We are for art enthusiasts, lifelong learners, cultural explorers, devoted patrons and donors, partners in humanity. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College serves as a site of creativity, collaboration, connectivity, and communion for all communities.
Welcoming new days, engaging in new ways
With a creative and resourceful staff, passionate partners, and a community of talented artists, the last 20 months or so (who’s counting?) have been about adapting to the times. The pandemic has pushed us to be more nimble than ever before. Empowered to try new things without fear of failure, many of those explorations have led to great successes. I invite you to reflect back with us as we pack for our next exciting trip around the sun. –Idris Goodwin, executive director
Who we are is what we value. We recognize the critical role the arts play in our community and in the advancement of humanity. We believe in the importance of empowering artists and storytellers. We must create equitable and inclusive opportunities and hold space for diverse narratives.
The Mission
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College provides innovative, educational, and multi-disciplinary arts experiences that elevate the individual spirit and inspire community vitality. The Fine Arts Center provides visual arts, performing arts, and arts education to the entire Colorado Springs community and is a valuable resource for students and faculty that furthers the educational mission of Colorado College.
EXCELLENCE | ACCESS | COLLABORATION
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HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS …
FAC Connect
May 1, 2020 we launched FAC Connect, a digital platform built to maintain an additional point of connection for audiences beyond our physical spaces. Since then, over 100 arts experiences have been released, expanding our audience base and growing our depth of engagement through classes, performing arts events, community conversations, artist engagements, behind the scenes tours, and more.
City as a Venue In 2021 we brought people together through the arts with three months of outdoor theatre, live music, art activities, and more with performances, workshops, classes and camps for youth and adults, and fully produced shows on a new outdoor stage at the FAC.
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We collaborated with partners across the region as event hosts and programming partners including community centers, the City of Colorado Springs and community arts groups, employing regional creatives.
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I was completely blown away … The direction and the actors were fabulous … one of our summer highlights!
New in 2021 On Oct. 1, Morgan Calderini and Arley Torsone of Ladyfingers Letterpress introduced a new retail experience to the FAC. Ladyfingers Letterpress is known and loved for the handmade, locally sourced, and inclusive goods at their downtown flagship location (which isn’t going away). Now patrons of the FAC can enjoy a beautiful mashup of this ethos paired with a selection of items designed to expand and enrich their FAC experience.
With special thanks for the leadership and guidance offered by: Mike Edmonds, Colorado College senior vice president and chief of staff FAC FOUNDATION BOARD Ron Brasch Nechie Hall Cathy Holaday Jay Kloster David Kunstle Kathy Loo Trent Stafford Marvin Strait R. Thayer Tutt, Jr. P’15 ADVISORY BOARD Sue Allon ’81 David Birnbaum ’83 Ron Brasch Heather Carroll ’89 Bob Greenebaum, Jr. ’76 Benjamin Harvey ’00 Sylvia Ketcham P ’21
David Kunstle Cynthia Chavez Lamar ’92 Jordan C. LaSalle C.J. Moore Ella Maria Ray ’85 Soeren Walls ’17 Shawn Womack
Idris Goodwin photo by Allison Daniell/ Stellar Propeller Studio L. Song Richardson photo by Sally Ryan Michael Christiano photo by Jaclyn Silverman Pirronne Yousefzadeh photo by Jean Chambers
When I first considered the presidency at Colorado College, I was of course attracted to the outstanding people, programs, the location ... but when I experienced the Fine Arts Center, THAT’S when I became convinced that this is where I wanted to be. We are so fortunate that it is part of our community. – L. Song Richardson, president of Colorado College
The new faces of leadership
Joining the passionate, hardworking team of professionals at the Fine Arts Center, we welcome the vision and dedication of several new leaders across the organization: L. Song Richardson, president of Colorado College Idris Goodwin, executive director of the Fine Arts Center Michael Christiano, director of visual arts & museum Pirronne Yousefzadeh, producing artistic director of the Fine Arts Center Theatre Company With fresh perspective, recalibrated focus, and a healthy assessment of priorities we launch forward in our continued aim toward excellence, access, and collaboration.
We move into 2022, here’s what’s in store— ∙ The stories we present, develop, and invest in will speak to a broader human experience than ever before. ∙ Support and representation of Colorado artists continues to expand. ∙ We grow and solidify collaborative community partnerships. ∙ In contributing to the growth and development of students and educators, they contribute to ours. Winter/spring 2022, FAC museum galleries have a story to tell. Collaboration, resilience, reflection — we’ll showcase a beautiful blending of cultures with work spanning the Americas, featuring artists Kukuli Velarde, Juan Robert Diago, Robert Blackburn, and John James Audubon, alongside regionally celebrated artists like Floyd Tunson. These immersive multimedia experiences bring a whole new level to encountering the arts. On stage, the season built for hope and connection continues. The magical holiday production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is followed up by powerful and touching stories like By the Way Meet Vera Stark and La Cage Aux Folles.
Our creative activation of spaces and places beyond our own continues in expanded partnerships with School District 11 to foster the growth of our youth, with Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in support of our military community, and in our second annual City as a Venue program series where we take the arts out to neighborhoods across the city.
Above: Kukuli Velarde, Patrón Santiago, 2012, Low fire clay, underglazes, casein paint, gold leaf. Inspired by work from the Tiwanaku culture (Bolivia). Image courtesy the artist.
We will build on what we’ve started and grow community celebrations that honor the people and cultures of our past, present, and future — Black History Month, Día de los Muertos, Native American Heritage Month, Women’s History Month, and more. We invite you to be a part of it — ALL of it. More at fac.coloradocollege.edu
Building for the fut Our mission remains. How we work it has grown. With a strong foundation to build upon, we embrace our past and set our sights forward, inspired by the possibilities and potential of the Fine Arts Center to grow together with the community we serve.
Be a
ure
part of it. Engage with us and share about your experiences — see a show, tour a gallery, take a class. Become a member.
Theatre production photographs by: Jeff Kearney, TDC Photography
Become a subscriber. Give.
You play a crucial role in helping us fulfill our mission of bringing world-class arts experiences and education to the Pikes Peak region. Give today at fac.coloradocollege.edu
From all of us, to all of you — Our patrons, supporters, and community partners fuel the passion and commitment we bring to the FAC each day to create meaningful, impactful, and accessible arts experiences for the community. We thank you.
30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903