::Pikes Peak Arts Council:: RESOURCES



	::2007 PIKES PEAK ARTS COUNCIL ABE AWARDS Business Support of the Arts Rick Vokt – Pianos New and Used SPONSORED BY COLORADO SPRINGS CREDIT UNION Mr. Vokt has provided free pianos to organizations, events and concerts for twelve years, at no cost to the recipients. This includes moving, tuning and returning them to his store at 413 North Tejon. His aim is to generate interest, especially for kids, in playing this most difficult and expensive instrument. His philosophy is “the more people who play the piano, the better it is for the world.” Community Building Rebekah Shardy – Mighty Muse for Women SPONSORED BY SPRINGS MAGAZINE Nationally published writer and poet, Rebekah Shardy, is the founder of the Mighty Muse Writing Program for Women, which encouraged women in substance abuse programs, homeless shelters, and criminal justice centers to write their experience of social reality - not a therapy but as communication. She offered free writing workshops to women who had been homeless, abused, drug addicted or imprisoned, and over several years, published two volumes of work, partnering with the Pikes Peak Library District to distribute them free to library patrons. Her current project, Scarlett: Liberal Journal of the Arts is available online.(www.scarlettliberaljournalofthearts.org) In the Trenches Mary Helsaple SPONSORED BY THE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP Artist, scientist, business woman Mary Helsaple has won national, state and local awards for excellence in fields as significant and diverse as filmmaking, art-making and community involvement - including the Governor’s Award and an Emmy. Today’s award is for all the things that do not usually garner awards – unseen, thankless things, such as painting little awards for the Pikes Peak Arts Council at nominal cost, or developing curriculum for KCIC, or conducting teacher workshops, or connecting children with their natural environment, or connecting the arts with business and education or .... Making Us Cool Colorado Springs Conservatory, W.A.M. (What Art Means) SPONSORED BY DONNA VESSEY EVENTS Linda Weise is in the business of educating youth in life – and leadership – through the arts. Begun as a summer program, WAM is now in its 5th year and ranges from peer-friendly workshops in collaboration with Parks and Recreation to the All High School Battle of the Bands. All programs are created and implemented with student input. WAM is “a testament to the power of listening to the next generation and empowering them to make a difference through their passion (L. Weise).” *Special Project* Mark and Lauren Arnest, Pike’s Dream SPONSORED BY ACADEMY BANK This talented married duo created an original one-act opera in collaboration with the Colorado Springs Conservatory to celebrate the Pioneers Museum commemoration of Zebulon Pike’s discovery of Pikes Peak two hundred years ago. Mark, Gazette arts critic, with almost a PhD in music, composed the music and Lauren, a book editor and playwright, wrote the libretto. The opera debuted on the 200th anniversary of the day the Pike Expedition left St Louis performed by students and graduates of the Conservatory. Special Project Richard and Mary Kay Carlson - Mozart @ 250 SPONSORED BY COLORADO SPRINGS CREDIT UNION Richard and Mary Kay Carlson, intense lovers of Mozart’s music, knew of world-wide celebrations in honor of Mozart’s 250th birthday. Under the fiscal sponsorship of the Pikes Peak Arts Council they created Mozart@250. No longer novice event planners, they solicited 10 community partners (and assistant Bettina Swigger) to insert curriculum into elementary schools, and create a brochure listing all regional Mozart events which encouraged production of over 50 happenings including street performances, festivals, concerts, parties, a play, and a permanent mural downtown on Pikes Peak Avenue.