Project Description – Called “Sharp/Flats,” this was the first-ever tour of six new downtown Fort Collins lofts and one retail space. It showed the synergy between loft living in the heart of the city and the arts.

A Patron’s Party was held May 18, 2007 at the Museum of Contemporary Arts (MoCA) in downtown Fort Collins. It attracted 120 people who took a private tour of the lofts and retail space before the evening’s festivities.

A public tour was held Saturday, May 19, 2007 from 9am to 4pm. More than 600 people toured the lofts and retail space over this two-day period. It was a self-guided walking tour. Symphony performers played in the loft lobbies and a young guitarist from a local music school played at the Patron’s Party.

The goals: cover our expenses through underwriting (a $10,000 challenge grant brought in $21,000 in one month); re-energize a flagging Guild membership; raise $25,000 to support our Symphony; make new friends for the Symphony and the Guild; and show that the Symphony is not a “high brow” organization.

The Guild Board determined there was a need for a new fundraiser because our traditional fundraiser (Cranberry Pops) had lost money the previous year. Ideas abounded and the ASOL’s Gold Book was a wonderful resource and gave us the idea to do a loft tour.

Success was judged by the ability to secure underwriting from the community sufficient to cover expenses ($21,000 was donated); the ability to raise $25,000 through ticket sales ($50 for Patron’s Party and $35 for tour) and booklet advertising ($3,600); and creating a database of potential new Fort Collins Symphony Association (FCSA) members and Guild members.

We showed the energy and life force that a college town with a vibrant downtown can add to one’s quality of life, and the amazing results that can be achieved when a committed group of Guild members and community leaders join forces with a common mission and vision.