Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

In a recent email newsletter, we asked our patrons a couple questions for our first-ever online poll. We had hundreds of responses, and many left comments on a wide variety of topics. Here are just a few of the comments; we added a response or two as well...

COMMENT: I am not happy about paying so much extra for special exhibits. Members should be able to visit multiple times without paying a fat fee each time.

FAC: Many mentioned the new pricing structure. No one likes to pay more, but we ask our patrons to remember that the Fine Arts Center is a private institution with no governmental funding of any kind. Our vision is to provide innovative, world-class programming. To bring in the world’s best traveling exhibitions, like The Eclectic Eye: Pop and Illusion or the upcoming Impressionist and Modern Masters, costs money. FAC members continue to receive free admission to the permanent collection galleries on the first floor of the FAC Main as well as the FAC MODERN. Members also receive discounts on a variety of items as well as other benefits on top of supporting the arts and culture of their community.

COMMENT: I am very concerned about the future of the totem pole and the library, both incredibly important icons of the FAC.

FAC: We agree. Both the library and the totem pole are incredibly important to the FAC. Both are slated for renovation. We will keep our membership and the community abreast of any developments in the future.

COMMENT: Wish somehow the house bulldozed for the Bemis parking could have been saved.

FAC: We agree. The Carpenter House was removed as a last resort and after much discussion of many, many options. The FAC understands the importance of preserving historically significant structure; we just spent several years and a lot of money renovating the John Gaw Meem building. We have 145 classes at the Bemis School of Art in 14 studios, but no dedicated parking spaces for the school. Parents were dropping off the children in trafficked areas. By November, we will have 28 new spaces and a drop-off zone for parents and kids. Our first priority was to create a safe environment for our patrons.

Our patrons should know that prior to the issuance of the construction permit, the FAC presented its master plan – which included the removal of the Carpenter House – to City Officials and the State of Colorado Historical Society … neither the city nor the Historical Society considered the building a historically significant structure. The master plan was discussed at required public meetings, including a presentation to the Colorado Springs Historic Preservation Board as requested by the city. The House was offered to other institutions for relocation, but none took us up on the offer. The building had numerous repairs needed, and to remove the structure would have required cutting the building in half.

FAC: A long-range goal of the FAC is to build an underground multi-level parking structure where our main lot is now. We are exploring the options on collaborating on the project with our neighbors and the city. We will keep you in the loop when new details become available. In the meantime, we suggest that our patrons consider using the city’s free shuttle service, which conveniently enough has a drop-off/pick-up location near the FAC Sculpture Garden on Cascade.

COMMENT: Thank you for such a beautiful addition to the museum, it is wonderful.

COMMENT: Great opening and great exhibitions. Really happy to see the permanent collection displayed so well.

COMMENT: What’s happening with the incredible collections of SW Native American art in the Taylor Museum?

FAC: Presently, a stunning selection of Native American baskets and textiles is displayed in our permanent collection galleries. We will continue to exhibit the collection in different and innovative formats, on an ongoing basis. The permanent collection galleries will never be static. Those objects not on exhibit at the moment are being organized and packed to be moved into our new state-of-the-art collections storage in the basement of the new wing. Some of the Hispanic Southwestern works are also on exhibit at the moment. The Santos will be displayed very soon; after being on exhibit for almost 14 years, they needed some rest and care. We are in the process of assuring that the pieces are properly cleaned, stabilized if needed, and "in shape" to be taken back to the galleries. Thanks so much for your interest. We are so glad that our members appreciate these magnificent collections!

COMMENT: I love Family Adventure Days … so inexpensive for the quality of projects.

FAC: We do have a reciprocal membership with the Denver Art Museum and 16 others, like the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Dallas, New Orleans, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego and Seattle museums of art as part of the Western Reciprocal Membership. You just need to join the FAC at the ‘contributor’ level and you are eligible to enjoy membership privileges at all of these outstanding institutions.

COMMENT: Dr. De Marsche got us on the right track … let’s keep it going! We have a lot to be excited about … just have to keep bringing new ideas and new people as members … communication is going to be the challenge … keeping the members involved.

FAC: Thank you and all of the FAC members who responded to our first-ever poll. We agree that communication is important, so we will continue to keep you in the loop. We want and need your feedback, so feel free to drop us a note or give us a call any time.

Comments/FAQs