Colorado Core Knowledge Arts Festival

Sponsored by the Colorado Arts Festival, the Colorado Core Knowledge Arts Festival serves Colorado Core Knowledge Schools. Any Core Knowledge School in Colorado may apply for the festival by submitting their best students to the festival for consideration. The festival takes place each February over the President's Day weekend. This one-day festival celebrates the best of Colorado's band, orchestra, choir, art, and journalism students.

How Does The Festival Work?

Music, Art, and Journalism students are selected through a process that involves director/instructor nomination (done in the first two weeks of October), and then they are selected based on pre-set criteria by the festival selection committee (selections made typically around Oct. 15th). Once the student is selected, registration forms are sent out to each participant's director. Music participants are then given the festival music to rehearse. Art students are given a materials list, and journalism students are briefed on expectations.

On the day of the festival, students come together and are mentored by some of the finest of Colorado's guest conductors and clinicians. After a solid day of rehearsal, stroy writing, filming, and artistic creation, the festival concludes with a public art show and concert.

Important Dates

• Oct 1st: Festival recommendation forms are sent to directors and teachers
• Oct. 15th: Festival Recommendations due
• Oct 15th: Festival and Gallery Participants Announced (via email/website) 
• Dec. 1st: Festival Registration and Fees due
• President's Day Weekend: Festival Date

Festival Art Students!

Art students are given the day to study and create with outstanding guest artists. Their day's work is then displayed in an art show for those attending the festival! All art students selected are notified in advance as to what they will be studying and given a list of materials to bring along.

Festival Journalism Students!

Journalism students will have the opportunity to represent their school by providing coverage of the day's events. Each year, we will have a Colorado-area journalist provide instruction as the day progresses. All journalism students receive press passes allowing them unlimited access to every event.