Mahler 9 last weekend and the Opera Theatre's stunnig production of Street Scene this past March) We just need it all-- great marketing, enhanced infrastructure and new ways to turn observers into advocates.<br /><br />Thanks to PeakRadar, the marketing has already turned a corner.dsckolnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01958271326352301671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515867638516076497.post-560071271206308812009-06-05T10:42:30.324-07:002009-06-05T10:42:30.324-07:00David, in many ways I agree with your assessment. ...David, in many ways I agree with your assessment. However, I disagree very much that we see the same faces at every event. That may have been true five years ago (and may still be true within some disciplines) but if you venture out tonight for First Friday or stop by one of the dozens of the free outdoor concerts this summer, you will see a plethora of unfamiliar faces. I believe that in this time of economic uncertainty, people are re-evaluating the ways in which they spend their time and the activities they enjoy with their families. Arts experiences provide more meaning and connect people to their community. There is a hunger for the arts. No, we are not Austin, but we have a vital arts community. It is a strength that has been ignored by civic leaders for too long, but we are finally beginning to have an impact.Bettinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02142215182861137973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515867638516076497.post-25826410931584237492009-06-05T09:52:38.740-07:002009-06-05T09:52:38.740-07:00It sounds like Bettina and company had a truly ins...It sounds like Bettina and company had a truly inspiring visit to a smartly evolved community. While I agree that a thriving infrastructure is a powerful tool to support the visual and performing arts and that we are sorely lacking on this front, time, context and circumstance have made this, in my opinion, a secondary concern.<br /><br />The year: 2009—interest in the living arts has been largely superseded by the “home technological womb” – choices for time and money spent have “mutated” in the past decade. Trying to convince the uninitiated that it is worth it for them to leave their homes for a dance, theatre, music performance or art opening is a ridiculously tough undertaking—regardless of how much media or net covererage put out there. <br /><br />The place: Colorado Springs—a city I’ve always described as at least 5 different towns that happen to be under one roof. There is a lack of a critical mass of an existing art going public as we who do leave our homes have found out—we see the same faces at almost every event. A tough job—people didn’t come here (we are populated by probably 80% imports) for the arts- perhaps they came for a job, the nature or to raise their family. Hence- the truly huge job we must undertake…<br /><br />A solution? No, it’s not new buildings or support mechanisms or educational beachheads… We have to work with the hand we have been dealt. That means we have to turn our community-complacent potential audience into arts lovers and appreciators… the arts have to go to them. They have to have an undeniably potent and entertaining experience that speaks to them where they are at—not where we would like them to be. That means funding to put the arts on the road to malls, parks, schools, community centers, etc. and most importantly—beautifully written presentations that make it easy for the tubed-out generation to really get it—perhaps for the first time in their lives—to experience the glory of the living arts… something we know to be a far greater payoff than anything they could catch on network television, online or by being tied to a control unit.<br /><br />In the final analysis – it’s about good ol’ supply and demand. We have a fine and ready supply of arts—we just have to create a demand for our product. That has to happen inside people’s hearts and minds. We are not Austin… we don’t have the same kind of population and most importantly, we missed our chance to build this in our city before the onslaught of such seductive and enjoyable toys for the home.dsckolnikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01958271326352301671noreply@blogger.com