Arvada Center: Setting the stage for performances, exhibits and education
The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities claims to the largest multidisciplinary arts center in the country. It features a spectrum of amateur and professional music, dance and theater opportunities, art exhibitions and educational programs for all ages, and special events held at an outdoor amphitheatre and two indoor stages. With the number and variety of programs and participants here, its multi-use label is entirely accurate.
Opened July 4, 1976, this is a place that doesn’t rely on recycling the same old programs and exhibits. The Arvada Center manages to re-invent itself every year to present new trends and traditional concepts with creativity. Performances range from nationally known performers to the center’s theater company and a respected children’s theater series. Music performances include a fun, eclectic lineup of outdoor pop/rock concerts in an intimate 800-seat amphitheatre with 600 additional lawn spots. Year-round concerts cover classical, blue-grass and country, plus jazz and big-band genres. Two floors of gallery space host 12-15 exhibitions annually, with an emphasis on contemporary art. It's a nice contrast to the onsite historical museum that displays the cultural heritage of Arvada. The 144-year-old Haines loghouse is a must-see.
Education annually includes 800 classes that attract youngsters to the gray-haired set, more than 65,000 each year who learn about dance, music, drawing and painting, photography, ceramics and yoga. The Front Range Youth Symphony selects musicians by audition, and rehearses and performs from August through April. Summer camps are available for all kids that cover a variety of arts-focused subjects. More than 20,000 students take advantage of programs and tours during the school year, and Family Days with similar backstage tours and activities are held twice a year.
The onsite playground features a 343-foot-long, interactive concrete "sea-saurus" named Squiggles, ideal for kid-climbing and play. Look for garbage cans that talk back to you when trash is added, as well as a huge sandbox with three additional sculptures. The playground, open daily, is free to the public. The center’s art galleries and museum are also available free of charge. The onsite gift shop is worth a look for off-the-beaten-path items.
The Arvada Center is accessible for those with visual, audial and mobility needs...even the outdoor playground features multisensory opportunities. The venue also offers both shadowed performances for deaf or hard-of-hearing patrons and audio-described shows for guests who are blind or have low vision. There are additional interpreted classes, workshops and tours available upon request.
HelloDenver Tip: Sign up for the Arvada Center's e-newsletter. Not only do you get the latest on events and activities, you also have opportunities that include purchasing summer concert tickets ahead of the rest of the crowd. Go to http://arvadacenter.org/on-stage at the bottom of the page.
Posted by Lisa Perry
