Last weekend, Colorado State University graduates flocked to Old Town to celebrate their accomplishments with their families, and they encountered a surprise around every corner. Streetmosphere performers lined the streets of Old Town for the first weekend of a 16-week series.

The weekend was filled with music, painting, balloons and hot tea. Performers and artists braved the cold, rainy weather to kick off Streetmosphere’s opening weekend and to showcase their talents for the public.

Musicians and visual artists dominated the scene Friday night. The Fort Collins Youth Jazz Project played at Oak Street Plaza, gathering crowds of spectators to hear numbers by both the FCYJP Big Band and some smaller jazz combos. All musicians playing with the FCYJP are high school aged and have a passion for both written and improvised jazz music.

Other musical performances from Friday night included Elyse Miller at Old Town Square and Robert Cline, Jr. at Moe’s BBQ. Both parties had the “show must go on” attitude as the rain began pouring down later in the evening.

Saturday’s talented artists arrived with the same attitude and high spirits. The weather looked hopeful, but the forecast predicted another rainstorm. Both the early afternoon and evening rounds of performers included a variety of musicians and visual artists, and everyone kept themselves warm with cups of hot tea.

Colleen Crosson, a guitarist and singer, played at Old Town Square during the afternoon for a dedicated group of onlookers. She obliged her audience members by taking song requests, many of which were originally sung by Joni Mitchell. Colleen’s soft melodies intertwined with upbeat jazz numbers played by Matt Smiley Jazz and folksy tunes played by Sawmill.

The scene changed later Saturday night as a balloon artist entered the realm of performers. Jasbo the Balloon Artiste entertained people of all ages by teaching them how to make their own balloon animals. His craft intrigued young children and surprised families out wandering for the afternoon.

The Streetmosphere Team couldn’t have asked for a better line-up to start the summer season, though the weather could have been improved! They, along with past and upcoming performers, look forward to the weekends ahead!

OPENING WEEKEND OF STREETMOSPHERE  

The First of Many Weekends of Entertainment along the Streets of Fort Collins, showcasing the Poudre School District Elementary Music Students.

As spring time comes to an end and the summer months soon approach us, the question that comes to mind is, what are you doing the weekend of May 11-13?

The answer is Streetmosphere’s opening weekend in Downtown Fort Collins. Returning for another great season of street performances, Streetmosphere is Fort Collins’s own unique showcase of our community’s talented artists, performers, and entertainers.

Streetmosphere is Beet Street’s signature cultural program that transforms Fort Collins into a spontaneous, outdoor performing arts festival all summer long. Streetmosphere provides high quality, free performances that boasts civic pride for our local, creative talent.

The featured line up for Streetmosphere’s opening weekend of May 11-13 includes music by Curious Gage, Crosson-Sloniker Consort, The Honey Gitters, and Branden Sipes to name a few.  Visual artists include:  Amelia Caruso, Chris Bates, Diane Findley, and Peggy Quinn.

Along with our Streetmosphere performers, opening weekend will include a elementary showcase of talent from the Poudre School District. Located at the Oak Street Plaza on Saturday, May 12th from 1:00-4:00pm. Twelve students will be featured in the showcase and provide audiences a day of fun entertainment for all ages.

Throughout Streetmosphere, performances will range from musical acts, jugglers, magicians, comedians, dancers,  painters, and more all summer long at Streetmosphere locations. The event has a 16 week run from May 11 – September 2 in Downtown Fort Collins and will feature up to five live performances each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday over the summer.

Streetmosphere will also be expanding its performances to an additional location in southern Fort Collins. Along the street corners and public plazas in Front Range Village, performers will be entertaining crowds for 7 weeks from July 6 – August 19 during the weekends.

Attendance and excitement about Streetmosphere has grown exponentially – in 2010, 60,000 people stopped and watched performances; in 2011, more than 120,000 residents and visitors participated. Downtown businesses report that the vibrant activity of Streetmosphere has increased foot traffic and sales.

For more information, please visit www.beetstreet.org. We are excited to see you on the Streets of Fort Collins this Summer!!

This summer isn’t just an occasion for outdoor fun – or Streetmosphere entertainment

It is also a popular season for the Jazz genre to get in full swing. Colorado has a list of entertaining Jazz Festivals throughout the summer months that are sure to bring you back to the legendary “Jazz Parties” of the 60′s.

