International Festival of Arts in Breckenridge

Breckenridge Creative Arts is proud to announce the inaugural Breckenridge International Festival of Arts (BIFA), a celebration of adventure, play and creativity, which runs August 14–23, 2015. From public radio icons and Chicano rock legends to acrobats on poles and blue-colored trees, BIFA offers an exhilarating program of extraordinary events in spectacular places and spaces across Breckenridge, Colorado.

“We are thrilled to introduce BIFA, one of the newest multidisciplinary arts festivals in the U.S.,” said Robb Woulfe, President and CEO of Breckenridge Creative Arts, the festival’s producer. “Our debut season offers an exciting lineup of local, national and global talent, including a number of Colorado premieres and Breckenridge exclusives. We look forward to BIFA becoming a significant addition to the state’s festival landscape and a premier destination event.”

Inspired by themes of environment and mountain culture, the 10-day festival brings together a variety of performances, exhibitions, screenings, workshops, talks and surprise collaborations, with an eclectic mix of music, dance, film, visual arts, open-air spectacle and family entertainment. Dozens of scheduled events, indoors and outdoors, ticketed and free, will be showcased at venues and sites throughout town.

Amy Scofield Environmental Art

Photo by Carl Scofield

Tickets for festival events go on sale on Monday, June 1 and may be purchased in person at the Riverwalk Center Ticket Office at 150 W. Adams Avenue, by phone at (970) 547-3100, or online at breckcreate.org.

Featured BIFA artists and projects include: a temporary public art installation about global deforestation entitled “The Blue Trees” by Konstantin Dimopoulos; famed NPR host Ira Glass in “Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass”; Australian aerial performance troupe The Fruits in “Swoon”; avant-chamber quartet ETHEL and their nature-themed multimedia concert “Documerica”; the gravity-defying choreography and extreme-sport dance of VOLO by Diavolo; and a screening of the animated cult classic “The Triplets of Belleville” with live musical accompaniment by Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville and composer Benoît Charest.

Additional festival highlights include hyper-accordionist Michael Ward-Bergeman and his roots trio Groanbox onstage with the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra; mixed-media installation artist Julie Hughes; environmental sculptors Steuart Bremner and Terry Talty; and a variety of local and regional artists of various disciplines and mediums.

As Breckenridge is a host city for the 2015 USA Pro Challenge, which rolls through town during the final week of BIFA, the festival will also present ARTCRANK BRK, an exhibit featuring hand-made, bicycle-themed posters created by local artists and Colorado-based designers. Also in support of the cycling culture, the festival will present the bike-powered creatures of Austin Bike Zoo, a Texas collective that combines the beauty and strength of human movement with the artistry and theater of puppets.

In addition to the core events listed above, BIFA will feature a number of free outdoor musical performances on the new Breckenridge Arts District campus as well as a program entitled Trail Mix, which combines hiking, biking, music and art along the trails of Breckenridge through “pop-up” concerts and environmental installations.

Recognized as one of the top mountain resort destinations in the world, Breckenridge is a beautiful and historic Colorado town that attracts over a million visitors yearly. Nestled in the heart of the Central Rocky Mountains, the town offers year-round activities to please outdoor enthusiasts, vacationing families and cultural travelers. As an umbrella organization that promotes arts, culture and creative experiences, Breckenridge Creative Arts is responsible for the successful management of a series of programs, properties, and partnerships that collectively animate and populate a cultural corridor in the heart of downtown Breckenridge. From quality performing and visual arts to the development of one of the region’s newest arts districts, Breckenridge Creative Arts is a transformative force for Breckenridge and the greater Summit County community.

The Breckenridge International Festival of Arts is made possible with the support from the Town of Breckenridge. Media partners for the 2015 festival season include 5280, 5280 Home, and KUNC.

A detailed schedule of featured BIFA events follows. The remainder of the festival’s lineup, including the free musical entertainment and workshop schedule at the Arts District along with other supporting events, will be announced in early June. For the most up to date information, please visit: breckcreate.org/bifa.

Schedule of Featured BIFA Artists + Projects (asterisk denotes a Colorado premiere):

The Blue Trees by Konstantin Dimopoulos* Aug 14–Sep 14, On View Daily
Blue River Plaza & Tiger Dredge Lot
FREE

Australia’s The Fruits
Aug 13–16, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm Riverwalk Center Lawn FREE

Abound by Julie Hughes* Aug 14–23, On View Daily Old Masonic Hall
FREE

Michael Ward-Bergeman and Groanbox*
With the Breckenridge Music Festival Orchestra Aug 15, 7:30pm
Riverwalk Center
$40–$25

ETHEL’s Documerica* Aug 16, 7:30pm Riverwalk Center $45–$25

VOLO by Diavolo Aug 18–19, 7:30pm Riverwalk Center $45–$25, $10 Kids

ARTCRANK BRK
Aug 19–31, On View Daily Old Masonic Hall
FREE

Austin Bike Zoo*
Aug 20–21, On View Daily Various Downtown Locations FREE

Los Lobos
Aug 21, 7:30pm
Riverwalk Center and Lawn FREE

Reinventing Radio: An Evening with Ira Glass Aug 22, 7:30pm
Riverwalk Center
$70–$45

The Triplets of Belleville*
Featuring Le Terrible Orchestre de Belleville and composer Benoît Charest Aug 23, 7:30pm
Riverwalk Center
$45–$25, $10 Kids

~MTN Town Magazine

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