DENVER’S DIVISION OF THEATRES AND ARENAS ANNOUNCES PLAN TO ACQUIRE
CROSSROADS THEATER AT FIVE POINTS
DENVER, CO — DECEMBER 14, 2009 — The City and County of Denver’s Division of Theatres and Arenas – proprietors of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Colorado Convention Center and the Denver Coliseum – today announced an intent to acquire the struggling Crossroads Theatre in the historic Five Points neighborhood. With the support of Crossroads’ current owner Kurt Lewis and landlord Hope Communities, Theatres and Arenas is working to take possession of the space as early as January 2010.
“Assuming the lease and management of Crossroads Theatre is one of the most creative endeavors Theatres and Arenas has undertaken,” said Jack Finlaw, Director of Theatres and Arenas. “Our agency’s mission is to provide cultural and public assembly facilities to Denver’s diverse communities. Adding Crossroads to the catalog of venues we manage on behalf of the City will greatly advance our goal of offering affordable spaces, and will enable us to foster a diversity of programming for residents and visitors to Denver.”
“The construction of Crossroads Theater at Five Points implemented the idea of a convergence of diverse cultures and art forms in an intimate performance space located in the heart of the city,” said Kurt Lewis, current owner and operator of the venue. “Since its opening, Crossroads has hosted poetry, music, theater, film, dance, visual art, storytelling, lectures and community meetings for all cultures in the city. I am excited to see Theatres and Arenas take the baton so that Crossroads can continue to provide an intimate affordable venue for Denver’s artists and performers to tell the story of our city.”
The 100-seat Crossroads Theatre has served small, independent performing arts groups and the Five Points community since 2007. When Kurt Lewis began searching for an entity to take over his stake in the venue, Theatres and Arenas recognized an opportunity to partner with and serve two vital Denver communities: the Five Points neighborhood and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Tier III performing arts organizations. With collaboration from Denver’s Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA), the Denver Office of Economic Development, the new Five Points Business District, District 8 Councilwoman Carla Madison and Mayor John Hickenlooper, Theatres and Arenas aims to preserve an important cultural space and contribute to the economic development of one of Denver’s most treasured neighborhoods.
“Crossroads Theatre is an incredible cultural asset of the historic Five Points neighborhood,” said André Pettigrew, Executive Director of the Denver Office of Economic Development. “Its continued success is paramount, as it further activates the neighborhood and provides a spark for future growth, as outlined in our office’s Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative District Development Plan for the area.”
"Crossroads has been an important part of the revitalization of Five Points; it was part of the reawakening of the cultural center that Welton Street had been known for," said City Councilwoman Carla Madison. "When it looked like Crossroads was going to close, neighbors felt like it was a huge step backward. We are so grateful to Theatres and Arenas for stepping up and not only preserving live theater, but continuing Kurt Lewis' vision of creating a community-based theater. This is a great solution for local theater groups and the community at large."
Rather than take possession of the space with a programming agenda already in place, Theatres and Arenas will gather community input through public meetings to determine how the Five Points and SCFD Tier III communities would like to see the space utilized. Theatres and Arenas will make every effort to provide a venue where these communities can develop organic, sustainable programming that will enhance the cultural economy in Denver, while promoting and preserving the heritage of the neighborhood surrounding Crossroads Theatre.
“The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs is greatly supportive of the decision by the Division of Theatres and Arenas to take over management of the venue,” said Erin Trapp, Director. “We believe the move will be mutually beneficial to the Five Points community and the local arts organizations that choose to use the space. DOCA’s own use of the space through the 5 Points Jazz Festival has been a strong success and we hope that other performance groups will benefit from this important community resource.”
All events currently scheduled at Crossroads Theatre will take place planned. For location, event and ticket information, visit www.denvercrossroads.com. Information on public meetings related to the space will be announced soon.
The City of Denver’s Division of Theatres and Arenas owns and operates Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Colorado Convention Center and the historic Denver Coliseum. For more information visit www.redrocksonline.com, www.artscomplex.com, www.denverconvention.com and www.denvercoliseum.com.
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The booking manager for Theatres and Arenas is Jeannette Murrietta – 720 865 4225, jeannette.murrietta@denvergov.org
This is a great artistic development and multi-cultural performance organizations contribute to tolerance and diversity in any city.
Posted by: Jane Dollou | July 27, 2010 at 05:05 PM