A featured article in the Denver Post highlights the central Jazz festivals that are hosted in Colorado:

Estes Park Jazz Fest And Art Walk, May 19-20: It’s represented the beginning of the outdoor music season for the past couple of decades and the Jazz Fest returns in force this year with free performances including drummer Louis Hayes, who will appear just a week before his 75th birthday. Hayes played with Cannonball Adderley and Oscar Peterson’s popular bands in the ’6os, and he’s remained a powerhouse. Flutist Dave Valentin is one of the biggest jazz names on his instrument, and he’ll headline on the fest’s second day. The schedule is filled out with a host of regional acts, and it all takes place at the Performance Park outdoor amphitheater.estesparkcvb.com

Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Festival, June 22-July 7: This year’s lineup is more “jazz flavored” than straight-ahead but the cause is just (helping to fund a long-running jazz education program) and the atmosphere is unbeatable (Aspen’s Benedict Music Tent.) The lineup features artists who have shown an appreciation for jazz, too: Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Joe Cocker, k.d. lang and trumpeter Chris Botti, who has always managed to balance jazz and pop nicely.jazzaspensnowmass.org

Winter Park Jazz Festival, July 21-22: This is the 30th year for this celebration, and a lot of smooth-jazz and R&B fans will be happy to make the trip once again. The lineup features eclectic saxophonist David Sanborn, singer Charlie Wilson and quite a few other laid-back marquee names.winterparklodgingcompany.com

Evergreen Jazz Festival, July 27-29: It’s easy to root for the people who put this one on every year. They’re clearly not in it for the money, but for the love of traditional sounds. The Evergreen Jazz Festival is one of the only of its kind that focuses on the swinging end of the spectrum. Groups from New Orleans and Boston will take part this year, and there are plenty of regional acts on tap.evergreenjazz.org

Saxophonist David Sanborn is on the bill for the Winter Park Jazz Festival

Telluride Jazz Festival, Aug. 3-5: One of the most likable, broad-based gatherings in the country is always worth the long ride, with an idyllic main stage area and many local nightspots transformed into jazz clubs. This year the lineup includes the Victor Wooten Band, Funky Meters, Soulive, Jon Cleary, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini and Marco Benevento. Several artists are playing return engagements at Telluride, probably because the environment is so welcoming. Hey, didn’t this used to be called the Telluride Jazz Celebration?telluridejazz.org

18th Vail Jazz Party, Aug. 30-Sept. 3: Perhaps this year they really are saving the best for last (of the season.) One of the ideas behind the Jazz Party is to bring different personalities together and see what happens. Here are some of the improvisers: James Carter, Houston Person, Benny Green, The Clayton Brothers, Lewis Nash, Jeff Hamilton, Terrell Stafford and Wycliffe Gordon, all demonstrating their prowess at altitude. vailjazz.org

Set list : Dale Bruning and Jude Hibler team up tonight at Dazzle to present the “Timeless Music of Sonny Rollins.”… Extraordinary saxophonist Kenny Garrett appears at the Soiled Dove Underground on Thursday and Friday. … The Tierney Sutton Band plays Dazzle May 5-6. … Piano legend Kenny Barron brings his trio to the Mount Vernon Country Club on May 17th.

 

Todd Queen, Chair of the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, and Cao Jin, ECNU Director of Opera, continue their popular pairing with a concert of art songs, arias, duets and traditional Chinese songs at the East-West Week Virtuoso Series Concert.

Taking place on Thursday, April 26th at 7:30pm at the Colorado State University- School of the Arts. The concert will be in the Organ Recital Hall and is FREE with the purchase of a ticket to the April 27 or April 28 concerts.

The duet will reprise the recital program at a concert in Shanghai later in 2012.

After the concert, there will be a “Meet the Artist” Reception sponsored in-part by Great Harvest Bread Co., Mugs Coffee Lounge, Whole Foods Market, and King Soopers.

The other East-West Weekend Concert Series are:

Tuesday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.: Collaborative Voice Area Recital
Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28: Tales of the Exotic!

Check out The Event Website or ArtBeetFC.com for more information!

The duet will reprise the recital program at a concert in Shanghai later in 2012.

The Lincoln Center is one of Colorado’s largest and most diverse presenters of professional theatre, dance, music, visual arts and children’s programs. With its mission of  being a leader in cultural experience and being an essential value to the community, the center provides unique opportunities for creatives of all types to show off their artistic abilities.

Upcoming opportunities at the Lincoln Center:

New Legacies 30:

Contemporary Art Quilts. Celebrating 30 years of exhibiting quilts, the LincolnCenter is now accepting entries for this favorite annual exhibition. The application and more information can be found online at http://www.lctix.com/galleries-opp.php (scroll down to “30th Annual New Legacies”). Exhibition dates are July 3 – September 5, 2012. $30 for up to three entries. For more information contact Jeanne Shoaff, 970-416-2737 or jshoaff@fcgov.com.

$1000 Grand Prize and $1000 in additional prizes!

The deadline to apply is May 20, 2012.

Pianos About Town: 

The City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places Program, in cooperation with Bohemian Foundation, and Downtown Development Authority, seeks to involve local artists/teams by commissioning them to work with the Pianos About Town Project team to paint murals on working pianos to be located in various locations in Fort Collins. The artists will be required to paint the piano in Old Town Square or an APP determined interior location in Fort Collins. The intent of this project is to create a Downtown attraction of an artist working on site in Old Town Square, Fort Collins, CO and to place resulting painted pianos around the Fort Collins area. The artists/teams are required to develop and submit a preliminary visual concept for the mural to be painted on a functioning piano. The Selection Committee will select multiple artists for this project. A copy of the RFP (#7371)may be obtained online at www.fcgov.com/purchasing or from the Purchasing Department at 215 N. Mason St., 2nd floor, Fort Collins. For more information contact Ellen Martin, 970-416-2789 or emartin@fcgov.com.

