November 2020 - Fort Collins Lincoln Center

Planning for the Unexpected

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that life can be completely unpredictable (and it never hurts to have a surplus of toilet paper stashed in your basement). So when you’re planning an event months or even years in advance, it’s important to think about contingency plans in case unexpected circumstances throw your event off course.

Whether it’s a hailstorm, wildfire smoke, a physical ailment, or a worldwide pandemic that’s derailing your original event plans, the show can still go on if you are prepared.

Inclement Weather
There’s nothing like an elaborate fall wedding ceremony under Tivoli lights on The Lincoln Center’s Rooftop Deck as the sun sets behind the foothills. That is, until those dark clouds roll in the night before, threatening to unleash a wintery mix on all your guests. With proper preparation, this unexpected weather event doesn’t have to be the end of the world—which is why I always recommend renting a backup space. The Lincoln Center offers backup space rentals at a 30% discount so you can easily move your event inside to one of our beautiful ballrooms if the great outdoors doesn’t cooperate. If you prefer to stay outdoors regardless of weather, renting tables with tents or a large party tent for an outdoor event is also a great way to prepare for inclement weather. But keep in mind outdoor alternatives can’t protect against wildfire smoke or various other outdoor surprises that Colorado sometimes brings like high winds or a foot of snow in September.

Physical Ailment
It’s probably not a part of your vision to come down with a cold or twist an ankle prior to your event, but it’s important to remember that it could happen. So if living in a bubble to prevent sickness or injury isn’t an attainable goal, I recommend the following: prepare an emergency bag filled with medications and items you many need in a pinch, like anti-inflammatories, ice packs, cold medicine, and antacids. If planning to wear heels, have a backup pair of comfortable flats that can be utilized in the event of a minor injury like a stubbed toe or twisted ankle, or any dance-related injury of the sort. In the unfortunate instance that you come down with a serious illness that will put your guests at risk, make sure that you are familiar with the policies of your venue so you can reschedule or cancel your event accordingly.

Worldwide Pandemic
Of course, the recent pandemic is something we didn’t even know we should be prepared for, but now that it’s here, it’s been added to the list of circumstances needing a contingency plan. Again, I urge you to be familiar with your venue’s policy on rescheduling and cancellation. Ask your venue how they handled the pandemic, and expect their answer to apply to any similar happenings that may occur in the future. If you’re open to hosting a scaled-down event, keep a second guest list of your closest family and friends so you have a benchmark for how small you’re willing to make your event before opting to reschedule.

Preparation is key. As an event coordinator, I imagine dozens of scenarios when planning an event and make sure that I have a Plan B if any of them come to fruition. I also know to expect the unexpected, so if the unimaginable occurs, I remember to be flexible, innovative, and communicative. I recommend the same for my clients. Plan ahead, and as one of my esteemed colleagues always says, “hope for the best, and plan for the worst.”

Rachael Russell | The Lincoln Center, Conference Services Coordinator | rrussell@fcgov.com

The LC Art Gallery: The Right to Herself

The Right To Herself exhibition celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment—its complicated promise of human rights, liberty and equity—and the search for agency through diverse works of art. This free exhibition reflects on Women’s Suffrage and the vote as a promise for agency and voice within society, and its relationship to diverse communities. In featuring these themes, the exhibition will recall, reclaim, and reimagine the power of women from different racial, ethnic, and class-based histories in front of the lens and rectify their lacking presence within photography and art history.

The exhibition is organized by the Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins. It is exhibiting jointly at The Lincoln Center Art Gallery and the Clara Hatton Gallery at the CSU Visual Arts Building, be sure to visit both galleries to see the full exhibition.

The Right to Herself exhibition is now open in The Lincoln Center Art Gallery by reservation, 12–3 pm, Tuesday–Friday, through November 28. There will be a virtual Closing Reception Tuesday, November 24, 5–6 pm.

Learn more and reserve a time to visit The Lincoln Center’s exhibit at lctix.com/the-right-to-herself

New Art in Public Places Artwork Installed Downtown

The Art in Public Places Program would like to invite the community to visit the newly completed artwork on Willow Street. Artist Andy Dufford of Chevo Studios installed In Praise of the Poudre at the northwest corner of Willow and Linden Streets and Conveyance along the streetscape on Willow Street in the newly developed River District. This project is a collaboration with Art in Public Places, City Engineering and Utilities Departments, the Downtown Development Authority, and the artist.

