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Letter: Old library for arts center

Tolstoy wrote:

“Art is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward wellbeing of individuals and of humanity.”

To quote another poet: “The artist is not a special kind of person but every person is a special kind of artist.”



The arts are the great unifier of our community, bringing together people from all walks of life, ages, backgrounds and races, inspiring all to bring beauty and harmony to our hectic lives.

For this reason alone the Center of the Arts should near the beating heart of our city and not at the periphery. At this very moment we have a unique and fortuitous opportunity to make this happen: For two years now our old library building has been languishing dormant and vacant, while city has been searching for a new use and occupant. At the same time, the current facility of the arts center is only partially functional due to heavy and costly flood damage.



This being the case, I urge the City Council to expedite deliberations and approve the relocation of the Glenwood Center of the Arts to the old library at the corner of Ninth Street and Blake Avenue.

This move will bring new creative and positive energies to our downtown core and greatly enhance our existing attractions, i.e the new library, the Tuesday market and our bar and restaurant venues.

Both our high school and elementary students will be within easy walking distance of the new center to pursue their creative energies during after school hours.

True, the Center of the Arts will not directly add to the city’s tax revenues, but neither is a building that has been vacant for over two years. In addition to the cultural benefits, there will be indirect additions to the city’s coffers. Visitors, students and patrons will likely spend more time downtown to shop, dine and recreate.

Gerry VanderBeek

Glenwood Springs


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