Page 8 - Eagle Magazine Summer 2021

Bringing Vitality to Downtown Eagle
by Tara Novak - ARTSPaCE - EagleARTS 2021
EagleARTS ARTwalk offers a place for creative souls to show up, collaborate, and bring joy to folks with all sorts of interests. I love when someone finds connection with my art, it makes my heart happy to bring them joy.
Living in the Vail Valley for over 26 years, I have enjoyed
living the mountain lifestyle, snowboarding, hiking,
biking, yoga, and river adventures. I have a supportive
husband and two great kids. I have worked hard creating a
successful business in the valley, and am now engrossed in
helping develop creative programing for downtown Eagle.
My company, Custom Creations Inc., specializes in decorative wall finishes, woodwork restoration, and custom fine art commissions. I work with builders, interior designers, property managers, and homeowners to help find artful solutions to all sorts of design challenges and beautification needs.
In 2014, with my decorative painting and fine art business growing, it
was time to find a designated studio space, outside of my home. This
endeavor turned into the creation of a local artist’s workshop and gallery
in downtown Eagle, called ARTSPaCE workshop+gallery. The space
has provided a community hub of artist workstations, event space,
and a consignment gallery for local artists for over 6 years now. Having
ARTSPaCE on Broadway for a couple of years, I experienced how quiet our downtown could be on a regular basis.
I decided to get involved with our Chamber of Commerce and Town initiatives to see how I could help bring some vitality to this quaint but quiet part of our beloved town. After months of networking and brainstorming ideas, an opportunity arose to create a small event amongst 3 businesses who regularly display art... ARTwalk on Broadway was born!
This may have started with a few local folks realizing that Art (in its many forms) can bring people together, but
has now spurred the creation of a Downtown Business Alliance and EagleARTS nonprofit organization, hosting a community based art festival on the 2nd Friday of every month; with the summer months being a closed street event bringing close to 1,000 locals and visitors out for an evening of fun along the Broadway Promenade. This event not only showcases the wonderful talents of our many local artisans, including our local musicians, performers, and food artisans, but also brings much needed culture and economic vitality to the businesses located in the heart of Eagle.
I am humbled and excited to see how this has taken off and become a valued, expected, and well a􏰀ended function.
I hope we can sustain this wonderful vitality for many years to come.
For more information please visit: TaraNovakArt.com EagleARTS.org
ARTSPaCE workshop+gallery
120 Broadway St. Eagle, Colorado