NBA Discusses The Arts April 2011
BY KIM GLASSCOCK
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Two proposed events in Niwot could boost the cultural arts identity Niwot is working to cultivate, members of the Niwot Business Association agreed at the March 8 meeting.
A one-day jazz festival and an upscale fine art show may join the lineup of events in Niwot this summer and fall.

Howard Treppeda of Treppeda’s Italian Ristorante and Bar brought an idea for a new “Jazz on 2nd Avenue” event to the NBA for discussion. The proposed festival would feature prominent jazz artists, many from Colorado, performing in a relaxed setting throughout the day in Niwot.
“I think this could be a really special event,” Treppeda said. “I have been talking to some jazz artists, and they are very enthusiastic about bringing more awareness of jazz to this area. There aren’t many jazz festivals north of Denver along the Front Range.”

Treppeda said there is interest in a possible festival from several jazz greats, including Nelson Rangell, Don and Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour and Patti Austin. He also hopes to pull in support from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Music Masters program and the School of Music at the University of Northern Colorado.

“A number of these musicians believe that the younger generations need more exposure to and education about jazz,” Treppeda said. “They are enthusiastic and think that an event like this could attract many people who normally wouldn’t attend a jazz performance.”

“This could be an incredible musical event,” said Mark Beran of Medovina in Niwot.
No date for a festival has been chosen, but NBA members discussed possibly incorporating the event into Left-Hander’s Day on Saturday, Aug. 13, for the first year.

“We already have some funding budgeted for Left Hander’s Day, and we don’t have a lot lined up for it yet,” said marketing committee chair Robin Abb of Rockin’ Robin’s Retro and Resale. “We could connect this new event to that day and to the Lobster Bash, which we already have set for that date.”

Treppeda suggested that stages could be set up along Second Avenue to allow attendees to move from one performance to another, and Whistle Stop Park and the proposed sculpture park area were possibilities.

“I think Second Avenue is a great place for a possible jazz festival,” Treppeda said. “We have several lovely locations and the acoustics are good.” 
While some NBA members suggested having music in the Cottonwood Square shopping area, NBA President Tony Santelli said he didn’t think it would work for the first year of the festival.

“We need to do what’s best for the festival, and then expand the venue area,” he said.
Santelli also suggested that businesses along Second Avenue should stay open during the jazz festival.

“We need to have event attendees also flow into our businesses,” he said. “This could be a bump to the economic vitality in Niwot.”
Several NBA members volunteered to help Treppeda with producing the jazz festival, including Beran, Dan Hawk of Edward Jones Financial Services, Connie Rempala of The Hitching Post, Chuck and Linda Klueber of Niwot Interiors and Karen Adler of Manifest Gallery.

A proposal for a fine arts show in Niwot was made by Tim Zandee of Tim Zandee Photography. He is proposing to hold an upscale fine arts show in September in the proposed sculpture park area. Zandee told NBA members that he would be featuring pieces selling for an average of $2,500, and would feature 15 or fewer artists.

“I would market this show to the upscale neighborhoods in and around Niwot, Longmont and Boulder,” he said.
Zandee said he currently works with art shows in gated homeowner communities near Vail, Edwards and Colorado Springs.

“My goal is to have all the artists, and the hosting community, achieve success,” Zandee said.
In other business, NBA members agreed that the gateway sign for Niwot should be located in an area that doesn’t require a breakaway bottom for the sign. Breakaway signs generally have metal legs that can break away from the sign if it is hit by a vehicle.

“I think we need something nicer than a metal-legged sign for Niwot,” Hawk said.
“We need to upgrade the artistic value and look of the sign,” agreed Tim Wise of Wise Buys Antiques. “It needs to coincide with the Vintage Niwot and arts and culture theme we are cultivating for the town.”