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City as a Venue 2021

Thank you for joining us in 2021 for the inaugural year of City as a Venue where we took the arts OUTSIDE, to you, in neighborhoods across the city with classes, camps, workshops, events, and performances through the summer. 

We’re already dreaming and planning for City as a Venue 2022!

PAST EVENTS - 2021 Schedule

June 7–18, M–F

FAC Theatre School Emerging Artists Summer Camps
FAC Outdoor Stage

June 1418

Art & Acting in the Forest (SOLD OUT!)

June 15, 7 p.m.

Summer Music Festival (Free and open to all)
Outdoor Festival Celebration
Monument Valley Park (to the west of the Fine Arts Center)

June 21–25

Art & Acting in the Forest (SOLD OUT!)

June 21–25, M–F

FAC Theatre School Budding Thespians Summer Camp
FAC Outdoor Stage

June 26

Front Range Fables Family Theatre Performance & hands-on art activities — FREE
FAC Outdoor Stage | Pre-registration recommended
Register for 10 a.m.
Register for 10:45 a.m.
Register for 11:30 a.m.

June 28–Aug. 1

FAC Theatre School Youth Repertory Ensemble Summer Camp
FAC Outdoor Stage

July 3

Saturdays in the Park with the FAC — FREE
Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado presents JQA
Register for 2 p.m. performance
Register for 7 p.m. performance
Acacia Park Bandshell

July 3

Front Range Fables Family Theatre Performance & hands-on art activities — FREE
Hillside Community Center | Capacity is limited; Pre-registration recommended
Register for 10 a.m.
Register for 10:45 a.m.
Register for 11:30 a.m.

July 5–9

Art & Acting in the Forest (SOLD OUT!)

July 6, 4:30 p.m.

Livestream conversation with Cheech Marin on FAC Summer 2021 Exhibition Papel Chicano Dos
More Info

July 10

Front Range Fables Family Theatre Performance & hands-on art activities — FREE
Meadows Park | Pre-registration recommended
Register for 10 a.m.
Register for 10:45 a.m.
Register for 11:30 a.m.

July 10, 6–10:30 p.m.

Saturdays in the Park with the FAC — FREE
EPIC concert & The World of Us film screening (CC Mobile Arts)

An hour of non-stuffy chamber music at 6 p.m. followed by a screening of The World of Us at 8:30 p.m.
6 p.m. EPIC concert — Register
8:30 p.m. The World of Us film screening — Register
Acacia Park Bandshell

July 12–16

Art & Acting in the Forest (SOLD OUT!)

July 17, 10 a.m.

Front Range Fables Family Theatre Performance & hands-on art activities — FREE
Acacia Park Bandshell | Pre-registration recommended
Register for 10 a.m.
Register for 10:45 a.m.
Register for 11:30 a.m.

July 19–23

Art & Acting in the Forest (SOLD OUT!)

July 24, 10 a.m.

Front Range Fables Family Theatre Performance & hands-on art activities — FREE
Deerfield Hills Community Center | Pre-registration recommended
Register for 10 a.m.
Register for 10:45 a.m.
Register for 11:30 a.m.

July 24, 1 p.m.

Saturdays in the Park with the FAC — FREE
Musical Theatre Concert
Pre-registration recommended
Fine Arts Center Pit Orchestra – 1 p.m.
Jennifer DeDominici, Nathan Halvorson, Jerry McCauley
Jerry McCauley and Friends – 2:30 p.m.
Jerry McCauley, Kelli Dodd, Rebecca Myers, Cheerish Martin, Aria McCauley, Miranda McCauley, Miriam Roth
Acacia Park Bandshell

July 26–30

Art & Acting in the Forest (SOLD OUT!)

July 26–Aug. 6, MF

FAC Theatre School Emerging Artists Summer Camp
FAC Outdoor Stage

July 29–Aug. 1, 8 p.m.

She Loves Me – Youth Rep Production (Ticketed)
FAC Outdoor Stage

July 31, 1:30–2:50 p.m.

Front Range Fables Family Theatre Performance — FREE
This event is part of a downtown celebration of 150 years
In addition to Front Range Fables, be sure to visit us and CC Mobile Arts at booth #11 on the west side of Tejon. CC alum Emma Kerr will be working with Black and Pink on an exhibition in the truck with hands on activities and take away kits from Bemis School of Art.
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

July 31–Aug. 21

Plein Air Painting: Keep It Simple (SOLD OUT!)

July 31, 1:30 p.m.

Saturdays in the Park with the FAC — FREE (limited availability!)
Theatreworks presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream Register
Acacia Park Bandshell

Aug. 6, 5-8 p.m.

First Friday at the FAC | Papel Chicano Dos final weekend — FREE
This event is taking place outdoors in the FAC parking lot

Aug. 7, 6:30 p.m.