There is an honorarium of $650 for artists selected for this project!

Deadline to apply: April 20, 2012

Two Trees:

LincolnCenter is seeking proposals for fine art and fine craft objects to be made from the wood of two ash trees that were removed during the Lincoln Center renovation last summer. Not a wood-worker? That’s OK! We’re looking to exhibit artworks that show the full expression of how trees contribute to life. Any form of the wood, from sawdust to branches, pulp to milled planks can be incorporated into your final object. Exhibition dates are April 26 – June 8, 2013. This exhibition is a fundraiser for the Lincoln Center and for the City’s Forestry Department. Accepted objects will be available for purchase through a silent auction. More information and the application for proposals can be found online at www.lctix.com/galleries-opp.php (scroll down to “Two Trees”) or contact Jeanne Shoaff at 970-416-2737 or jshoaff@fcgov.com

Cash and merchandise prizes for accepted artists!

The deadline to apply is June 1, 2012.

 ARTiculture Sculpture-on-Loan & Fine Arts Festival:

The Lincoln Center and The Gardens on Spring Creek are proud to announce the fourth year of ARTiculture, a year long sculpture-on-loan program, and the first year of the ARTiculture Fine Arts Festival. The Gardens on Spring Creek are seeking sculptures of all sizes, styles and media from Colorado artists and local high school artists for the sculpture-on-loan show. Artists will receive a $250 stipend and will have the opportunity to talk about their work with art enthusiasts at the opening reception on Friday, August 24th. To submit your work for the sculpture-on-loan show, please download an application from http://www.fcgov.com/gardens . For any questions, please feel free to contact Amanda DeAngelis at articulturefc@gmail.com.

$250 honorarium for accepted sculptures.

For the ARTiculture Fine Arts Festival on Saturday, August 25th at the Gardens on Spring Creek, we are seeking fine arts and crafts vendors. The Festival will present local and regional artists the opportunity to showcase their fine arts and crafts to an art savvy audience. To submit your work for the Fine Arts Festival, please download an application from http://www.fcgov.com/gardens or at http://www.lctix.com/galleries-opp.php. Submission deadline is June 15, 2012. For questions, please contact Jeanne Shoaff at jshoaff@fcgov.com.

For more information about The Lincoln Center and its activities visit, http://www.fcgov.com/lctix/ 

The Arts Incubator of the Rockies (AIR) is proud to announce a public unveiling of the AIR Curriculum Design that will highlight the hard work, time, and creativity that has been put into place over the past three months of developing the core curriculum.

On Wednesday, April 25th, AIR will be hosting an “Unveiling of Curriculum Design” from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the Lincoln Center, Canyon West room.

Interested visual artists, writers, musicians, performers, designers, arts administrators, other creatives, and community members are invited to attend the presentation to learn more about the developments of what AIR will be offering beginning this fall.

The strides in AIR’s curriculum development are in large part due to a team of hard working committee members. A special thanks goes out to this group for dedicating their time, knowledge, passion, and invaluable input over the past three months:

Chris Bates, Barbara Gilhooly, Ayn Hanna, Lynne Hull, Taylor Ordway, Carrie Visintainer, Cat Giglio, Hamidah Glasgow, Doug Leavell, Elizabeth Morisette, Ron Phillips, Amy Reckley, Toby Swaford, Dulcie Willis, Stu Crair, Jaime Donnelly, Linda Lyons, Marge Norskog, and Bill Whitley.

The Arts Incubator of the Rockies (AIR) is an ambitious initiative of Beet Street, created in partnership with the City of Fort Collins Cultural Services Department, and Colorado State University (CSU) School of the Arts. AIR is a regional arts incubator that serves 10 states and more than 280,000 artists and creatives in the Intermountain West. Based in Fort Collins, AIR is designed to serve both the local and regional cultural workforce by providing professional development classes, entrepreneurial and business training and other skills-based activities through distance learning, internships, collaborations and resource sharing. AIR serves all creative and community members who want to shift the paradigms about art, money, value, and community.

We encourage those interested in the attending the event to RSVP online at www.beetstreet.org by April 23, 2012. Seating is limited.

After selecting our group of 63 performers for the 2012 Streetmosphere summer series, we wondered – why did all these talented folks audition to perform on the streets of Fort Collins?

A collaborative list of answers by a few of Streetmosphere’s performers answers that question:

Sawmill – “We are interested in being a part of our community here in Fort Collins. Our favorite venue for performance is an informal setting, where people can come and go and listen as they wish. Street performances are the most charming way to get our music out there to get people interested.”

 

 

Art on Mountain – “Exposure and artist recognition, which will be especially impactful if our performers are scheduled right next to our gallery.”

 

 

Escape Goat - “BECAUSE ITS FUN PLAYING MUSIC OUTSIDE ON THE SIDEWALK FOR PEOPLE!”

