Coming Attractions

Pop Culture Con cancelled for 2021, still connects with community

Recommended activities for the coming weeks

Column by Clarke Reader
Posted 12/15/20

Fans of superheroes, science fiction, elven kingdoms and anime are going to have to wait longer than they were hoping to meet some of their favorite creators and other fans in person — after …

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Coming Attractions

Pop Culture Con cancelled for 2021, still connects with community

Recommended activities for the coming weeks

Posted

Fans of superheroes, science fiction, elven kingdoms and anime are going to have to wait longer than they were hoping to meet some of their favorite creators and other fans in person — after cancelling this year’s Denver Pop Culture Con, Pop Culture Classroom has made the decision to cancel the event for 2021 as well.

“Considering the financial impacts on our organization from cancelling the 2020 event and uncertainty about public gatherings in 2021, we didn’t see a realistic option,” explained Adam Kullberg, interim executive director of Pop Culture Classroom. “We want to do right by our creators, vendors and the community, because they’ve all been so supportive of us.”

While this news is disappointing, it doesn’t mean the organization will be quiet until the next con — Pop Culture Classroom has been working hard during the pandemic to provide pop-culture based learning and entertainment options for fans of all ages.

Over the summer the nonprofit launched PopStream, a YouTube channel featuring comics conversations, workshops, discussions on films and more. It has also hosted digital bootcamps on subjects like Dungeons and Dragons, and PopRun, a virtual 5k. Most importantly, it has continued to work with children and students all over the state. It even provides a food pantry at its Valverde neighborhood headquarters in Denver.

 

“We’re shifting our efforts to focus on our core educational mission, which includes community education, professional development and creative community connections,” Kullberg said. “We’re continuing our efforts to work with schools, libraries, community centers and we’re getting lots of interest from folks like teachers and librarians.”

Like so many nonprofits and arts organizations, revenue losses have been severe, leading to layoffs in addition to programming changes - the cancellation of both cons eliminated 90 percent of Pop Culture Classroom’s funding for its nonprofit work. As such, Kullberg said donations are needed to keep Pop Culture Classroom and its efforts going. The organization is also searching for educational partnerships with schools and groups that have similar goals.

“Our virtual programming has been really successful, and we’re eager to harness that energy and provide new opportunities along our channels,” he said. “We want to show how pop culture can be a way to bridge gaps and help teach things like critical thinking. We’re going to continue to tell our story, just not in the ways people might be familiar with.”

To stay up to date on the nonprofits’ work and activities, visit www.popcultureclassroom.org.

 

Cherry Creek fetches a holiday market

Through Dec. 23, Colorado shoppers can get an injection of holiday cheer at the Cherry Creek Holiday Market, produced by Fetch. The outdoor market will be hosted on Fillmore Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues) and features shopping from a variety of local creators and designers selling a wide range of goods.

The holiday atmosphere makes the market particularly special - shoppers can expect European chalet-style décor, plenty of lights, live music from local bands and carolers, and warm drinks to keep them warm.

The market is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Entry to the event is free, but reservations are encouraged. For more information, visit www.CherryCreekHolidayMarket.com.

 

Clarke’s Concert of the Week - Robin Pecknold’s ‘A Very Lonely Solstice Livestream’

The music Robin Pecknold makes as the leader of Fleet Foxes sounds best outdoors, particularly during the autumn. Which is why the group released its new album, “Shore,” on the autumnal equinox. The record may well be the group’s best yet — it’s shimmering, gloriously harmonized and one of the year’s strongest releases.

 

And now Pecknold will be performing a “A Very Lonely Solstice Livestream,” to welcome winter at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 21. The solo acoustic show will be broadcast from St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church in Brooklyn, New York, and will feature the Resistance Revival Chorus. For tickets, visit https://noonchorus.com/robin-pecknold/.

 

Streaming style - Lone Tree Art Center’s Classical Holiday show

Music is a crucial part of many people’s holiday season, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to get you in the right frame of mind than a livestreamed performance of a string quartet led by the Colorado Symphony’s Phillip Stevens, including the concert commentary of host Betsy Schwarm.

The Classical Holiday show will be broadcast by the Lone Tree Arts Center and will include selections from Messiah and The Nutcracker, a spirited sleigh ride, a dash of Beethoven à la Christmas, and some Hanukkah music as well, according to provided information. There will also be instrumental versions of familiar carols, and audiences are encouraged to sing along at home.

The show will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20. Visit www.lonetreeartscenter.org for tickets.

 

Clarke Reader’s column on culture apears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

Clarke Reader, Coming Attractions, Denver, Denver Pop Culture Con, Pop Culture Classroom, comics, movies, Adam Kullberg, comic con, music, live music, concerts, Lone Tree, Lone Tree Arts Center, Christmas, holidays, classical music, Fleet Foxes, Robin Pecknold, Cherry Creek, Cherry Creek Holiday Market, The Nutcracker, Beethoven, Colorado Symphony, Hanukkah

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