Fall 2012 Rocky Mountain Exclusive: Vincent van Gogh Heads to the Denver Art Museum for Colorado Debut

Visitor website, hotel packages and public ticketing now underway for Becoming Van Gogh exhibition at DAM

DENVER, Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Denver Art Museum (DAM) and VISIT DENVER launched a website and unveiled public ticket sale information and hotel packages designed to appeal to travelers and locals alike for the much-anticipated fall exhibition, Becoming Van Gogh. Featuring more than 70 paintings and drawings by Van Gogh, along with works from artists who inspired him, this exhibition will have its sole world-wide appearance at the DAM starting October 21, 2012, running through January 20, 2013. Organized by the DAM and curated by Timothy J. Standring, Gates Foundation Curator of Painting and Sculpture at the DAM and Louis van Tilborgh, Senior Researcher of Paintings at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, Becoming Van Gogh brings together loans from more than 60 public and private collections from across Europe and North America to tell the story of a number of key formative periods throughout the artist's career.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120815/DC58001)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101210/DC15827LOGO-b)

"The exhibition is anticipated to be a major tourism draw for the city of Denver and the state of Colorado," said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Denver is an unparalleled destination for business or pleasure with vast cultural resources, and this first-ever exhibition of Van Gogh's work in the Rocky Mountain region is sure to be a draw to The Mile High City. VISIT DENVER looks forward to working together with the Denver Art Museum to create a unique experience for this can't-miss exhibition."

Online Exhibition Resource

DAM and VISIT DENVER collaborated on the creation of www.vangoghdenver.com –a new Becoming Van Gogh site launching today that connects people with exhibition information, ticketing information and booking, stunning images of the brilliant paintings and Denver hotel packages. With information about the artist himself, www.vangoghdenver.com also is the resource for promotional offers for Becoming Van Gogh and school or group tour information.

Hotel Packages – Make a night of it and skip the lines with VIP tickets

Several downtown Denver hotels have teamed up with VISIT DENVER and the DAM to provide Denver visitors with VIP, skip-the-line tickets, to the exhibition, and inspired accommodations. Exclusive Becoming Van Gogh hotel packages include special untimed, undated tickets to the exhibition and an audio tour. These packages are the only way to secure VIP tickets. Participating hotels include: The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa; Comfort Inn Downtown Hotel; Grand Hyatt Denver; Hilton Garden Inn Denver; Hotel Monaco, A Kimpton Hotel in Denver; Hyatt Regency Denver; Sheraton Downtown Denver; The Curtis: A Doubletree Hotel; The Ritz-Carlton, Denver; and the Westin Denver Downtown. 

Exhibition Tickets and Tours

Ticket holders receive admission to the Becoming Van Gogh exhibition and general admission to the DAM, and may visit the museum's other exhibitions and galleries. Group discounts are available on orders of 10 or more tickets purchased at one time. For information on group tickets, interested parties should contact Heidi Weisman at 720-913-0111 or [email protected].

DAM members have the opportunity to purchase tickets at a discounted price, and access to a year of exhibitions and programming at the museum. Members are eligible to pur­chase up to nine (9) tickets per selected date of visit, but are not limited in the total number of discounted member tickets they can purchase throughout the run of the show.

Group Van Gogh Events

Give your guests the opportunity to explore the artistic evolution of one of the world's most-recognizable artists. Corporate parties, receptions and other events can be custom built around group Becoming Van Gogh visits. Make it an event to remember and add a cocktail reception or dining experience in one of the museum's unique and unforgettable event spaces, paired with artfully tailored cuisine by Kevin Taylor Catering at the Denver Art Museum. For more information, call 720-865-5171.

About the Exhibition

Becoming Van Gogh is an in-depth exploration of Vincent van Gogh's unconventional path to becoming one of the world's most recognizable artists. The exhibition examines critical steps in the evolution of the largely self-taught artist through more than 70 paintings and drawings by Van Gogh, along with works from artists who inspired him. The Denver Art Museum (DAM) is the only venue for the exhibition which brings together loans from more than 60 public and private collections through Europe and North America to tell the story of a number of key formative periods throughout the artist's career. No other exhibition has focused so intensely on Van Gogh's personal growth and progression as he developed his own personal style.

"This is a unique opportunity for our audience to discover how Van Gogh arrived at his iconic style and gain new insights into his influences," said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director of the DAM. "We are thrilled to bring together an exhibition that will give visitors new insight into one of the world's greatest artists."

Audio guides will be available in two versions: one for adults and a second that uses kid-friendly language. Both versions will also be offered in Spanish.  Audio stops throughout the tour spotlight key moments of his artistic journey and underscore the limitations and challenges he faced with his attempts to master materials and techniques on his way to arriving at his inimitible iconic style.

Becoming Van Gogh is organized by the Denver Art Museum. The exhibition is funded by Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation; Wells Fargo; Sotheby's; and Sill-TerHar Motors, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Maserati. Additional funding is provided by Telemundo Denver and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities. Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine, CBS4 and The Denver Post.

Media resources
Online Newsroom: denverartmuseum.org/press
Exhibition Website: vangoghdenver.com
Facebook: facebook.com/denverartmuseum
Twitter: twitter.com/denverartmuseum
Visitor Information: visitdenver.com

About Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is located on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Streets in downtown Denver. Open Tuesday–Thursday, Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., except the final Friday of the month January–October when the museum stays open until 10 p.m. for the Untitled event; closed Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission for Colorado residents: $10 adults, $8 seniors and students. Admission for non-Colorado residents: $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $5 for visitors aged six to eighteen, free for children under 6. General Museum admission is free the first Saturday of each month, thanks to Target and the citizens who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Additional ticket may be required for some special exhibitions. The Cultural Complex Garage is open; enter from 12th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock or check the DAM website for up-to-date parking information. For information in Spanish, call 720-913-0169. For more information, call 720-865-5000 or visit www.denverartmuseum.org.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating more than 100 years of promoting the Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Tourism is the second largest industry in Denver, generating $3.3 billion in annual spending in 2011, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs. Learn more about Denver on the VISITDENVER website and at TOURISMPAYSDENVER, on Twitter @iknowdenver and the VISIT DENVER Facebook page, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kristy Bassuener, DAM, 720-913-0015 or [email protected]
Deborah Park, VISIT DENVER, 303-927-9398 or [email protected]

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau