socodigest.com / Vol. 2 No. 2 - February 27, 2024 / 40
Arts & Entertainment CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS BOOST TALENT ATTRACTION by the CU LT U R A L O F F ICE O F T H E PI K E S PE A K R EG I O N STA F F
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n this era of growth for the Pikes Peak region, attracting and retaining top talent is a hot topic for both businesses and economic leaders. Quality of life contributors are magnetic for job seekers and companies; a vibrant cultural scene helps drive high quality of life. The Pikes Peak region’s rich arts, culture and entertainment options are important for attracting tourists, keeping residents and turning talented tourists into talented residents! “Tourism industry leader Maura Gast said it best — when you build a place people want to visit, you build a place people want to live, work — and where business has to be,” says Alexea Veneracion, director of communications at VisitCOS. “Today’s visitor can easily become tomorrow’s talent.” Cultural events and venues hold a special place in the hearts of the talent already here, according to Arts and Economic Prosperity 6, a recent study of the region’s creative nonprofits. Of the more than 800 audience members surveyed: • 79% said that “this venue or facility is an important pillar for me within my community.” • 87% said “this activity or venue is inspiring a sense of pride in this neighborhood or community.” Regional leaders like VisitCOS and the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC are working alongside us at the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region to leverage the connective
Surface Gallery’s February 2024 exhibition, “Five.” The group show is made up of contemporary works by five Colorado artists. From left to right: Jes Moran, Tara KelleyCruz, Valerie Lloyd, Becca Day, and Diane Reeves. power of the arts. The Chamber’s Connect Colorado Springs program sells the region to potential and/ or new-to-market job candidates, including concierge tours focused on local arts and culture. VisitCOS helps us champion the region as a cultural destination in a variety of ways, including promoting the region’s centerpiece arts and entertainment website run by the Cultural Office, PeakRadar.com. In 2023, PeakRadar.com received 2,892 event listings from 557 different venues — and 15,939 clicks of “Buy Tickets” links on event listings — illustrating the direct economic impact of the site. Our user survey found that 82% attended an event they otherwise would not have, and 77% discovered a new event or organization, because of Peak Radar. These partners are working
together because the arts make communities authentic, memorable and attractive. The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (a.k.a. COPPeR) is the nonprofit local arts agency that serves the City of Colorado Springs and the greater Pikes Peak region (El Paso and Teller Counties).
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about the work of the Cultural Office at:
CULTURALOFFICE.ORG