The Arts Campus At Willits

A nonprofit organization

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$10,000 Goal

The Arts Campus at Willits presents exceptional performing arts, cultural events, and thought-provoking programming that sustain a connected, engaged, and inspired community. With your support, we will broaden our reach and amplify our impacts. As a nonprofit, we gratefully accept donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses.

Testimonials

"Mid valley dream! Music, Comedy, Theatre and Film. Great variety of world class performances. Accessible and affordable. The heart of entertainment in the Roaring Fork Valley!" - Jenn Gibbons

"Terrific venue, wide variety of high-quality programming. Just what the mid valley needs!" - Michael Monroney

"I loved it. Mix of Latinos and Americans dancing Salsa." - Elena Pizarro

'The opportunity to perform at the Temporary has been incredible. There are very few places locally to practice, let alone play, and to have the Temporary available to my band has opened our eyes to what is possible for us as young artists.' - Issac Musselman

"This is the best thing that has happened in Basalt since moving here from KC" - Anonymous Patron

"This is the vitality that Basalt needs" - Anonymous Patron

Mission

The Arts Campus at Willits presents exceptional performing arts, cultural events, and thought-provoking programming that sustain a connected, engaged, and inspired community.

Background Statement

In 2001, the Town of Basalt approved of Willits, a new community intended to establish a focus and town center for the expanding Midvalley. With a long view, an Arts Parcel was set aside, and a real estate transfer assessment (RETA) was established to generate funds to support a future arts center. In 2015, The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) was formally organized as a 501c3 to realize the vision for a performing arts center. In 2017, the nonprofit secured a 99-year lease for the Arts Parcel (one dollar per year) and gained access to RETA funds. That same year, TACAW opened The Temporary, an interim home for the arts where programming assumptions could be tested. Prior to the opening of The Temporary, no public performing arts facility existed in Basalt or Willits.

Programming at The Temporary demonstrated significant support for arts, culture, and entertainment in rural Basalt and a profound demand for creative expression and collaboration within the community. During a 20-month run, TACAW served more than 25,000 patrons, collaborated with 38 regional and national nonprofit programming partners, presented 150 arts education events, and curated more than 225 performances ranging from music, comedy, theater, lectures, film, poetry, and more. TACAW built a robust audience, expanded its donor base, and nurtured relationships with national and regional artists. A team of technical, marketing, front-of-house, and administrative staff was assembled garnering The Temporary a reputation as the number one destination for arts and culture in the Midvalley. In April of 2019, the short-term lease for The Temporary ended, and the venue completed its run as a successful proof of concept.

Since then, TACAW has successfully raised funds for the construction of their new performing arts center. The state-of-the-art facility is now open as of September 2021. TACAW has demonstrated the need for a performing arts space in the mid-Roaring Fork Valley and the positive impacts such a space has on the community. The building will serve as a permanent home where TACAW can, once again, present a diverse slate of compelling programming that enhances and enriches the community.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

The Arts Campus At Willits

other names

TACAW

Year Established

2015

Tax id (EIN)

47-3091347

Category

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Address

400 Robinson St.
Basalt, CO 81621

Service areas

Eagle County, CO, US

Phone

970-510-5365

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