 

 

Cary Morin -”To play a show in Fort Collins in a relaxed atmosphere open to the public”

 

 

Stacey Tomaszewski - “I’ve seen Streetmosphere performers for the past two years, and it always looked like so much fun!  I auditioned because I love performing in all venues.  Another chance to perform regularly is an exciting prospect for me.”

 

 

Elyse Miller - “I’ve really enjoyed working with Streetmosphere in previous years. I love the reactions of people passing by and performing outdoors all summer.”

 

 

Northern Colorado Potters Guild – “We were part of Streetmosphere last year. It was really fun to bring our potters wheels downtown and make pots, sharing the mystery and magic that goes into creating something from clay.”

 

 

Tim Foolery Magic – “ In 2010, I saw no involvement by magicians in Fort Collins.  So, I auditioned for Streetmosphere 2011, mostly to let people know that there are magicians available in the local area.  Also, being a part-time professional magician, there is always a challenge to stay current, and fresh.  Streetmosphere provided much welcomed performance time in between my regular bookings.  Finally, my experience at street performing was limited.  It was a great chance to try something relatively new.  I was surprised and delighted when asked to be a part of Streetmosphere again in 2012.”

 

The excitement for Streemosphere stems from its performers, and we are so happy to have such a great line up of talent who share our passion for entertainment.

The 2012 Streetmosphere series will kick off on May 11th – check our Facebook page for updates and the Streetmosphere home page for more information about the schedule as well as performer information!

A Call for Entry is a great way for artists to gain exposure and stay active in their creative works. It can include any form of request from an art studio, exhibit, gallery, or even a contest.

There are differences among these types of entry requests and depending on the type of “call” is how you should plan your application response.

Call for artist websites are filled with opportunities and it can be hard to narrow down which ones you should take the time to apply for. So, how should you decide?

Remember that as an artist – your creativity and investments in time and money are what you are putting forth in an application.

You should evaluate where the best use of your assets is going to be and apply from there. Based on how you can better yourself professionally and artistically in a creative outlet.

To help you decide on which Call for Entry to apply for, keep these questions in mind:

1. Is the produced in the exhibition relevant to your present collection of work?
2. If you were to be chosen, does being in that exhibition help progress your career plan?
3. Is the scale (actual size) of the requested art, reasonable for you to create at this time? Based on your experience and talents?
4. Does the timeline of deadlines and work parameters allow you to maintain the expected quality in your art?
5. Is the reward, commission, prize, or award – make your time and money spent seem financially feasible?

While there are always exceptions for each artist and your personal artistic experience, but each Call for Entry should be a collaborative way for you to use your talents, time, and resources in the best way possible.

These tips and evaluation questions have been collaborated from Art Biz by Debby L. Williams (Director of Oklahoma Art in Public Places)

For more information and more blog ideas from Art Biz – visit www.artbizblog.com

A dream in the making since 1992 – Christo’s “Over the River” project has been one with its trials and tribulations.

Not only does this artistic project extend beyond anyones imagination of possible outdoor art, it also reaches into some environmental issues and controversial topics.

Christo’s plan (as seen in the image) is to suspend 5.9 miles of fabric over a 42-mile stretch of the Arkansas River between Salida and Cañon City in south-central Colorado.

Cool? Some say yes, some are unsure.

Uncool: Covering such a large portion of the river with actual fabric raises some concerns. Concerns that have been somewhat mitigated when the Bureau of Land Management approved the project last November.

Cool: “​Christo will fund the construction of the installation himself and “Over the River” is estimated to bring in $121 million in total economic output throughout Colorado, tourist dollars means tourist traffic.” (westword.com)

The project, which was initially slated for the summer of 2014, was pushed back to 2015 in February.

For more information about Christo’s project and updates on the plan visit: Over The River or other blogs from: Westword.com.

Beet Street would like to give a “thumbs up!” to the selected performers for Streetmosphere 2012!

After a long process of video submissions, live auditions, and anticipation, the final list of more than 60 performers has been collaborated! You can see the full list of artists and Streetmosphere sponsors at:

www.beetstreet.org/streetmosphere

You can also check out the Beet Street website for updates and information regarding when and where performances will occur.

Be sure to visit the Streetmosphere Facebook page to connect with the performers before and after they hit the streets of Fort Collins all summer long.

We will be posting performer profiles, question and answers, and videos and photos from weekend activities throughout the summer months. We want to encourage your feedback as an audience member and Fort Collins resident! Let us know what you want to hear about Streetmosphere!

Best-selling science writer Dava Sobel will be speaking in Fort Collins at 7 p.m., October 16, at the Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect. The event is free and open to the public – no tickets are required. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and seating will be on a first come, first served basis (maximum capacity of 500 people). A book signing and sales will follow the program.

Sobel, author of Longitude and Galleo’s Daughter, will be talking about her latest book, A More Perfect Heaven (to be released October 2011), in which she realizes her long-standing dream to write a play about Nicolaus Copernicus.

