Arts Alive! shows travel agents the art community

BRECKENRIDGE - Breckenridge: It's not just for skiers anymore.

At least, that's the message that the Breckenridge Convention and Visitor's Bureau wants to get out.

Once a year, the Bureau hosts a FAM (familiarization) tour package for travel agents and tour operators across America. This year's FAM trip will be a unique collaboration between the Bureau and the Summit County Arts Council.

"The general idea is to influence the influencers," said Shawna Henderson, director of sales for the Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "Our goal is to get people into Breckenridge, and part of what we do is to target very influential, longstanding travel agents."

Earlier this year, the Bureau gave 60,000 travel agents the chance to win a free FAM trip by sending out surveys. Based on survey responses, eight travel agents were chosen to participate in a free familiarization trip to Breckenridge. The Bureau hopes that during their visit, these tour operators will get a more complete picture of the many diverse amenities that Breckenridge, as a vacation spot, has to offer.

While working with Henderson on catering for the FAM winners, Barn on the River Bed and Breakfast owner Diane Jaynes got the idea of involving the arts community as well, an idea which Henderson greeted enthusiastically.

"With any ski resort you need to keep evolving," Henderson said. "We want to show the things that Breckenridge can offer that you can't get elsewhere. Breckenridge has a great cultural scene, and we can use this as an opportunity to invite key influencers in the community to spread the word about the arts in Breckenridge."

Jaynes, who is an artist and member of the Summit County Arts Council, proposed utilizing Arts Alive!, a Breckenridge art gallery, as a reception venue for the FAM visitors.

Opened in 2004, Arts Alive! is a not-for-profit co-op gallery sponsored by the Summit County Arts Council. The gallery showcases the work of about 50 arts council members. Its mission is to create visibility, as well as sales, for local artists who might not otherwise get gallery exposure.

Arts Alive! will join with seven Breckenridge bed and breakfasts in hosting a welcome reception for the FAM visitors at the gallery on Tuesday. In addition to an exhibition by local artists, the reception will also offer an Italian hors d'oeuvres buffet prepared by the participating bed and breakfasts, as well as prizes donated by Arts Council artists.

As director of Arts Alive!, Bob Hoppin views the reception as a way for locals, as well as visitors, to become more aware of the Breckenridge arts community.

"We do everything we can to promote the arts community here," said Hoppin, "So that visitors aren't just exposed to the ski area, but to a little culture, too."