And, we're off!!

BEET STREET UNVEILED


Cultural initiative takes arts' beat to the people

BY CARI MERRILL

Organizers unveiled the Beet Street concept Wednesday night to dancing, drums and music - just a taste of what the downtown cultural initiative figures to be.

The official launch of the effort, a project five years in the making, featured a blessing and prayer from David Swallow, a Lakota spiritual leader, dancing from the Falé West African Drum/Dance Group, a chat with author John Villani and a featured performance from Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval.

The white tent in Civic Center Park was filled to capacity with the 800 people, many of whom had rave reviews for the idea that will make cultural entertainment a staple in downtown Fort Collins.

"I don't think anyone could be as lucky as we are," said Beet Street Executive Director Carol Bennis of the hundreds of business leaders, city officials and community members in attendance. "It's amazing to finally flip the switch and give a little taste for what's to come in 2008."

It's still unclear where the initiative will be housed. The Beet Street committee is in discussions, though it's already working with the Fort Collins Symphony to bring performances to an open-air venue and with Colorado State University's School of the Arts to bring plays, including an annual Shakespeare Festival, to the outdoor stage.

An open-air venue is part of Beet Street's long-term plans.

It was the growing arts culture and community that brought Dennis Bigelow back to Fort Collins after going to school in St. Louis.

"Fort Collins seemed to be on the brink of something really big artistically," said the KRFC-FM music director and emcee for the night, adding that Fort Collins just needed a push that Beet Street provides.

Mike Burns, former Chamber of Commerce president, summed up the night in one word: fabulous.

"(Beet Street) is pulling together the community to give Fort Collins a unique identity," he said of the project that will add to the qualities that make Fort Collins a great place to live. "This gives us something to talk about that's real and exciting."

Community member Cindy Lopez heard about Beet Street through word of mouth and came to Wednesday night's unveiling to learn more about the project she hopes will tie the Northern Colorado region together.

Lopez, who was waiting to hear the music of Arturo Sandoval, admitted she was a bit skeptical, thinking Beet Street was "narrowly focused" only on art in Fort Collins but after hearing plans to encompass the region, she is now "anxious" to see the project up and running.

"I just hope the art community does reach out to our young folks and the university, and I hope they broaden the focus," she said. "There's plenty of art to go around."

Originally published in the Fort Collins Coloradoan on Thursday, September 20, 2007