“And the Sun Stood Still,” the centerpiece of my new book, dramatizes the events that convinced Copernicus to publish his “crazy” ideas concerning the Earth’s motion. The nonfiction narrative surrounding the play tells the facts of his life story and traces the impact of his seminal book, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, to the present day.

For more information about the author and her books, visit: http://www.davasobel.com/

This is part of a series of free author evenings presented by sponsored by Friends of the CSU Libraries the Poudre River Friends of the Library, and sponsored by KUNC Radio and the Hilton Fort Collins.

For more information about the event, contact Jane Barber at (970) 491-5712 or jane.barber@colostate.edu.

The Larimer Chorale, under the direction of Michael Todd Krueger, opens their 35th anniversary season with Carl Orff’s, Carmina Burana!

Imagine nearly 200 singers, dancers, and instrumentalists joining forces for one of the most celebrated choral masterworks of all time! The Chorale will be joined by IMPACT Dance Company, Centennial Children’s Chorus, the CSU Percussion Ensemble, and featured soloists.

Purchase your tickets today for the Saturday, October 22nd performance at Lincoln Center. Start time is 7:30 p.m. but there’s a pre-concert talk beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Want to take a step back into your childhood? Want to enjoy the singing and adventure of the stories you grew up to? November is the perfect month to embrace those memories with your children in the production of these lovable stories in stage form.

Numerous plays are taking place in Fort Collins this month that are based on children’s stories such as The Jungle Book, Peter Pan, Cinderella, Annie Warbucks and The Wizard of Oz. Each story line delivers the same fun characters and adventure that made the original an instant classic. Going to any of these productions would be the perfect way to engage children in the arts and spend quality time with the family for the holiday season.

Take advantage of these great theatre opportunities! For ticketing and information visit www.artbeetfc.com

A recent article from The Denver Post lets their writer and theater critic, John Moore, vent and lash out on bad behavior by theater audiences.

How long is too long to let your phone vibrate under your seat? At what age are theatergoers mature enough to appreciate the arts? Should food be allowed at your seat? Should you bring your children? Is there a difference seen in theater rules for etiquette in Europe and are they lacking in the United States?

These are just some of the questions Moore puts up for debate in his column. Here at Beet Street we encourage you to read his article and consider for yourself the proper audience etiquette.

http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_19209639?source=pop#.TrLtLpFYFPg.email

In a blog from the National Endowment for the Arts – art programs for kids are recognized for their contributions of engaging students to use their creativity and passions. Efforts that help keep them academically stable and interested in the arts. Programs from across the nation were given awards for their philanthropic efforts.

“A few of this year’s honorees were 826 Seattle, which encourages budding authors with innovative writing workshops; Boston’s ZUMIX, which broadcasts radio shows produced and hosted by the city’s youth; and ArtLab in Denver, where underserved teens are paired with resident artists in year-round art projects.”

These awards highlight the importance of arts education in young people’s lives. To help steer their youthfulness in the right direction and move forward with their talents. Any chance for a student to be exposed to the arts and embrace the humanity of culture is one that should be taken advantage of. The National Endowment for the Arts, as well as Beet Street – encourages just that for striving art students across the nation.

In the photo: Michelle Obama poses with Judith Anderson and Salvador Flores-Martinez,
representatives from ArtLab, based in Denver, Colorado.

National Endowment for the Arts Blog

An article in the Denver Post this week sparked interest in the importance of curators to local Denver museums and art exhibitions. As the arts community faces a struggling economy in more ways than one, curators seem to be taking the brunt of the down sizing.

A curator is the creative center to a studio or exhibit and a person “who can provide a clear, coherent vision for its presentations and give it direction and purpose.” Curators serve a specific purpose that benefit any type of museum or art gallery presenting a variety of art displays.

What happens without that creative medium?

Studios such as “RedLine” a $2.5 million studio and exhibition space that opened with considerable fanfare in 2008 – has suffered without a curator presence. Lacking a curator “the center often accepts whatever exhibition proposals come over the transom, and the results are predictably mixed.”

Curators should not be taken for granted and many Denver art exhibition programs are struggling without them. They bring knowledge and experience to any art studio that is not easily replaced. Is the cut back of curators worth the artistic downfall of an exhibit? The Metropolitan art scene may think so – but this article by the Denver Post shows three art programs that are regretting that decision.

Denver Post article “Curators Becoming a Vanishing Breed on Local Art Scene”

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” not only for the holidays and gift-wrapping – but to celebrate the arts and theatre the great city of Denver and the communities along the Front Range have to offer. A wide variety of plays, productions, and events are schedule for the month of December that can be a great way for you and your family to get out and embrace the holiday spirit.” A list of “Critic’s Picks,” from The Denver Post lists this holiday seasons must see’s in Denver.

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s annual production of “Granny Dances to Holiday Drum” that is always a colorful and family-friendly event and don’t LIDA Project’s original epic, “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep,” playing through December 17th that highlights the importance of health care. There’s also The Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” re-creates Frank Capra’s classic film as a live radio broadcast.

