The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is a nonprofit, multi-use cultural facility in
Arvada
Arvada () is a home rule municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties, Colorado, United States. The city population was 124,402 at the 2020 United States Census, with 121,510 residing in Jefferson County and 2,892 residing in Adams Cou ...
,
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, which opened in 1976. The Arvada Center facility comprises the Arvada History Museum, three theatres, 10,000 square feet of art galleries, music, dance, and theatre rehearsal rooms, classrooms, a conference center, and an amphitheater.
Facility
Located 7.8 miles northwest of
Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
, the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities is the thirteenth largest cultural attraction in the Denver metro area, and Colorado's third-largest theatre company. The Arvada Center comprises the Arvada History Museum, three theatres, 10,000 square feet of art galleries, music, dance, and theater rehearsal rooms, classrooms, a conference center, and an amphitheater.
The center offers classes in the
visual
The visual system comprises the sensory organ (the eye) and parts of the central nervous system (the retina containing photoreceptor cells, the optic nerve, the optic tract and the visual cortex) which gives organisms the sense of sight (the ...
and
performing arts
The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which are the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects. Perform ...
for people of all ages. The Arvada Center runs a summer theater program, composed of several
stage play
A play is a work of drama, usually consisting mostly of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and intended for theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Reading (process), reading. The writer of a play is called a playwright.
Pla ...
s and
musicals performed by various companies, both run by the center, as well as independently.
The center is also home to the Front Range Youth Symphony Orchestra, which provides a community orchestra for school-age students. It has welcomed students for over 10 years.
Expansion
After the Center opened there was demand for more space. In 1992 a major expansion was approved, and this nearly doubled the size of the center.
In December 2002 another expansion was approved, this expansion was designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects LTD at a cost of $69 million. Fentress Bradburn Architects Ltd. proposed this major expansion be carried out in two phases, but on October 4, 2004, the Arvada City Council voted to complete it in three phases.
The first phase included the completion of a small theater initially built in 1992, increasing the ballroom/conference facility seating from 500 to 750, providing storage space for hospitality services, providing rehearsal and storage space for performing arts, increasing exhibition space for the history museum and additional collection storage, refurbishing the existing interior, and
modifying site work including exterior lighting and signage upgrades. Phase 2 was completed in 2006 and it included construction of a new performing-arts shop, dedicated rehearsal space and self-contained dressing rooms with showers. New patios and gathering spots dot the area outside.
The second phase also saw expansion of the art gallery and history museum, improvements to the ballroom, additional rest- rooms, landscaping and 60 new parking spaces.
Phase 3 will not be completed until 2018.
[Arvada Cente]
"Arvada Center Expansion Historical Overview", October 11, 2004, accessed April 25, 2011
See also
*
State of Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the ...
**
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 582,910, making it the fourth-most populous county in Colorado. The county seat is Golden, and the most populous city is Lakewood.
...
***
Arvada, Colorado
Arvada () is a home rule municipality located in Jefferson and Adams counties, Colorado, United States. The city population was 124,402 at the 2020 United States Census, with 121,510 residing in Jefferson County and 2,892 residing in Adams Coun ...
References
External links
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
{{Authority control
Arts centers in Colorado
Music venues in Colorado
Performing arts centers in Colorado
Buildings and structures in Arvada, Colorado
Art museums and galleries in Colorado
History museums in Colorado
Museums in Jefferson County, Colorado
Tourist attractions in Jefferson County, Colorado
1976 establishments in Colorado
Museums established in 1976