IN THE KNOW by Awa PEOPLE THINK of the West as mining and agriculture, of cowboys and pioneers. They don’t often think of the arts. The first settlers in Steamboat Springs, the Crawford family, arrived in 1875 with an organ and paints transported from Missouri. Think about the weight and space an organ would take—but it was important enough to the family to make sure it came with them. In the 1950s Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp, located in Strawberry Park, hosted a symposium for the arts to open a dialogue around the importance of the arts for rural communities. Educators, teachers and creators showed up to learn and share what was working in their communities. The State of Colorado started paying attention to the importance of the arts in 1967 when the Council on the Arts began investing public and federal funds to help the arts take hold state-wide. In Steamboat Springs, the Steamboat Springs Arts Council formed in 1968 and found a permanent home in the Depot Art Center in 1972. Today, the Colorado Office of Economic Development has shift-
ed focus from arts councils to creative districts. The Creative District designation is given to communities that complete a rigorous application process that shows the city and community members are all working together toward a thriving arts and culture scene. Steamboat Springs received its Creative District designation in 2019 and was recertified last year. According to the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), a creative district “contributes to our state’s economy through creativity, culture and the arts. The program’s goal is to increase jobs, incomes and investments in creative places.” The latest iteration of how creativity is spurring the economy is through creative spaces such as performing arts centers, visual arts centers, music venues and more. Nationally, the arts make up an $878 billion industry that supports 5.1 million jobs, which equates to 4.5% of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)—more than agriculture, transportation and tourism, according to Americans for the Arts and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In October
The New West
Art with Altitude
Photos courtesy of AwA
Winter 2023
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2023, Red Rocks Amphitheater conducted an economic impact study that showed the venue generates more than $700 million annually for Denver and Colorado and is responsible for 7,300 full- and part-time jobs. Those jobs encompass everything from concessions vendors and ticket takers to the cleaners. When people think of the creative economy, they typically think only of ticket sales. Creative endeavors get people spending money on meals before the shows, snacks and beverages during performances, as well as hotels, retail and parking. Ripple effects of the arts economy are vast. Some locales are using the arts to transform their communities. The City of Silverthorne, Colorado, decided to differentiate its mountain town by investing in a performing arts center. The city contributed $6 million toward the $9 million construction of the center. The city maintains the exterior and has budgeted a line item for programming each year. Since Theatre SilCo was built, the town has changed. Across the street, a food court popped up, then housing. Then the Hotel Indigo opened up, situated directly across the street from the theatre. What was once a drive-through town, or a stop at the outlet malls, has become a community for people to engage in the arts; a destination where travelers spend a night or two taking in the arts and the outdoors. These changes are happening in rural communities across Colorado. There are now more than 50 performing arts venues in the state. Steamboat Springs is home to a vibrant arts scene. Strings Music Pavilion is bringing in nationally renowned musical acts. But there is a gap. There is no home for local performing arts groups to grow, or spaces for opera, dance or theatre on a national level to come here and perform. Will Steamboat Springs catch up to the rest of Colorado with a performing arts center of their own? Stay tuned. ELEVATE THE ARTS: Visit UndiscoveredEarth.org to learn the latest on infrastructure developments for creatives. AwA
Proud Supporter of the ARTS
James A. Cook
Commercial/Investment Real Estate Business Sales/Acquisitions/Valuations Innovative Leasing Strategies Development Consulting Raconteur - Bon Vivant Arts Advocate Maquette by Sandy Graves, inspired by She Walks on Water by Susan Schiesser P.O. Box 774882 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477 970.846.1746 jim@commercial-businessrealtor.com
Art with Altitude