There are many ways to celebrate the holidays in Denver and along the Front Range. Visit www.denverpost.com for more event details in Colorado as well as www.artbeetfc.com for Fort Collins listings.

In a recent  Coloradoan editorial entitled,  “Ideas, Innovation Boost Region’s National Ranking: Best Performing Cities Honor Reflects Area’s Forward-thinking Approach”  it was reported that the Fort Collins-Loveland region is now #3 in the nation on the U.S. Best Performing Cities Index according to the Milken Institute, a 501(c)(3) public charity and nonpartisan, independent think tank whose work makes a difference in the lives of people worldwide by helping create a more democratic and efficient global economy.

Projects such as Rocky Mountain Innosphere,  the Arts Incubator of the Rockies, a partnership with the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University and Beet Street, the CSU’s Engines and Energy Conversion Lab, and Loveland’s Aerospace Clean Energy project through the Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology, contributed toward our top rating.

The Best Performing Cities index includes both long-term (five years) and short-term (one year) measurements of employment and salary growth. There are also four measurements of technology output growth, which are included because of technology’s crucial role in creating good jobs and driving regional economies.  The index ranks 379 metropolitan areas, grouped into large (population of more than 200,000) and small (population of less than 200,000) metros.

The number one and two positions went to San Antonio and El Paso, Texas, respectively. For more information about the U.S. Best Performing Cities Index, please visit www.milkeninstitute.org.

Beet Street is seeking a wide-variety of talent to perform as part of the Streetmosphere program scheduled for May 11 – September 3, 2012. Being featured as a Streetmosphere performer is a great way to gain exposure for your artistic craft and engage with the Fort Collins community.

Streetmosphere is a weekend event to showcase our community’s unique artists, performers, and entertainers on the streets of Downtown Fort Collins.  Performers range from musical acts, jugglers, and magicians to acting troupes, dancers, painters, and more. Streetmosphere takes place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May to September and is designed to reach a wide spectrum of audiences in the Downtown Fort Collins area.

Beet Street is excited to introduce a new expansion of Streetmosphere to south Fort Collins in Front Range Village! In addition to the 16-week downtown season, our community’s artists will perform for 8 weekends, Friday through Saturday from July 6 – August 26.

According to crowd count statistics gathered by Beet Street, Streetmosphere captured the attention of over 120,000 downtown patrons and showcased about 1,400 hours of performances in Downtown in 2011.

Performers must be able to engage with the general community.  2010 and 2011 Streetmosphere featured 80% of performers from Fort Collins and auditions are not just limited to Fort Collins residents. Beet Street will give priority to local performers but will also consider top-notch, quality artists beyond what is found locally.

Beet Street is now accepting applications for 2012.  Streetmosphere applications must include a video and/or portfolio submission, not to exceed 4 minutes and 10 MB. The 2012 Streetmosphere online application form is available at www.BeetStreet.org. Applications must be submitted by January 30, 2012, before 5pm.  Any submissions received after that date will not be considered.

For more information and complete application details, please visit www.BeetStreet.org.

Beet Street is hosting a Curriculum Summit for Artists on Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Lincoln Center Canyon West Room. We invite you to get involved now to help design our curriculum and build the promise of AIR.

The Arts Incubator of the Rockies is designed to provide education, resources, and support to elevate our region’s artistic careers and organizations. Beet Street is hosting the Curriculum Summit to encourage members of the Fort Collins community to get involved in the design and foundation of AIR. We want your help in discovering new ways to utilize new technologies and distance-learning opportunities that will provide rural communities with professional development training and regional networking that will strengthen the arts throughout the Intermountain West. Artists will have the skills, mentors and community connections to succeed – thanks to your involvement!

The summit will include:

• AIR incubator update
• Introduction of curriculum and tech committee members
• Introduction of curriculum consultant team
• Community brainstorm
• Prioritization exercises
• Small group facilitated discussion

Your RSVP before January 23, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. is required through www.beetstreet.org. Seating is limited.

We invite you to get involved now to help design our curriculum and build the promise of AIR!

Beet Street is very proud to host a Professional Development Core Weekend Workshop for artists presented by the Creative Capital Foundation Friday, March 30 to Sunday, April 1, 2012 in Fort Collins, CO.

The Core Weekend Workshop is the second time Creative Capital’s proven and award-winning programs are being offered in Colorado. Beet Street is able to host the workshop thanks to generous grants from the Kresge Foundation, Erion Foundation and the Bohemian Foundation.

This workshop is designed for visual artists, writers, musicians, composers, choreographers and other artists who create original work and want to take their talent to the next step. Artists in the workshop will not only benefit from the consultants considerable experience but also gain insight on new perspectives from the trained Creative Capital grantees. Participants will be introduced to many networking opportunities and techniques to take their creativity to the next level of success.

Now is your chance to apply for this opportunity to work with professional consultants and gain knowledge about all types of genres of artistic endeavors.

Applications for the workshop are now being accepted and the deadline for all participants is February 10, 2012.

