Parker Arts and the creative district

The Parker PACE Center is located at the corner of Mainstreet and Pine Drive. Photo by Erika Siebring.

Standing in front of the Parker PACE Center is a large circular sculpture with stained glass panels and a bright silver star in the middle. Properly titled “Nucleus,” this structure is not only where I took some of my senior photos in high school, it also serves as a visual representation of the town’s creative energy.

The Parker Arts, Culture and Events Center initially opened in October 2011 to act as the hub for everything creative and educational in town. Eventually re-branded to be part of the larger Parker Arts organization, this center is comprised of an art gallery, theater, dance studio and various multi-purpose rooms.

Elaine Mariner, who has been the cultural director for Parker Arts for over five years, calls the PACE Center “the jewel of Parker Arts."

“Our mission is to enhance the cultural and economic vitality of the greater Parker region by providing art, culture, history and science programs,” Mariner said. “Downtown Parker is definitely a destination for arts and culture.”

For those with some extra time this summer, youth classes, adult classes and summer camps are available in all different areas, including digital and culinary arts. Kids younger than 12 are invited to make ice cream and glow-in-the-dark slime, while those over 21 can cook with different wines and take painting or dance classes. For families new to town, there’s the Discovery Series for Families, serving as an introduction to Parker Arts through magic shows, opera and interactive animal presentations.

Parker's performing and visual arts are in full swing as well. Aside from a free summer concert series at Discovery Park, the PACE Center puts on a huge summer musical every summer. This year, that show is the comedic musical “Sister Act,” featuring Mayor Mike Waid in a speaking and singing role. All of these efforts are managed and promoted by Carrie Glassburn, the assistant cultural director for communications and external relations; according to her, it's her job to help develop "engaging community outreach programs."

Public art displays -- organized via a convenient smartphone app -- are littered all over downtown as well, which is also known as Parker’s Creative District. Mariner says all of this helps the town both culturally and economically, bringing traffic in and allowing people to spend their time all in one area.

“Parker, historically, has been thought of as the 20 mile stagecoach stop and it had, previously, a reputation of being far away from downtown Denver,” Mariner said. “I would say the PACE Center and all of the arts and cultural activities in the creative district -- folks around the metro area are hearing more about what’s going on in Parker, and through the reputation of Parker as a community to live and work.”