We love our local culture scene here in Boulder County. That’s why we’re bringing you a round-up of goings-on in the world of performing and visual arts, film, music and more. Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening locally, so you don’t have to miss a beat.
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California love
Paradise Found expands to the Golden State
Boulder’s only music store dedicated exclusively to the sale of new and used albums will soon open a second location in Petaluma, California. Paradise Found Records and Music is set to launch its new Bay Area storefront in early September.
“We went through something like eight or 10 locations, all not working out for whatever reason,” vinyl buyer Patrick Selvage says of the yearlong hunt for the Boulder-born shop’s West Coast digs. “And then we finally found this place, which was perfect.”
The new 1,400-square-foot store in downtown Petaluma is the first expansion for Paradise Found. With sales surging after the pandemic sparked new interest in vinyl, owner Will Paradise — a former Bay Area resident who bought the Boulder store formerly known as Bart’s Record Shop in 2016 — said now is the right time, and crucially, California shop co-owner David Lannon is the right partner.
“I’m thrilled to have the store in Boulder. I don’t need to [open] any more stores,” Paradise says. “But David and I have been friends for so long, and we both share a passion for music. If it was anybody else, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
After traveling from the Golden State to the Pearl Street shop for Record Store Day events and other regular visits throughout the year, Lannon says running the new location is an opportunity to build on the success of a beloved local brand by bringing it to a new corner of the map.
“We’re anxious to open and recreate that feeling of Paradise Found in Boulder,” Lannon says of the Petaluma store’s imminent launch. “But we understand we have to earn it with each customer every day.”
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Shift change
Longmont Museum launches $8.1 million capital campaign with new director
After more than 25 years with the organization, longtime curator of history Erik Mason has been named the new director of the Longmont Museum. The announcement comes alongside the launch of an $8.1 million capital campaign for the local cultural institution.
“The expansion is about more than bricks and mortar,” Mason said in an Aug. 23 press release. “It’s about making the museum more responsive to our community.”
The fundraising push follows years of community input surrounding the needs of the facility launched in 1940 as a small exhibition space inside the city’s historic Callahan House. Goals include a new children’s gallery along with an expanded primary exhibition room, renovated courtyard and more office space.
The museum has raised 80% of its goal, according to the capital campaign’s website. The project is in its initial permitting phase and the full expansion is estimated to be completed by early 2026. Support the campaign by scanning the QR code associated with this news item.
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The right notes
Boulder Symphony & Music Academy establishes $250,000 endowment with anonymous donation
The sounds just got sweeter at Boulder Symphony & Music Academy (BS&MA), which recently announced the establishment of a $250,000 endowment through an anonymous donation.
With a goal of increasing contributions to $2 million, the organization hopes to use the endowment to strengthen its educational initiatives and artistic endeavors while providing sustainable support for core operations.
“The anonymous donor’s extraordinary contribution reflects a deep commitment to the arts and recognizes the invaluable role of BS&MA in enriching the cultural landscape of the community,” the organization wrote in a July 27 press release. “This endowment will serve as a substantial resource to support the organization’s ongoing efforts in providing exceptional musical education and performances for all.”
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Art in the open
Lyons expands public sculpture collection
In the wake of the devastating 2013 Boulder County floods, a groundswell of community pride and resiliency bolstered the momentum of an outdoor art project in the hard-hit town of Lyons. Now the Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission (LAHC) has announced the addition of 14 new sculptures to the city’s heARTS of LYONS Outdoor Arts Collection.
Newcomers to the town-wide program include works by Colorado artists Charlotte and Ben Zink, Sue Quinlan, Kevin Shaffer, Steve Buduo, Parker McDonald, Justin Deister, Jonathan Corson-Rikert, Kirk Seese, and the late Bill Vielehr. Their installations can be found at locations throughout Lyons, including Main Street, Highway 66, Bohn Park and LaVern M. Johnson Park.
Find more for information regarding LAHC’s 2024 Call for Artists, along with an interactive map with details about the public works currently on display.
Got local art news? Email BW culture editor Jezy J. Gray at [email protected].
