For Immediate Release: January 23, 2009 Elaine Mariner, elaine.mariner@state.co.us, 303-892-3870 Arts Council to Conduct Listening Tour to Seek Input in Light of Proposed Cuts March 12 Grant Deadline Postponed for Artists, Organizations, Schools

Denver, CO (January 23, 2009) – The current proposal for the State’s budget balancing plan includes a 50% reduction for the Colorado Council on the Arts. Such a cut would seriously impact the agency’s ability to continue to provide the grants and services for artists, community organizations, schools, creative businesses, and government agencies at its current level. The agency has scheduled a Listening Tour from January 30 through February 10 to gather important public feedback regarding the critical areas in which state investment is essential to support our state’s creative economy. Public feedback is vital as the agency determines its future budget priorities.

Due to the budget uncertainty, the Council has also decided to postpone its March 12 grant deadline for the 2009-10 Grants to Artists and Organizations (GAO) and Success through Art (StART Schools) grants.

Artists, community groups, creative businesses, educators and municipal leaders are encouraged to attend a Listening Tour session and to invite their colleagues. Click here for the Listening Tour schedule. Additional sessions may be added. If you have questions about the tour, email coloarts@state.co.us.

The Council has also posted an online survey on the web site. This will only take a few minutes and will provide important input regarding the role of state funding for arts activities and creative enterprises in communities around the state.

The Listening Tour will travel to several cities:

Wednesday, January 28
Location: County Commons Building
37 County Road 1005
Frisco, CO 80424
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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Friday, January 30
Location: City of Fort Collins Community Room
215 N. Mason Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524-4402
Enter thru North door, parking available at Mason & Laporte Garage
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm -- Brown Bag*
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Sunday, February 1
Location: Old Town Museum
420 S. 14th Street
Burlington, CO 80807-2300
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Monday, February 2
Location: Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center, Board Room
3rd Floor, Helen T. White Gallery Building
210 N. Santa Fe Avenue
Pueblo, CO 81003-4133
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm -- Brown Bag*
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Tuesday, February 3
Location: Blair-Claldwell African American Research Library
2401 Welton Street
Denver, CO 80205-2907
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm -- Brown Bag*
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Thursday, February 5
Location: Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado
315 E. Costilla St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
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Saturday, February 7
Location: Serendipity Coffee Shop
576 Yampa Ave.
Craig, CO 81625-2612
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
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Saturday, February 7
Location: Depot Arts Center
1001 13th Street
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487-4914
Time: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
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Sunday, February 8
Location: Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts
601 E. 6th Street
Glenwood Springs, CO 81601-3112
Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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Monday, February 9
Location: Montrose School District Office - Board Room
126 S. 5th Street
Montrose, CO 81401-3663
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm -- Brown Bag*
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Tuesday, February 10
Location: Fort Lewis College
Community Concert Hall at in the Foyer
Durango, CO 81301
Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
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Wednesday, February 11
Location: Community Partnerships Building (corner of Main St. and Edgemont St. in Alamosa)
Alamosa, CO 81102
Parking in front of building
To RSVP click here or call 719.587.8227
Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm -- Brown Bag*

Tuesday, February 17
Location: Ridgway Public Library
300 Charles Street
Ridgway, CO 81432-0560
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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* Brown Bag lunches welcome. Due to potential stains, no red or purple drinks are allowed.