Press Room

Application Information

The program is looking for diversity in artwork styles and concepts, with a preference for emerging artists and new and exciting ideas. Selected artists will receive an honorarium of $1,000. To apply, artists must submit a letter of intent and concept rendering. The application deadline is 5 p.m. MST on March 6. An Art in Public Places committee selects artists each year. For further information and to apply, visit www.fcgov.com/artspublic/current-competitions.php.

Session I: Presentation and Q&A:

Jan. 31, 6-7:30 p.m.
The Music District
639 S. College Ave.
Fort Collins

This session will include a presentation at 6:30 p.m. about the application and review process. Ren Burke, a past Pianos About Town artist, will offer tips to new and returning applicants. Handouts will be provided and program staff will be available to answer questions during the rest of the session.

Session II: Open House and Application Review

Feb. 21, 4-6:30 p.m.
Community Creative Center
200 Matthews St.
Fort Collins

At this drop-in session, staff will be available to sit with applicants one-on-one to review applications and make application recommendations. Staff also will be available to provide general information for applicants who were unable to attend the first information session. Information about other artist opportunities offered by the City of Fort Collins will be available.

About Pianos About Town

As part of the Pianos About Town program, local artists transform donated pianos into visual art. Once completed, the pianos take on their new status as interactive public art throughout Fort Collins. Pianos About Town started in 2010 as a collaboration among Bohemian Foundation, the Downtown Development Authority and the City of Fort Collins Art in Public Places Program.

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Who:

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization or a governmental unit serving a charitable purpose. Private foundations, type III non-functionally-integrated supporting organizations, and programs and projects under fiscal sponsorship are ineligible to apply to Pharos Fund.

Applicants must provide services within Poudre School District boundary. Applicants do not need to be headquartered in Fort Collins to receive funding. However, applicants must serve clients within the Poudre School District boundary or have a direct impact on individuals in the grantmaking area.

When:

Bohemian Foundation will accept applications until 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 2.

Where:

To apply for a grant, visit www.bohemianfoundation.org/pharos-apply

Details:

• Applicants may apply for the following types of support: program support, general operating support or project support.
• Pharos Fund grant applications are considered twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
• Applicants may request any funding amount up to $30,000 per application.
• For Pharos Fund FAQ and information on upcoming workshops, visit www.bohemianfoundation.org/community-programs/pharos-fund/application-assistance
• For further information, visit www.bohemianfoundation.org, call 970-221-2636 or email .

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Who:

Applicants must be either (1) a 501(c)(3) organization or (2) a governmental unit serving a charitable purpose. Private foundations, type III non-functionally-integrated supporting organizations, and programs and projects under fiscal sponsorship are ineligible to apply to Pharos Fund.

Applicants must provide services within Poudre School District boundary. Applicants don’t need to be headquartered in Fort Collins to receive funding. However, applicants must serve clients within the Poudre School District boundary or have a direct impact on individuals in our grantmaking area.

When:

Bohemian Foundation will accept applications until 11:59 p.m. on September 8th.

Where:

To apply for a grant, visit www.bohemianfoundation.org/pharos-apply

Details:

• Applicants may apply for the following types of support: program support, general operating support or project support.
• Pharos Fund grant applications are considered twice per year, once in the spring and once in the fall.
• Applicants may request any funding amount up to $30,000 per application.
• For Pharos Fund FAQ and information on upcoming workshops, visit www.bohemianfoundation.org/community-programs/pharos-fund/application-assistance
• For further information, visit www.bohemianfoundation.org, call 970-221-2636 or email .

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The strategy also includes designating a Colorado Music Ambassador. Gov. John Hickenlooper along with CCI chose Shawn King of Devotchka as the 2017 ambassador for his outstanding creative, professional and social contributions to the state. In addition to his exemplary creative activities, King has worked recently with Colorado businesses to increase music licensing opportunities for Colorado musicians. King will continue to advocate for the placement of Colorado music in film, on television and online. He also will lead workshops around the state on music licensing.

The CCI pilot music touring project, Detour, will continue through 2017 as part of the strategy with two or three additional statewide tours. Detour was launched in partnership with the Colorado band Flobots to match Colorado musicians with communities throughout state for special performances, community events and workshops. Detour has helped to increase touring opportunities for musicians in Colorado while also creating access to music in parts of the state that are not traditional tour stops.

Colorado’s music industry currently contributes 16,300 music-based jobs to the state’s economy and generates $1.8 billion in annual revenue.

“Music is an essential part of our state’s creative economy, increasing tourism, creating jobs and helping make Colorado an all-around great place to live,” said Gov. Hickenlooper. “Since 2011, the state’s music economy has outperformed the nation as a whole, and job growth in live music has grown by 70 percent in the past five years. Colorado is a global destination for music festivals, and our musicians play to fans just about everywhere in the world.”

About Colorado Creative Industries

Colorado Creative Industries is a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of Colorado Creative Industries is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life. www.coloradocreativeindustries.org

About Bohemian Foundation

Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colo., Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grant making programs and special initiatives in four program areas: community programs, global programs, music programs and civic programs. More information is available at www.bohemianfoundation.org

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About Artspace

Artspace is the nation’s leader in artist-led community transformation, with 35 projects in operation across the country and another dozen in development, representing a $600 million investment in America’s arts infrastructure. With headquarters in Minneapolis and offices in Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Seattle and Washington D.C., Artspace is America’s leading developer of arts facilities. To date, Artspace has completed nearly 2,000 affordable live/work units for artists and their families as well as more than a million square feet of non-residential space for artists and arts organizations. For more information about Artspace visit www.artspace.org.

