The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park - The First Twenty Years 1990 - 2010 and Beyond

A Brief History

In 1989, the Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park (CAC) was established through the joint efforts of the Town of Estes Park; area musicians and artists; and with the input of community members. In the early years we did not have a physical residence, operating only with a post office box and telephone in a private home. Our main task was to keep a community calendar of arts events, and answer related questions via the phone. On May 18, 1990 we were incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, and since then our journey has been an adventuresome one. The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park has always sought to present multi-faceted programs serving persons of all ages, regardless gender, color, religion and creed. In 1990 we acquired a part-time volunteer director Lynda S. Vogel, who task was to develop the newly formed organization into what it has become today. In 1991, Vogel was hired as part-time paid staff member. In 2012, Twenty two years later, she continues to oversee the CAC operations, ever growing from its humble beginnings in 1989.

Over our twenty year history we have operated six different locations in Estes Park, with 304 E. Elkhorn Ave. the longest stay of any -- ten years. In June 2008 we renovated and moved into a 1,800 sq. ft. facility adjacent to Estes Park's Performance Park, our current location at 423 W. Elkhorn in West Park Center on the west end of downtown Estes Park.

Our program offerings were expanded, directly benefiting the young people and elderly population who may not have access to quality art /music and arts education. We acquired a grand piano and expanded our performing arts program. The new location afforded us classroom space, and in 2009 we launched "EXPLORATIONS IN ART" and "STORIES IN MUSIC". We maintain a website, answer inquiries via walk-ins, telephone, mail and e-mail. Professional workshops and Open Studio sessions are held throughout the year.

Through the years it has been the privilege of the CAC to reach numerous audiences with free or affordable programs. Our visual arts exhibitions include the prestigious national museum tours "ARTS for the PARKS" (seven times), "ART and the ANIMAL", IPAP/LAI's international museum tour "Far and Near Horizons"; and presentations on loan from the collections of the University of Colorado at Boulder Art Museum, A.R. Mitchell Museum (Trinidad, CO), Robert Glenn Ketchum and the Rocky Mountain National Artist in Residence/ Park Museum Collection. We have curated numerous special exhibitions/visual arts events that have featured members from our local community, Park School District (K-12 students), past history, Western Norway, and throughout the United States. These offerings have or include 'Student Expressions" (15 years), Women's History Month Art Exhibit (25 years), "Estes Park Plein Air (2003 - 2009).

And in 2010; the CAC sponsored the national plein event in Estes Park, "Plein Air Rockies- A Festival of Outdoor Painting" and the "National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society Invitational -Visions for the New Decade". Plein Air Rockies 2012 continues to support the art outdoor painting, and brings artists of excellence from around the world to Colorado.

Performing arts programs have featured Central City Opera (Colorado), U.S. Air Force Academy Band, many renowned musicians and vocalists over 11 years with "Thursday Night Live" and most recently student and professional musicians on our 1930 Baldwin grand piano. In 2012, Rocky Ridge Music Center will bring students to the CAC Fine Art Gallery on Monday evenings July 2 through August 9 for weekly classical concerts.

The CAC sponsors many interactive community events annually, such as, "Imagine This! (family arts festival); Art Walks and Art Tours (self guided tours of galleries and artist studios) and collaborates with the Town and others on special events like Jazz Fest and the Winter Festival.

You are invited to join us during 2012 and celebrate familiar and new arts programming listed throughout this site!