A Community Resource H O W T H E C R E ST E D B U T T E C E N T E R FO R T H E A R TS T U R N E D PA N D E M I C L E M O N S I N TO L E M O N A D E By Kendra Walker
Like most organizations and businesses in the community, the Crested Butte Center for the Arts faced a lot of challenges this past year. With the coronavirus knocking on Crested Butte’s door in early 2020, it seemed a performing arts center that relies heavily on events, fundraising, and community participation would not thrive through the pandemic. The newly built, state-of-the-art building seemed doomed to stand empty as the rest of Crested Butte sheltered at home. Or was it? “We were in mourning along with the rest of the community,” says Brooke MacMillan, director of Literary Arts & Lectures.
The board had made the tough decision to lay off most of the staff, leaving a very small staff to run the ship. Luckily the Center was in the hands of three powerhouse females passionate about bringing the arts to Crested Butte: Brooke MacMillan, Jillian Liebl, and Melissa Mason. “In the midst of trying to keep our doors open, the stress of COVID and facing so many questions around the pandemic, we were really asking ourselves what can we do for the community? How can we help in this?” says MacMillan.
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