For more information and to download the application please visit:

http://www.beetstreet.org/arts-incubator-of-the-rockies/creative-capital

Thinking of changing the name of your art business? You might want to consider these 6 points before playing the name game.

You want a title that customers know, that brands you, and represents your art as well as the business you have created behind it.

Once already establishing a name for your business it might seem hard to create a new image for yourself but, fear not! Emptyeasle.com has created 6 tips that they consider to be the most pertinent from an artist/creator point of view.

Here is a condensed list of their findings:

1. Consider the type of art you create and how it could affect your family just by association
2. Is your target audience more receptive to an artist of the same gender
3. Would choosing a creative name allow you greater artistic expression?
4. Does your art require a certain image or coolness to attract a particular audience?
5. Are there any words you could place within your business name to help people instantly connect with what you do?
6. Does your art rely on a certain location, can you use that to your advantage?

Intrigued? Check out Empty Easel for their indepth advice about renaming your art business.

This weekend Beet Street will be hosting live auditions for its one of a kind summer performance series, Streetmosphere.

Streetmosphere is a multi – weekend event, that showcases our community’s unique artists, performers, and entertainers on the streets of Fort Collins. Performers range from musical acts, jugglers, magicians, acting troupes, comedians, dancers, storytellers, painters, and more!

How performers interact with an audience is a very important part of the audition. Beet Street invites you to come help in the process of finding the best talent showcased in Northern Colorado.

Any eager eyes or interested members of the community are encouraged to come watch the live auditions this Sunday February 12th from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the Opera Galleria Atrium.

For more information about the live auditions or Streetmosphere, visit www.beetstreet.org

Looking further into the year 2012 – the roster of Art Exhibitions in Denver does not just include painters or sculptors, but also one of the 20th century’s most celebrated and iconic fashion designers, Yves Saint Laurent.

As mentioned in an article by the Denver Post, the Denver Art Museum will be the only American venue hosting this display of fashion art called, “Yves Saint Laurent – The Retrospective.”

The exhibit had its launch in the fashion capital of the world, Paris, France last year. Travelled to Madrid, Spain and is now making its way to Denver, Colorado.

This fashion “show” will run from March 25th- July 8th at the Denver Art Museum. It will include more than 200 haute-couture outfits with drawings, films and photographs from the designer line, as well as an inside look at the history and evolution of the couture since 1958.

Tickets will be sold by specific dates and are now on sale for both members of the Denver Art Museum and open to the public!

Call 720-913-0130 or visit ysldenver.com for more information!

On Sunday a group of selected artists participated in Streetmosphere’s Live Auditions.

Performing acts, musicians, and talent showcased what they could bring to the streets of Fort Collins this summer as an act for Streetmosphere. The voices and instruments echoed in the Opera Galleria of Fort Collins, CO that drew in a crowd to watch the performances take place in front of the Streetmosphere judges.

Bystanders were encouraged to share their opinions about the performers. As their contribution to the talent selection is a crucial part of the audition process. Audience members filled out a survey much like the version the judges used to rate the performers on talent, audience engagement, and stage presence.

Of the auditions, some include performances by: Steve Eulberg and Vi Wickam in Fiddle Whamdiddle, Matt Skinner, Robert Cline Jr., The Storm Mountain Folk Dancers, Ron Slyter and Scott Dennis in Downtown Country Sound, Brian Collins, Sawmill, Jerry Phillips,Branden Sipes, and many others that made it to the second round of the audition process.

Streetmosphere received 90 applications from performers and now that the live auditions have commenced, the judges will narrow their selection to about 60-65 artists or groups.

Pictures from the live auditions were captured by Dawn Madura, a photographer from The Coloradoan. Click Here to see her photo gallery!

Also, check out Streetmosphere’s new Facebook page for updates and information about this summer’s events and performances! All it takes is a “like” of the page!

Craig F. Walker has been named “Newspaper Photographer of the Year” by the Missouri School of Journalism’s Pictures of the Year International competition. One of the most well known and highly respected photojournalism contests in the world.

Walker has worked for the Denver Post since 1998 and was honored by receiving the Pulitzer Prize in 2010 for his work on a feature collection of photographs. For over 27 months he documented the transition of Ian Fisher and his journey from being a high school graduate to a soldier engaged in the Iraq war.

Interests in honoring history and paying noble attention to the social and political affects of the Iraq war are the attributes that earned Walker his second honor of being named Photographer of the Year.

This award was given to him based on previous photography captured throughout his years of work at the Denver Post, as well as in a second collection of pictures documenting “Iraq War veteran, Brian Scott Ostrom, who suffers post traumatic stress disorder, and others taken at Occupy Denver protests.” (Denver Post)

The honorable photography in his portfolio show emotion, a strong sense of power, and the lasting nobility of American citizens.

Check out the article in the Denver Post celebrating their Photographer of the Year, or visit the Pulitzer Prize website to see Craig F. Walker’s winning photography collection.

Dale Chihuly has been recognized as one of the most innovative, creative, and skilled glass artist today.

