Colorado Springs Community Ventures Inc

COLORADO SPRINGS COMMUNITY VENTURES IS DEDICATED TO ENLIVENING DOWNTOWN COLORADO SPRINGS THROUGH THE ARTS, HISTORIC PRESERATION, SPECIAL EVENTS AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2020 INCLUDE: 'SKATE IN THE PARK' - THE NINTH SEASON OF SKATE IN THE PARK, OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES CONTINUED A BELOVED TRADITION IN WHICH MORE THAN 22,000 ICE SKATERS ENJOYED THE RINK; THE 2021-2022 SEASON WAS EXTENDED INTO FEBRUARY 2022 WITH ICE BUMPER CARS AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH SIMPLE MODIFICATIONS SUCH AS ADVANCE REGISTRATION IN ORDER TO SAFELY MANAGE RINK.'ART ON THE STREETS' (AOTS) - THE 23RD ANNUAL ART ON THE STREETS EXHIBIT FEATURED SEVEN SCULPTURES AND FIVE MURALS, INCLUDING A COMBINATION MURAL-PERFORMANCE PIECE UTILIZING LIGHT AND DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY, INCLUDING NINE ARTISTS FROM COLORADO, AND THREE FROM CALIFORNIA. NEW IN 2021, FOUR EXHIBITING ARTISTS FROM DEMOGRAPHICS TYPICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED IN PUBLIC ART WERE AWARDED $500 ARTIST OPPORTUNITY GRANT. ALSO, JUST OVER 2,000 SQUARE FEET OF DOWNTOWN WALLS RECEIVED PAINTED OR VINYL MURAL TREATMENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UCCS GOCA FOR THE PERMANENT INSTALLATION OF THE 90-FOOT MURAL NEW HORIZON AT THE EASTERN GATEWAY TO DOWNTOWN, ACCOMPLISHED IN THREE DAYS WITH HELP FROM OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS. THE BELOVED SCRAP-METAL SCULPTURE ISCARIOT WAS PURCHASED FOR PERMANENT DISPLAY ON THE ROOF OF 214 W. COLORADO AVE. THANKS TO GIFTS TO THE JUDY NOYES MEMORIAL PURCHASE FUND.OTHER COMMUNITY VENTURES PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED: FIRST FRIDAY, 26,660 PATRONS ENJOYED THE MONTHLY ART WALK TO MORE THAN 40 DOWNTOWN CREATIVE BUSINESSES. NINETEEN NEW VENUES OFFERED FIRST FRIDAY EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME.THE 37 DOWNTOWN WALKING TOURS ENGAGED OVER 1600 CITY LEADERS, SCHOOLCHILDREN, SOLDIERS, TOURIST AND RESIDENTS-AN 18 PERCENT DECREASED FROM 2019, BUT AN 86 PERCENT INCREASE OVER 2020.MORE THAN 300 GUEST AND VOLUNTEERS TOOK PART IN THE FOURTH ANNUAL URBAN LIVING TOUR OF NEW MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES WITH A PREVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL PROJECT ANTICIPATED IN THE NEXT YEAR.NEARLY 800 PEOPLE TOOK IN FOUR VIRTUAL CITY CENTER SERIES EVENTS- A COMPELLING MIX OF THOUGHT LEADERS IN THE REALM OF CITY-BUILDING AND DESIGN, WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON EQUITY.COMMUNITY VENTURES ONCE AGAIN WAS TURNED TO FOR ITS EXPERTISE IN PUBLIC ART ADMINISTRATION FOR SUPPORT AND CONSULTATION ON MORE THAN 25 INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ART ENDEAVORS.