* All Past Highlights *
Just in Case You Missed It
The Art of Social Justice
To help kick off Arts Month 2020, and acknowledge the elevated awareness and importance around topics of racial equity and social justice, the Cultural Office was pleased to collaborate with the Colorado Springs Black Business Network to present a virtual community conversation entitled The Art of Social Justice. This powerful, eye-opening session was moderated by Rodney Gullatte, Jr., and featured an impressive panel of local artists.
Community Conversations
Arts Month 2020 hosted a new series of eight virtual Community Conversations (two during each of the four theme weeks in October) on a wide variety of topics, curated by local artists and arts leaders. Watch all eight below! Note: Any opinions or ideas expressed during the conversations are not necessarily those of Arts Month 2020.
Pikes Peak Litter Letter Project
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, the Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, Fountain Creek Watershed Flood Control & Greenway District, Creek Week, and the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region joined forces once again to orchestrate the 3rd annual Pikes Peak Litter Letter Project. Each year, our local Litter Letter Project produces a unique piece of sculptural art that is constructed with trash collected from public lands and waterways during Creek Week. This year’s sculpture, entitled RESILIENT, will remain on display through the end of October.
CONO Neighborhood Art Project
CONO has partnered with Arts Month 2020 to offer a $500 stipend to neighbors who come up with the best art project for their neighborhood. The team at CONO will select the winning project. The winning neighborhood will use the funds to purchase supplies, permits, etc. to complete the proposed project at some point in October, during Arts Month.
Arts Month Trivia
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, the October trivia league will have a segment dedicated to the arts, with a special focus on each of the four Arts Month theme weeks! Each week, there will be door prizes, and any registered trivia team is eligible to win. The top-3 scoring teams for the month of October will each win gift card prizes. All ages and skill levels welcome to participate.
Free Cooking Classes
In collaboration with David & Cortney Cook from Gather Food Studio in Old Colorado City, Arts Month 2020 is excited to offer a series of free virtual cooking classes for the community! Gather Food Studio was created to be an inclusive food community based on learning, sharing and doing. They offer in-store as well as on-line cooking classes to suit any need; whether you’re looking for laughter or classic techniques, they have a class for you.
Live Chat with Cara McKinley
The Pikes Peak Library District (PPLD) has reached the midway point for its Fall 2020 Maker in Residence: Sustainable Art series with local artist Cara McKinley. Join PPLD online for a LIVE chat with Cara to talk about the program and exciting Create Together: Community Build projects at Pikes Peak Library District locations across El Paso County, and to get a behind-the-scenes look at her maker process.
Virtual Theatre Showcase
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, the Colorado Springs theatre community has come together as the Theatrical Response Team to present a Virtual Theatre Showcase on Sunday, October 11 at 2 p.m. — streamed live on YouTube — to officially kick off Theater & Film Week!
Making the Film Rook.
Join local Colorado Springs filmmakers on Monday, October 12th from 7:00-8:00PM to discuss the process of making Rook., a low budget film with a big budget look and feel. Amy Long of the Colorado Springs Film Commission will moderate the session, which will feature a conversation with Stephen Morgan, Steve Kitzman, Bobby Lee Black, and Omid Harrison–all of whom participated in the making of this film.
Colorado Playwright Premiers
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, Craft Production Resource (CPR) will premier three original plays on the CPR Facebook page. The mission of CPR is to give voice and exposure through live – unedited performances, to new, original works written by Colorado playwrights and directed and performed by Colorado Springs talent.
Drive-in Cinema
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, Rocky Mountain Women’s Film is proud to bring back this popular documentary spotlighting the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg for one night only, on Friday, October 16,
Artist Recovery Fund
he Bee Vradenburg Foundation and Pikes Peak Community Foundation are pleased to invite local creatives to apply for the Artist Recovery Fund in celebration of Arts Month 2020. Artists who have lost work due to COVID-19 impacts are eligible to apply, or re-apply, for grants to cover expenses like shelter, food, and transportation.
The City of Fountain
Celebrates Arts Month
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, the City of Fountain will host a number of free BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair/Bring Your Own Chalk) cultural events and activities for the entire community during the week of October 19-23. All events will take place on the green lawn of the City Hall Courtyard.
Cyber Poetry Festival
Poetry719 is a local poetry organization that provides community connection through events and poetry, with a focus to uplift the voices of marginalized communities and people of color. We believe that everyone’s voice is valuable, important, and deserves to be heard. As a result of COVID-19, this third annual poetry festival has moved to an online platform, and is free and open to the community!
Live Blues at Stargazers
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, the Pikes Peak Blues Community is pleased to present a live concert featuring great local music at Stargazers Theatre & Event Center on Friday, October 30 from 7pm-9:30pm (doors open at 6pm). Tickets for the performance will only be sold in sections of 4 seats for $20 a section (i.e., $5 per ticket, but must be purchased in a block of 4 tickets for $20), plus ticketing fee. Social distancing will be in effect, and masks must be worn when moving about the theatre.
Cripple Creek & Victor
Celebrate Arts Month
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, the neighboring cities of Cripple Creek and Victor will be hosting a variety of special activities and events throughout the month of October.
Art Box for Arts Month
In partnership with Cottonwood Center for the Arts, Arts Month 2020 was excited to introduce the Art Box! Art Boxes are thoughtfully curated portable projects, complete with everything you need to create a unique work of art. Simple materials and basic instructions will guide you through the process, but we’ve also included video links from Cottonwood artists with additional techniques and tips to help take your pieces to the next level.
PikeRide Public Art Tour
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, PikeRide Bikeshare and the Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs have combined forces to offer a self-guided bike tour of the latest Art on the Streets public art exhibition throughout Downtown Colorado Springs! Using the Ride Spot app will allow you to have an exciting (and socially distanced) new art experience this October, exploring the latest additions to the Art on the Streets public art program from a bicycle.
Space Art Contest
In celebration of Arts Month 2020, Planet Walk Colorado Springs is sponsoring a space-themed art contest for all students from the Colorado Springs region in grades K-12. Electronic entries will be accepted in three categories: Visual Art, Photography, and Short Story/Poetry. Download the Application Form. $200 in total prizes will be awarded, including two $25 gift certificates in each category: one winner from grades K-5, and one winner from grades 6-12. A special $50 gift certificate for Best-of-Show will also be awarded by the judges.
Halloween Hip Hop
In celebration of Arts Month 2020 (and Halloween), the Colorado Springs Dance Theater and the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum are hosting a family-friendly public hip-hop class with the incredible Ron Jules! Come dressed in costume and ready to learn the dance moves from the iconic classic Thriller, by Michael Jackson! The free dance lesson will take place on Saturday, October 31st from 1-3PM on the South lawn of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum in downtown Colorado Springs.
Elevated by Art
Beginning on Oct. 20, and in celebration of Arts Month 2020, #ElevatedByArt will begin premiering compelling, original video shorts that drive home the relevance of art in our community during crisis. These stories will be released digitally, on social media, and at ElevatedByArt.com. They exclusively feature local artists and arts organizations and are produced by Jason Carter of Twelve Legs Marketing.