Colorado, the home of sporty types who enjoy seasonal activities such as skiing, mountain biking and kayaking, might be best known for its active pursuits, but the same beauty that invites outdoor action inspires the artistic.
From world-class museums and arts centers to festivals and beer bottles that promote creativity, Colorado has a decidedly artsy side worth exploring with groups.
DENVER ART MUSEUM, DENVER
www.denverartmuseum.org
Visiting with a group is a great way to experience everything the Denver Art Museum has to offer, while at the same time receiving a discount on tickets.
According to Molly Wink, the museum’s director of membership and amenities, 2012 is a big year as it welcomes Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective, a stunning exhibit that chronicles 40 years of the fashion icon’s creativity, and this fall, Becoming Van Gogh, an exhibit of more than 70 of the artist’s works.
“Groups can opt for a special tour,” Wink says, adding that hands-on creativity is encouraged: “For Yves Saint Laurent we have created a fashion studio that groups can reserve for a special team-building moment. They can try their hand at the creative processes behind the fashion world—sketch a fashion illustration, drape on a dress mold or even walk a real runway.”
Additionally, the museum accommodates everything from 30-person receptions to 400-person galas.
FINE ARTS CENTER, COLORADO SPRINGS
www.csfineartscenter.org
The Fine Arts Center, a 1936 historic building on the National Register of Historic Places, is often cited as one of the most handsome and significant buildings in the Rocky Mountain region, says Charlie Snyder, the center’s spokesman.
“Visiting groups are greeted at the front door with a stunning Dale Chihuly glass chandelier in the foyer,” he says. “The FAC combines an artful ambience with wonderful meeting spaces.”
Multiple event spaces for 10 to 200 people include the Glass Corridor, the centerpiece of a recent multimillion-dollar renovation and expansion; the Deco Lounge, which features a blue Chihuly chandelier and a fully stocked bar; and the historic Music Room that includes a stage and seating for 100 people.
Groups convening here are encouraged to take a creative break by wandering through the galleries or learning about watercolor painting, jewelry making or another art form.
“We might give each team a block of clay and a challenge, like building a decorative vase as tall and as beautiful as possible in a finite amount of time,” Snyder says. “You can quickly tell who the strategic creative thinkers are.”
TWISTED PINE BREWING
COMPANY, BOULDER
www.twistedpinebrewing.com
To many, a good beer is art. The craft brewers at Twisted Pine Brewing Company create art, and via their Artisan Ale Project, which began in January, they’re now collaborating with local artists on a new beer series.
“It’s an avenue for our brewers to exercise their ingenuity and develop 12 new beers a year, and once those beers are bottled, the thriving art community in Colorado provides a wealth of possible label design options,” says Justin Tilotta, Twisted Pine’s logistics manager. “Those artists receive a new range of exposure for their work, and the consumer receives a double dose of original Colorado creativity.”
The 2012 series will only be available in Colorado.
Twisted Pine currently accommodates groups of up to 100 in the brewery for private functions.
“Smaller parties may reserve a few tables in our ale house or out on the spacious patio if the weather is nice, which it normally is in Boulder,” Tilotta says.
PLEIN AIR ROCKIES, ESTES PARK
www.estesarts.com/pleinair
The Plein Air Rockies painting festival is held annually throughout August and September in the Estes Park area. During this event, attendees convening in the area can experience firsthand the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park, watch artists create paintings and then purchase the fresh works of art to take home as mementos of their stay.
Lynda S. Vogel, executive director at the Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park, adds that there is a weekly open studio on Tuesday mornings at the CAC Fine Art Gallery.
“Generally aimed at the beginner to intermediate level, it is an opportunity for individuals to receive guidance or problem solve a piece of art in progress without having to go through the expense or time commitment found in regular workshops,” she says, adding that Plein Air Rockies participating artists act as facilitators.
ALLEN UNIQUE AUTOS & EVENTS CENTER, GRAND JUNCTION
www.allenuniqueautos.com
With 75 classic and exotic vehicles on display that span nearly a century, as well as 12 luxury limousines, Allen Unique Autos Museum & Events Center provides a unique backdrop for groups of 10 to 375 people.