His talent has been mastered over the years starting with an educational background at the University of Wisconsin, to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and then in 1968 was given the opportunity to work in Venice, Italy to work at the Venini glass factory. His craft was guided in Italy by observing the team at Venini work their creative approach to blowing glass, which is now an essential part of his art today.

“His work is included in more than 200 hundred museum collections worldwide. He has been the recipient of many awards, including ten honorary doctorates and two fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.” (chihuly.com)

His recent exhibition: Chihuly Venetians: from the George R. Stroemple Collection is now being featured at the Fort Collins Museum of Art. The display features a magnificent 5-part chandelier that has two components hanging from the ceiling and 3 that come up from the floor. All of the magnificent glass art displayed in the exhibition are inspired from the beautiful Venetian glass art from the 1920′s and 1930′s.

A number of Chihuly’s art drawings will also be displayed in the collection that are considered to be independent works of art and “blueprints” to communicate the meaning behind his glass art creations. To bring his designs to life and to improvise on the themes he created.

The Chihuly Venetians exhibition will be featured at The Fort Collins Museum of Art until March 18, 2012 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the American Studio Glass Movement.

For more information about Dale Chihuly visit his website at www.chihuly.com

Streetmosphere is a one of a kind event in Fort Collins, CO – but nationally there are numerous other summer concert and outdoor art festival events that are similarly unique. Most events occur on a specific date – unlike the all summer long events of Streetmosphere that are consistent every weekend for your entertainment!

We have gathered a list of some of the top “cousins” to Streetmosphere and will continue to add to it as the summer months approach us!

Keep checking here for listings of events and outdoor festivals for your next summer trip.

• Oregon – Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts
• Columbia, SC – Vista After 5 & Jammin’ in July Music Festival
• Boston, MA – The Boston Arts Festival (September 10th-1th1)
• Santa Clara, CA – Festival of the Arts (weekly throughout the summer)
• Austin, TX – The Pecan Street Festival
• Indianapolis, IN – The 57th Annual Talbot Street Art Fair (June 9th&10th)
• Massachusetts – stART on the Street  (June 3rd)
• Breckenridge, CO – Street Art Festival (July 27,28,29)

Fort Collins is known for its wide variety in selections of restaurants and tasty places to eat around town, and the Downtown Business Association and member businesses have teamed up to bring “Great Plates” 2012 to Old Town for the fifth year in a row.

This tradition of eating will continue this year with 30 downtown restaurants that are set to offer incredible dining specials for a full two weeks! Restaurant quality, authenticity, and diversity can be found throughout this list of restaurants that are sure to make your stomachs – and your wallets – happy.

Dinner specials will run at $25.00 or less at each location that are set to show off the speciality cuisine of their restaurant. New to this years line up, is the addition of Breakfast and Lunch specials! Snooze an AM Eatery, Mugs Coffee, and Silver Grill Cafe have all created special menu offers that only cost $2.50.

The Downtown Business Association has worked together with supporting restaurants to create these specials that support the Food Bank for Larimer County. Restaurants of “Great Plates” will provide opportunities for you to donate and support the Food Bank. Last years earnings were over $14,000 to help feed the hungry in the Fort Collins community!

Check out the full list of participating restaurants at Downtown Fort Collins website for full menu specials and updates! Or pick up an issue of the Fort Collins Coloradoan on March 1, 2012 for a program of the two week deals!

CONGRATULATIONS to the 24 selected participants for the Creative Capital Workshop!

We had a 20% increase in submitted applications from last year’s Beet Street sponsored Creative Capital Workshop 2011 in Fort Collins, CO! This year, over 60 applications were submitted to participate in a “Professional Development Core Weekend Workshop” for artists.

After an application process of submitting online work, artistic samples, and a resume of their professional summary, a Creative Capital review panel selected the finalists. Based on the criteria that the participant could:

Out of those who applied, only 24 were selected to be given the opportunity to benefit from the Creative Capital workshop. Artists will gain insight on new perspectives from the trained Creative Capital grantees and be introduced to many networking opportunities and techniques to take their creativity to the next level of success.

The workshop will take place Friday, March 30 to Sunday, April 1, 2012 in Fort Collins, CO.

For more information about Creative Capital, visit http://creative-capital.org/

Its that time of year again! To start planning out your summer concert agenda. And what better place to kick off your musical entertainment then at the legendary music venue, Mishawaka Amphitheatre.

Standing in Poudre Canyon in Bellvue, CO ‘The Mish’ can be found 13.7 miles up the Poudre Canyon Highway.

“Mishawaka’s restaurant and bar are open year round, as is the The SpokesBUZZ Lounge (formally known as the Dancehall space). The outdoor amphitheatre is open seasonally from late May to late September. The indoor venue legal capacity is 154 and the Amphitheatre holds 752.”

To roll out the summer concert schedule, local bluegrass band, Head for the Hills, will perform at Mishawaka on May 12th.

Additional performances also include The Wood Brothers on May 13th, Keb Mo on May 20th and Toad the Wet Sprocket with Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers on May 27th.

For more information about concert schedules and events – visit http://themishawaka.com/