Keep Colorado Springs Queer Open Mic — FREE
Poetry, Music and More!
116 E. Boulder Street
In collaboration with Keep Colorado Springs Queer and CC Mobile Arts

Aug. 7, 10 a.m.

Front Range Fables Family Theatre Performance & hands-on art activities — FREE
Concrete Coyote | Pre-registration recommended
Register for 10 a.m.
Register for 10:45 a.m.
Register for 11:30 a.m.

Aug. 12–22, 8 p.m.

Where Did We Sit on the Bus? (Theatre — ticketed)
FAC Outdoor Stage

Aug. 25–Sept. 5, 8 p.m.

Working (Musical Theatre — ticketed)
FAC Outdoor Stage

Free Events

City as a Venue Pikes Peak illustrationSaturdays in the Park with the FAC

July 3 — Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado presents JQA
July 10 — EPIC concert & The World of Us film screening (CC Mobile Arts)
July 24 — FAC Pit Orchestra & Jerry McCauley and Friends
July 31 — Theatreworks presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream
See schedule below for details and times

Pre-registration encouraged

Acacia Park Bandshell

City as a Venue Pikes Peak illustrationFront Range Fables

This series of plays for young audiences written by local playwrights is based on historical events from the Pikes Peak region. Performed Saturdays (June 26–Aug. 7) at venues throughout the city, with art activities from Bemis School of Art. 

Shepherd of the Great Mountain, To Slay the Dragon, The Stone Garden will be performed 3 times on each date to allow for social distancing. Pre-registration encouraged

Details & registration

Around Town

CC's Mobile Arts TruckMobile Arts

A featured program of City as a Venue
Mobile Arts is a robust program that seeks to provide recurring and diverse high-quality, multi-disciplinary arts experiences at no cost to the public. Dynamic pop-up dance classes and performances, site-specific short plays, film screenings, a mobile printing press, and many more possibilities will be featured on the Arts Mobile. The Arts Mobile will emphasize collaboration, learning, experiences, and outreach. Community members can share ideas for programming of interest, local artists can book the van for shows and workshops, local institutions can request visits from the van to their sites. Mobile Arts seeks to reach all corners of the city, represent the diversity of stories held here, and create spaces for the exchange of ideas, creativity, and joy!

Follow CC Mobile Arts on Facebook and Instagram!

Emanuel Martinez,Arte Mestiza
Art Around Town

Art Around Town is a project initiated by Colorado College students during the Spring of 2021. Eager for new ways to connect with community, these students developed the project to extend the walls of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College into the broader community.

How to Explore

Know Before You Go

Ticketing/registration – Events requiring registration or tickets are identified above. Click through to the program page for details and to purchase tickets.

Restrooms – Please be aware that restroom facilities may not be available at all city parks, community centers, public spaces so plan accordingly. We encourage event attendees to support surrounding businesses who may have facilities available for paying customers.

Concessions – Concessions will be available at select City as a Venue events scheduled for the FAC Outdoor Stage. No organized concessions are planned for other venues but we encourage you to support the local businesses that surround City as a Venue performance locations.

Seating – These are outdoor lawn seating events; no seating will be provided but feel free to bring your own blanket or folding chair if you’d like! If you bring chairs, please be considerate of ground level patrons on grass and blankets and find a spot near the sides or back.

Weather – As long as there’s no immediate danger to cast, crew or audience (hail, lightening, electrical safety), City as a Venue programming will go on rain or shine! Check the forecast and come prepared.

FAQs

How will this happen safely within COVID-19 regulations?

Exposure to COVID-19 is possible in public places. In our commitment to reduce risk, we ask you to review and be aware of the local and state guidelines. 

We request that attendees:

  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth if you are not vaccinated.
  • Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer often.
  • Maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet from other groups when possible.

Please refrain from attending if anyone in your party:

  • Is COVID-19 positive or currently awaiting results from a  test
  • Has been exposed to COVID-19 in the past 14 days
  • Is experiencing any of the following:
    – a new cough (or worsening of chronic cough)
    – shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    – muscle or body aches
    – nausea or vomiting
    – fever of >100.4 F° and/or chills

Will these outdoor performances and presentations be free?

Most of them, YES, thanks to generous support from grants and our sponsors. If you see value in programs like this we hope you’ll consider donating too.
Click on individual events in the calendar above for details on ticketing. Engagement from YOU and financial support from generous community members, businesses, philanthropic organizations is what will make this the sustaining success we believe it can be.

Will these all be family friendly?

Absolutely! This is intended to be a multi-generational experience. Bring grandma, bring the kids. As the roster and schedule for City as a Venue continues to build, we will be sure to include suggested ages for any programming that calls for it.

Sponsors

Colorado College Cultural Attractions Fund
Colorado Creative Industries Lodging and Auto Retail Tax
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
NEA