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The Estes Valley's Road to Designation by the State of Colorado
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In the spring of 2014, Greg Steiner, Derek Fortini, the town of Estes Park and others cooperated to complete the initial application for a Colorado Creative Arts District designation. According to Colorado Creative Industries, although Estes Park had "no red flags or failures to note," other applicant communities scored higher. Seven towns were awarded the designation in 2014; Estes Park ranked eighth. Estes Park strengths included:
  • A good concentration of creative businesses, organizations, events, and art activities
  • A good number of historic buildings
  • An "impressive degree community engagement"
  • Commendable partnerships/relationships with other organizations.

The selection committee recommended:
  • Development of a strategic and sustainable funding plan
  • Creation of a website
  • Installation of way-finding and signage
  • Working toward an authentic story to counter "touristy vibe."

In preparation for the next application cycle in first quarter of 2016, interested artists, business owners, non-profit organizations, and town government staff formed a task force intent on the establishment of the Estes Arts District..

In February 2015, the fledgling organization joined Estes Valley Partners for Commerce as a special interest group. This allowed the Estes Arts District to have temporary non-profit status and website exposure and to build an art calendar.

The City of Loveland gifted the Estes Arts District with a partial fee for a strategic planning consultant, Marcie Erion. The remainder of the fee was gifted by the Town of Estes Park. Erion, who is a certified Creative Arts District consultant, had worked with several Colorado communities to build a thriving arts community and achieve the Creative Arts District certification.

Members of the community including artists in all mediums from painting to dance, business operators, and interested residents attended a meeting in March at the Stanley Hotel. Round table discussions yielded a set of community priorities.

The public decided the following were significant priorities for the creative arts district task force to consider:
  • Visibility - marketing, branding, image, awareness
  • Infrastructure - venues, traffic/parking, affordable housing, central space for EAD organization, communication plan
  • Sales/revenue- venues, events, programming
  • Sustainability- leadership, funding streams, collaboration, organizational structure, training, programming, education
  • Collaboration- networking, physical proximity, awareness, overall community awareness/support, fragmented/territorialism

Subsequent April, May, and June meetings resulted in collaboratively written mission, vision, and values statements, along with goals and the concrete steps to accomplish those goals.

In July, the Estes Arts District formed a steering committee as the next step in seeking a Colorado Creative District designation and nonprofit 501 (c) (3) status. Guided by the task force's mission and vision statements and goals, the steering committee began the complex work of determining Estes Arts District structure, financing, board selection, and other essentials.

By early September 2015, the structure subcommittee had formed a Colorado nonprofit corporation and written a set of bylaws ready for the new Board of Directors to consider.

The nominating committee developed a job description for board directors and are readying advertising for these positions. This committee will submit applicants to the Steering Committee for selection. The first board directors will hold their positions for one year. Subsequent elections will provide for one, two, and three year staggered terms to create stability. The board, once formed, will select a chairman and the chairman will call the first board meeting into session before the end of 2015.

The Estes Arts District expects to apply for the Colorado Creative Arts Designation in April 2016. Other projects in addition to the recommended strategic and funding plans, include a city-wide art trek, a comprehensive database, a website, and signage.



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