SOPA’s Charter Board members: Greig Steiner, Ron Wilcocks, Chris Wood, Lynette Johnson with Fund-raising Consultant Rene Moquin
By: Christopher Wood
Recent AMS (St. Louis, MO) study for Performing Arts Center for Estes Park shows a vibrant interest in usage from front-range colleges and universities. The demand for having an ancillary performance venue in addition to the crowded and overbooked spaces on the local Colorado campuses offers a wonderful opportunity for both Estes Park and the Universities. The benefit comes from both sides of the equation with theater offerings not yet experienced in the Estes Park community, while helping to pay for the operations of the facility through rental and bookings.
The current model affords local groups first priority in booking the theater for the already busy and active performing art groups. Currently, projections estimate a total of 256 usages in the main hall per year and doesn’t calculate various other functions that may take place in the inviting, and intimate setting of the lobby for smaller sized groups. Our already bustling and vibrant not-for-profit arts groups perform an average of 96 events a year, mostly in the winter and off-season months. The economic impact which includes salaries generated by the Performing Arts Center, shopping, lodging, and eating out within the community is projected just over $2M annually in a conservative year at $2,162,926.
With the new proposed 433 seat hall, UNC theater professor David Grapes expressed interest in bringing a Summerstock program to Estes Park with primarily college students along with the school of music entertaining ideas of faculty/student concert series. UNC incidentally owns a cabin that sleeps up to 11 in the Estes Park vicinity answering the question of housing. The current local Music Festival does an excellent job in bringing quality orchestral and musical offering to the town in the summer already. CU-Boulder expressed interest in bringing a Dance Residency to Estes Park along with public performances, as well as Phillip Sneed, artistic director of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival bringing up a troupe for their touring production.
Arthur Greenburg of AMS noted that he didn’t think filling the space was going to be a problem, but rather finding enough spaces for the demand the facility will create.
Current fund-raising efforts has garnered SOPA $1.3M towards the $5M goal needed to construct the performing arts center. The town has partnered with SOPA in providing the land, and an operating subsidy for $217,000 annually. Interested individuals in the project may contact Chairman Christopher Wood with any questions at 970-481-6142. There is still need for individuals wanting to serve on the capital campaign and other various committees. The goal is to reach funds by December 2009, with an anticipated opening in 2010. Any and all gifts are appreciated and can be mailed to SOPA, PO Box 3077, Estes Park, CO 80517. Additional information may be found at www.EstesParkTheater.com.