“Many of the cars on display are landmarks of automotive styling, and a number of others have been artfully customized into truly striking objects,” says Traci Wakefield, sales manager at the center, adding that miscellaneous displays include everything from machinery to art deco signs. “Even the lobby and boardroom make visual statements with their architecture and decor.”
Wakefield says the facility is particularly suitable for creative meetings among advertising executives, graphic artists or designers, and when convening here, groups have full access to the museum and may either explore it at their leisure or arrange for a guided tour.
“Many groups have taken part in a quiz/scavenger hunt that requires close study of the collection, with prizes for the winning person or team,” she adds.
WHEELER OPERA HOUSE, ASPEN
www.wheeleroperahouse.com
Corporate groups have been a big part of the Wheeler Opera House’s history since its 1984 renovation, according to Executive Director Gram Slaton, who says companies like Forstmann, Little & Co. book the venue for private concerts and other events during their annual Aspen retreats.
“Award presentations take place throughout the year, and we are the kings of multimedia for them,” he says. “There are restaurants close by that we can work with to create ticket and dinner packages, plus our second-floor lobby is great for groups meeting up and having a little pre-show fun.”
Box Office Manager Sherry Wirth explains that small groups may be given special rates for scheduled events, ranging from film screenings to stand-up comedy during the Aspen Laff Festival, and large events like the Powder Magazine award ceremony during the Winter X Games can also be arranged if the venue is available.
BLAZING ADVENTURES, SNOWMASS
www.blazingadventures.com
Aspen’s Maroon Bells is one of the most photographed locations in the U.S., and with the guidance of Blazing Adventures, meeting attendees will be sure to capture it beautifully on film.
According to Renée Fleisher, director of group services at the adventure outfitter, award-winning photographer and teacher Susan Drinker facilitates “uplifting, fun and educational” programs for groups with advance notice. Small groups of up to 10 people may call to book a Maroon Bells trip for the spring or fall.
Fleisher explains that the Maroon Bells isn’t the only photogenic sight. Groups may also go to the historic West End of Aspen for shoots that focus on architectural details, along the Roaring Fork River for shoots of a natural environment or up on Red Mountain for a distance shot.
“During the session, everyone is working together to give each photographer positive feedback, and suggestions for improvement,” Fleisher says. “So it becomes very bonding for the group.”
The program also includes a lecture, which usually occurs over breakfast.
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES, VAIL
www.artinvail.com
Groups are welcome to meet in the afternoon each Wednesday from Dec. 28 through April 11 at the Vail Village Visitor Information Center for the free Art in Public Places guided tour of Vail Village’s art collection.
According to Molly Eppard, Art in Public Places coordinator for the town of Vail, after an introduction to the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum, the popular tour winds its way through the village, complete with discussions including history tidbits.
“The tour also discusses the unique charm Vail has achieved through site-specific art in our streetscape,” she says, citing twig-and-branch railings and bear-proof trash cans specifically created by artists for Vail.
Forty works, from painting and sculptures to murals, are highlighted during the one-hour tour.
Private tours may also be arranged for about 25 people, and with advance notice could conclude at an art gallery for a private gathering.
DURANGO ARTS CENTER, DURANGO
www.durangoarts.org
The Durango Arts Center often schedules meetings, art classes and team-building programs for visiting groups.
According to Sheri Rochford Figgs, executive director of the center, spaces include a gallery that accommodates up to 120 people, a smaller gallery for up to 30 people, an education studio for up to 60 people and a 200-seat theater.
“In the theater we can do workshops ranging from building sets to theater makeup, and the one that is most requested is public speaking,” she says. “We have ice breakers and can make things fun by having participants dress up in costumes and explore their creative personalities.”
Durango.Comedy, a resident troupe, can work with groups on using humor for effective communication, Rochford Figgs adds.
“We often also work with our 2nd Avenue members including Rochester Hotel; Eno, a wine, coffee and tapas bar; and Steamworks Brewing Company in offering wonderful partnered events,” she says.
Freelancer Carolyn Blackburn lived in Aspen for a spell in the ’90s.
