A Global Stage

The only constant is change. A recent tour through Rome’s 2,600-year history reminded me that cities are either being born or dying, growing or falling apart.

In its brief 150-year history, Boulder has been a miner’s base camp, a university town, a county seat, a scientific mecca, and a cultural hub. Today, Boulder faces familiar challenges: budget cuts, declining sales tax revenue, rising homelessness, and a 32% office vacancy rate, not including subleases and ghost spaces.

Since its founding, Boulder has strived to cast itself as the “Athens of the West,” a stage for cutting-edge art, science, sport, spirituality, and technology. Think University of Colorado, Chautauqua, 32 national labs, IBM, Pearl Street Mall—and, now, Sundance.

Landing Sundance can shift America’s cultural center from California to the Rocky Mountains. But Boulder’s opportunity has a time limit. Sundance’s commitment gives us ten years to build the infrastructure it needs. When that happens, the lingering question becomes: How should we use that infrastructure the other eleven months of the year?

Boulder already hosts major events, from the Bolder Boulder 10K, which draws 54,000 runners, to football games, graduations, and scientific and cultural events. Community leaders like entrepreneur Dan Caruso are stepping up with bold ideas, from quantum innovation to cultural gatherings like the Roots Music Fest. Success breeds success.

Dan and his team will join us on Friday, August 15, at 4 p.m. in the Highland Gardens to explore what’s possible for this festival in October. This is a chance for City Club members to support Roots’ success and shape Boulder’s cultural legacy. Please RSVP to help us better prepare

— Sina.