The State of the Visual Arts in Colorado - Essay Example

"The University Art Museum has four discrete galleries that offer flexibility for the installation of small or large exhibitions that will allow some 3,000 objects including Japanese prints, Warhol photographs, African sculptures, and contemporary art to rotate through space" while the Avenir Museum is "home to a collection of 12,000 artifacts including historic clothing, lace, textiles, accessories and chairs" (Colorado State University). Aside from these two new art-improving developments, the Colorado State University is also in the process of constructing the visual art complex, a premier visual art building which will be open to the public (Colorado State University).

Colorado also has an art market. One is composed of an outdoor fine arts and crafts fair showcasing the work of 90 artisans. There are still a number of art galleries and stores in Colorado. They are the ARTSpace gallery, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, The Beacham Gallery, and Bella Art and Frame. This way of preserving history also reveals how art how developed in Colorado. It is definitely a state that shows passion for art and history. The state boasts of rich art history and these are proven by the school and civic initiatives to further the development of art in the state.

A study conducted a year ago says that ninety-percent of elementary grade school schools (K-5) offer some formal art education to students, while for the middle school, the figure is 86% and 83% for high school (Patricia J. Cirillo). The study also found out that both Music and Visual Arts are offered in the majority of elementary grade schools and high schools (Patricia J. Cirillo). The figures reveal that Colorado is one of the states that believe in the value of Arts education. For the tertiary level, universities show visual arts appreciation through various symposia held.

One example is the University of Colorado Denver College of Arts and Media which recently focused its Annual Art History Symposium on the State of visual Arts in Colorado. It was designed for the students to speak on the state of visual arts in the state of Denver and Colorado which included analysis of museums, art market, public initiatives, and other developments. Compared to the rest of the country, visual arts are heavier in Colorado, especially in museums and art galleries. It considers art as a way of preserving their history.

It also has noticeable support from the schools and universities as the total civic initiative and participation are large in Colorado.