Daytime view of *In Praise of the Poudre*

In Praise of the Poudre is comprised of four undulating granite columns that feature relief carvings of the plants, animals, insects and landforms found around, within, and below the Cache la Poudre River. This work celebrates the elements of a healthy river ecosystem and educates visitors about water quality and natural water systems in Fort Collins. In addition to the relief imagery depicting riparian ecology and geology, each stone column has an illuminated surface that evokes reflections on the surface of water. The four sculptural columns range in height from 8’ to 15’ and are carved from Carnelian granite, a beautiful red-toned stone. For each stone column, the artists hand-carved and removed almost half the original weight to create the beautiful undulating forms, which echo the many rhythms and textures of the Cache la Poudre River. The artwork is stunning, especially at night when both the sculptural columns and the plaza are illuminated.

The wayside of *Conveyance* representing the canyon.

Conveyance, is the artist created seating on the Willow streetscape. Located on Willow Street between Linden and Northside Aztlan Community Center it takes the form of three seating areas that explore the ways that the Cache la Poudre River’s water is conveyed from the mountain top into the lives of the citizens of Fort Collins. Visitors explore the nature of the river through a series of three interactive stops illustrating a canyon, a mill race, and pipes. A haiku accompanies each artwork to illuminate the unseen and sometimes underappreciated miracle of water in our lives.

Learn more at fcgov.com/artspublic.

#NoCoArtsStrong: The Lincoln Center Support League Aids Local Artists

There is no doubt 2020 has presented us with challenges. But as Robert H. Schuller said, “Tough times never last, tough people do.” Together, The Lincoln Center and The Lincoln Center Support League believe in the power and strength of the arts to help carry us through. This is why the Support League recently launched a new Support Grant program to help our local arts organizations with rental costs of utilizing The Lincoln Center’s performance spaces.

This year, in response to hardships caused by COVID-19, the Support League is offering financial assistance to local arts presenters by helping to cover the costs of renting The Lincoln Center Performance Hall and/or Magnolia Theatre. The Support League has established a gift protocol based on rental rates specific to applying organizations. Rental rates vary depending on the organization and location of the event.

“We know revenue is down for all businesses this year and arts organizations are especially impacted,” says The Lincoln Center Support League Treasurer, Bruce Staff. “With the end of the year approaching, we think it is important to help provide funding for the traditional holiday performances that our community looks forward to seeing. We are also hopeful that this might assist local arts groups as we move past the new year.”

The Lincoln Center Support League is a non-profit organization with the mission to work in partnership with The Lincoln Center to excite, enlighten and educate young people through the performing arts in addition to promoting cultural opportunities in the community. For the past 38 years, the Support League has provided sponsorships, services, equipment, volunteers, and staff support for countless Lincoln Center events, which are vital to the community. The newly implemented Support Grant is the next step in furthering the Support League’s commitment to the arts.

Funds are limited and awards are granted on a first-come, first-served basis for qualifying local organizations. The following are qualification requirements:

• Must be an arts organization (for-profit or non-profit)
• Must execute business in Larimer or Weld County
• Must provide confirmed dates, times and locations of event
• Must describe the nature of the event
• Must explain how the event is mission-aligned with The Lincoln Center Support League
• Must provide an estimate of how many artists are involved and anticipated audience attendance

If you or your organization are interested in applying for a Support Grant, please click here.

The Support League is currently fundraising in order to continue our work in supporting local artists and connecting artists with school children. If you are interested in making a contribution, please click here to find out how you can help the Support League.

The Lincoln Center Support League is also participating in Colorado Gives Day, a statewide online giving movement on December 8th, 2020 to help fund the Support Grant. You can also help us through the Amazon Smile program. You shop, Amazon gives.

The Lincoln Center Support League is proud to partner with the City of Fort Collins Lincoln Center. Together, we will continue to support our local performing artists and carry on through what may come; thank you for supporting us as we work through these tough times!

Dulcie Willis | President, The Lincoln Center Support League