OVERVIEW

Our Mission
Connecting residents and visitors with arts and culture to enrich the Pikes Peak region.

Our Vision
A community united by creativity.

COPPeR is a nonprofit organization, governed by a diverse board of community leaders from the arts, nonprofit, public and business sectors. COPPeR takes a strategic view of the Pikes Peak region to ensure that cultural services reach all people and that the arts are used to positively address issues of economic development, education, tourism, regional branding and civic life. We provide an umbrella service encompassing areas such as marketing and communication, broad-based data gathering and strategic programming, and advocacy for the arts industry in its entirety.

At COPPeR, we aim to efficiently and cost-effectively achieve immeasurably more than any one gallery, artist or performance group can do independently. The arts are an ecosystem – and at COPPeR we want to ensure that all parts of that ecosystem are healthy and thriving.

PeakRadar – COPPeR’s signature audience-development tool informs thousands of people about art events in the region. We work constantly to improve site comprehensiveness, create new marketing alliances, and add overall enhancements to search-engine optimization and promotions to increase the numbers of unique visitors, total visitors and page views.

Sounds of the Pikes Peak Region – This program promotes and celebrates local musicians and “brand” our community with its unique aural identity. Volume 1 of this CD – the first in a series to be produced through the years – features 13 of some of the top acoustic, folk, blues, traditional and Americana acts in the region. Click here to purchase the CD. We partner with the Pikes Peak Center, KRCC, the Gazette, and the Independent to produce a free monthly concert series featuring local musicians, the Showcase at Studio Bee.

The COPPeR Pages (click to download PDF)– This biennial free guidebook has information on more than 200 local arts organizations. We have published two editions. If you would like a free copy or you belong to an organization that you think should be included, please contact us.

Pikes Peak Poet Laureate Project – COPPeR is one of the five presenting partners (along with the Pikes Peak Library District, Colorado College, UCCS and Poetry West) for this initiative to inspire and celebrate poetry through outreach and performances in nontraditional settings. The poet laureate, Aaron Anstett, will serve a two-year term.

Dream City – COPPeR’s executive director serves as arts chair for this creative community visioning process that is a collaboration among lead partners The Gazette, the Pikes Peak Library District, Leadership Pikes Peak and COPPeR, with numerous local arts organizations taking part.

Quality of Life Indicators Project – COPPeR’s executive director serves as co-chair, along with Paul Butcher, of the Arts, Culture and Recreation task force for this United Way-driven community indicators project.

Cultural Planning – Colorado Springs is currently in phase one of a two-phase cultural planning process, underway 2008-2010. Click here for more information.

Business & Arts Awards Luncheon – COPPeR partners with the Chamber of Commerce on this annual fall luncheon to celebrate and recognize businesses that support and promote arts and creativity.

Arts Bootcamps – COPPeR facilitates workshops aimed to help nonprofit arts organizations improve their sustainability. Bootcamp topics are announced in advance.

Broad-Based Arts advocacy and education – COPPeR staff facilitate Arts Day for Leadership Pikes Peak programs, to include the Signature Program, the Women’s Community Leadership Initiative, Experience the Springs, and Leadership Now! (a young professionals leadership program). We also are available to speak to business and community groups to communicate the value of arts and creativity as essential to all community development.