For more than 25 years, Betsy Scally has seen how participating in youth theater can help kids gain confidence and achieve more than they dreamed possible, not only performing before audiences or creating captivating sets, but earning scholarships and gaining admission to college.
“Recreational and intellectual development is so good for our community, and it’s really lacking here,” said Scally, a program manager for the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District in Federal Heights. “One thing that I’ve seen make a big difference is participation in community theater, which we have been able to provide to the community for free, thanks to the North Metro Arts Alliance.”
The North Metro Arts Alliance is a nonprofit public art, community performance and art education organization based in Westminster. It has provided free children’s theater programs through the traveling Missoula Community Theatre program, free community concerts, visual arts workshops, an Adams County high school music honor program, and senior dance classes in partnership with Hyland Hills and Westminster since 1983.
In that time, Scally said children’s lives have been changed.
“I had one child years ago who I’ll always remember because he was one of the first kids to do the Missoula Community Theatre with me,” Scally said. “He went to Scott Carpenter Middle School at the time and was shy speaking in public … but he learned that confidence and eventually he grew up and went off to Yale.”
The North Metro Arts Alliance funds and present events and programs in southwest Adams County.
“If you know anything about southwest Adams County, you know it’s not a very rich area,” said Rick Fuller, who serves on the alliance’s board of directors. “In Westminster Public Schools, 75 to 80 percent of students are on reduced or free lunch. What we’re trying to do is help out the community by providing free activities and entertainment that are open to everybody.”
Initially, the group, then called the Westminster Community Artist Series, presented community concerts. It had to charge admission, which prevented many residents from attending.
“Some members of the Westminster Rotary got together with Westminster Public Schools (formerly Adams 50 Public Schools), the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District and the city of Westminster and started talking about ways that they could bring affordable or free cultural activities and entertainment to the north metro area which, at the time, was severely lacking those things,” said Becky Silver, president of the alliance’s board of directors and owner of Aar River Gallery in Westminster.
As the group gained traction, support and grant money from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, the mission expanded.
“It’s taken a much broader role than it had in the beginning,” Silver said. “We do a lot of intergenerational programming, and almost all of it is free. There’s so many free concert series programs everywhere now, just about every city does them.”
In the last five to six years the group has shifted its focus toward public art, entertainment for large events and youth education programs. Since then, more than 10,000 people used programs provided or funded by the alliance every year, Silver said.
Teachers in Westminster Public Schools who have an idea for an arts or cultural project that isn’t supported by school dollars can apply for a grant from the North Metro Arts Alliance.
The alliance also has an extensive collection of public art placed across Adams County. The iconic bronze eagle on the east entrance of the Prairie Center off Eagle Boulevard in Brighton, and regular displays in the Westminster City Hall lobby were placed by the alliance.
“We own over 40 works of art all over Adams County,” Fuller said. “We’re also leading an effort to get a kinetic sculpture at the Westminster RTD station. That is our next big project. But we’re everywhere up here.”
North Metro Arts Alliance events, concerts:
Hot Night in Havana Garden Party
July 23
5-8 p.m.
Aar River Sculpture Garden, 3707 W. 73rd Ave.
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door, $300 table for 8 includes sign
The nonprofit’s annual fundraiser is a Cuban jazz concert this year. Featuring the Mambotet, food, drinks, silent auction of birdhouses painted by local artists and public officials, and more. Call 303-426-4114 for tickets.
Westy Craft Brew Fest
July 29
6-9 p.m.
Christopher Fields Softball Complex, 5875 W. 104th Ave.
Tastings from 45 breweries, food trucks, free child care (7 years and older) onsite and a concert from We Dream Dawn, presented for free by the North Metro Arts Alliance.
Westy Fest
Aug. 12
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Westminster City Park, 10475 Sheridan Blvd.
Westy Fest is back this year and better than ever! This year’s community fair promises a day of fun for everyone, with free entertainment provided by the North Metro Arts Alliance
Line Dance Party at the MAC
Aug. 14
9 a.m.-noon
$6, payable at the door
All levels of dancers are welcome to join the party for dancing and demonstrations. Please bring finger foods to share. Call 303-426-4310 by Aug. 10 to reserve a space on the dance floor.