The Colorado Springs Conservatory (CSC) is pleased to announce some exciting developments and opportunities designed to grow and expand our programming and continuum of learning.
After 28 years of founding and leading the Colorado Springs Conservatory, Linda Weise will be transitioning to the newly formed Community Cultural Collective and will champion the vision and process of reimagining the 100 year old Colorado Springs City Auditorium.
The Community Cultural Collective (CCC) at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium is a newly formed 501(c)(3) dedicated to the reimagining, operation and development of the 100-year-old City Auditorium as a quality, mid-size affordable performance and presentation venue for the Colorado Springs community. The City Auditorium, located at 221 E. Kiowa, is being renovated and revitalized by the CCC for arts and culture, education and related community activities and events.
This new initiative presents numerous opportunities for the Conservatory and its students and partners as we envision being a primary tenant with access to expanded and greatly improved facilities for carrying out our mission of providing world class arts immersion studies and programs in instrumental music, vocals, music theory, theater arts, recording arts, movement, history, and humanities to young people age’s birth through high school seniors and adults in the community.
Linda Weise is spearheading the CCC project as its new president, which again presents numerous opportunities and synergies for the Conservatory. She will transition from her role as Conservatory Founding CEO to take on this new role and as of June 30. Chief Operating Officer Scott Marble will become the Conservatory’s Interim CEO. “This CCC initiative will enable the Conservatory to grow and thrive while also expanding and leveraging Linda’s acumen and business success for the benefit of the entire community with a renewed City Auditorium to assure sustainability for its next 100 years,” said Marble.
“I could not be prouder and humbled to take on this historic project and to work alongside my new team mates at the CCC as well as the team at the Conservatory. It’s what I call, a life moment,” says Weise.ltural Collective at the City Auditorium will be the Colorado Springs Conservatory, building upon a successful track record of programming in education, culture and entrepreneurship.”
“The CSC board and leadership team are in an excellent position to ensure continued success for our students,” said CJ Moore, Conservatory Board Chair Emerita. “Linda Weise has served as Founding CEO the Conservatory since 1994, and through her efforts, it has served thousands of children and families from across Pikes Peak region. The unique partnership models she has developed with community, civic, arts, education and health partners and the many original works she wrote and produced have provided hundreds of outreach opportunities for our students each year. She has also brought international and national acclaim to the Conservatory with numerous awards and recognition. We support Linda in her work with the Community Cultural Collective and the strong partnership the Conservatory family will have as part of this new initiative for the arts. The Conservatory will not be losing our founder, but rather benefiting from her new transition role that will help sustain our future,” Moore said.
“The structure of the CCC business model will allow utilization to a wide array of community members, inclusive of all populations regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability and language,” said CCC Board Chair David Lord. “It will serve as an instrument and foundation for creativity, growth and cohesiveness, which are qualities also inspired by the Colorado Springs Conservatory. We envision a great partnership between the CCC and the CSC unfolding in the months ahead. It will serve as an instrument and foundation for creativity, growth and cohesiveness in our community. The facility provides an economic opportunity with working space for entrepreneurial businesses related to the arts and to attract events to our community.”
“The City Administration is supportive of this concept and as part of the due diligence process that the CSC and the CCC have been undergoing since 2018, is drafting an MOU that will include financial partnership,” says Bob Cope of the City Economic Development Department.
“The mission of the Community Cultural Collective is to create a city center affording access to all citizens for the purposes of relevant, inspired, and thoughtful works of the human spirit,” said Weise. “Together with a team of architects, the cultural community, citizens, and City leadership, we are excited about this vision that will preserve the history and public use of the building. A key component of the Community Cultural Collective at the City Auditorium will be the Colorado Springs Conservatory, building upon a successful track record of programming in education, culture and entrepreneurship.”
Congratulations Linda!
Colorado Springs Conservatory: The Conservatory is the Pikes Peak region’s only non- auditioned preparatory performing arts conservatory, offering world-class arts immersion studies and programs in instrumental music, vocals, music theory, theater arts, recording arts, movement, history, and humanities to young people age’s birth through high school seniors and adults in the community. The organization was founded in 1994 by Oberlin Conservatory and Juilliard School educated Linda Weise, whose mission at that time was to provide a unique home for artistically inclined high school students who were likely to pursue an education in the arts after graduation. As CSC became better known in the region and recognized as having programming that not only provided youth the opportunity to grow creatively and personally through the arts but also grow prosocial skills and build protective factors in a physically and emotionally safe environment, CSC began expanding programming and outreach efforts. These efforts resulted in partnerships within the community and across the region and state leading to more intentional and informed arts education programming for all youth, particularly at-risk and underserved populations.
The CSC offers a unique ‘continuum of learning’ by affording students the opportunity to discover their talents and interests; come to appreciate that hard work, dedication, and focus will help them achieve their career goals; and understand that a complete education (minimally high school graduation but more specifically the pursuit of higher education) is key to future success. CSC has a 27-year track record of student success and community arts advocacy and partnerships. The earlier students become engaged, the more likely they are to maintain the rigor of enrollment with the program throughout their elementary, middle and high school years. Students develop a tendency for leadership and creative problem solving, empowerment, and self and situational awareness. As a result of this track record of success and positive outcomes, regional leadership have recognized CSC as a best practices program and continues ongoing review of impact on systemic, societal issues such as early intervention and literacy, bullying, foster youth and teen suicide prevention.
Community Cultural Collective: For more information, visit the website Communityculturalcollective.org