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About the Music District

The Music District is a dynamic gathering hub, workspace and creative playground for the music community. For the novice or pro, it’s a place where anyone can hone their craft, learn the business and share skills and passions with musicians and music lovers. The five building campus will connect Fort Collins to regional, national and international music communities through collaboration and partnerships, offering free and fee-based programming for the public and music enthusiasts.

A living laboratory, it will continuously evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of the Northern Colorado landscape and the wider music world. Visit www.themusicdistrict.org for more information, current events and bookings.

Operating Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday
Closed Mondays and holidays

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“Jesse brings tremendous breadth of experience to this position,” Bohemian Foundation Music Programs Director Tom Scharf said. “He is both a longtime working musician as well as an effective and highly innovative leader with a track record of successfully initiating and implementing projects. We’re excited to see how the Music District develops under his directorship.”

Elliott previously acted as a consultant for the Music District through Range Music Ecosystems, a company that he co-founded. At Range Music Ecosystems Elliott developed music initiatives for a variety of clients across the state, including the City of Denver and the State of Colorado. Elliott also is a musician who has founded two touring bands that have performed more than 1,200 live shows.

“The Music District is an amazing model that has potential to support and build our music community,” said Elliott. “I’m looking forward to opening the doors in September.”

The Music District, located at 619 to 639 S. College Ave. is a five-building complex designed to serve as a dynamic gathering hub, workspace and creative playground for the music community. The space will be open to community members interested in honing their musical abilities, learning the music business and sharing their music-related skills with other music lovers. The Music District will include rehearsal areas, practice rooms and creative spaces, and it will house music-related service providers, retailers and organizations.

During the next several months, Elliott will oversee hiring of staff for the Music District. Please visit themusicdistrict.org for more information about the Music District and to submit inquiries and ideas.

Bohemian Foundation, a Fort Collins-based private family foundation established in 2001, works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grant making programs and special initiatives. Bohemian Foundation provides support for the Music District. Visit bohemianfoundation.org for information about the foundation’s four program areas: Community Programs, Global Programs, Civic Programs and Music Programs.

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Over the course of the year, local artists will paint 13 pianos donated by community members. The Art in Action tent and summer painting will return to the south side of Fort Collins’ newly-renovated Old Town Square. The public is invited to stop by to watch the work in progress. On May 11, local artist Gail Whitman will be the first to start work on 2016 pianos.

“We’re excited to usher in another season of Pianos About Town,” said Tom Scharf, Bohemian Foundation’s Music Programs director. “The program aims to bring together visual art and music on a public platform. We have wonderful things happening with music and art in Fort Collins. Pianos About Town is just one of many programs that showcase Fort Collins’ active creative communities.”

Since the program’s start in 2010, 40 local artists have been employed to paint 67 pianos.

“Over the past several years of the program we’ve employed a wide range of artists: a high school student, Colorado State University students, as well as professional artists,” said Ellen Martin, Visual Arts Administrator for Art in Public Places. “This season, six of the 13 artists are new to the Pianos About Town program.”

Pianos About Town at a Glance:

Pianos About Town is intended to be a fun, interactive art installation that creates an additional element of whimsy and surprise in Fort Collins. The project is a public art initiative that provides paid work to local visual artists, that gives the public the opportunity to observe these artists work in real time, that showcases the work of these artists throughout town, and that brings opportunities for spontaneous musical expression to the streets of Fort Collins.

The original inspiration for Pianos About Town comes from British artist Luke Jerram, who created a 60-piano installation that toured the world, stopping in New York City in June 2010. Pianos About Town was also inspired by a similar project on Denver’s 16th Street Mall. The first pianos were placed in Downtown Fort Collins during the 2010 holiday season and were an instant hit. This is the sixth season for Pianos About Town.

Pianos are acquired through donations made by community members looking for a new home for their used instruments. Pianos are picked up, free of charge, from their previous homes and brought to a storage area where they are cleaned, tuned, prepped for painting and readied for the outside elements. After that, the painting begins. Selected local artists spend approximately two weeks painting their piano in downtown Fort Collins, outdoors in a public location when weather permits. Once painted, each finished piano enters into rotation at Pianos About Town locations throughout Fort Collins. Area businesses play a key role in the success of the project by “adopting” the painted pianos and covering them during inclement weather.

Please download the full news release PDF to view artist profiles.

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“The organizations share important insight and perspectives on the prevalent issues in our community,” said Sara Maranowicz, Bohemian Foundation’s Community Programs director. “We continuously support organizations that identify and work directly to address the needs our community faces.”

Pharos Fund is a responsive grant making program of Bohemian Foundation that makes awards up to $30,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and governmental units. A committee comprised of Bohemian Foundation board members, Bohemian staff and community members selects grantees through a competitive application process.

Bohemian Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2001. Based in Fort Collins, Colo., Bohemian Foundation works to empower citizens and impact communities through its responsive grant making programs and special initiatives..

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