If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?

The new CEO of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center has been asking a similar question: If an exhibit isn’t viewed, does it make an impact?

Sam Gappmayer left the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Ketchum, Idaho, to start his new job here Oct. 6. In his first month he has already announced two bold new initiatives he hopes will increase traffic and membership at the 72-year-old institution.

Starting today and continuing on the third Saturday of every month, the public is invited to visit the center for free. That’s a saving of $10 off the normal adult admission fee.

“The large number of people with families can now come down on a Saturday and enjoy the galleries with their kids,” he said.

In addition, Fine Arts Center members can now enjoy daily free admission (the facility is closed on Mondays and major holidays).

“This is something that makes good sense for all the people who support us year after year,” he said.

Gappmayer thinks these changes address the center’s bottom line and its calling.

“It’s the right thing to do on a lot of different levels,” he said. “Opening the doors to the public is a common strategy in museums around the country. We don’t want anyone in the community to say they can’t participate here because of the cost of participation.”

Giving members free visiting privileges is also common at many art centers nationwide.

“With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we want to let our members know that we are thankful for their support,” Gappmayer said. “I hope this will encourage members to visit their favorite exhibits as frequently as they like, and encourage nonmembers who visit our galleries to join the FAC.”

Gappmayer hopes these initiatives increase traffic to the center.

“I would be happy as a clam to see our Saturday visits doubled,” he said. “We would like to see as many people down here on these Saturdays as possible.”

He also hopes to grow the membership roster beyond its approximately 5,000 current members.

Over the short term, a 50 percent increase would be nice.

Gappmayer, however, has his sights set on doubling or tripling the membership over time.

Fine Arts Center members also receive discounts on classes at the Bemis School of Art and on admission to performances by the Fine Arts Center Theatre Company, which will present Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” beginning Dec. 5.

Members of the public who want to enjoy the first free Saturday can do so from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.

On the ground floor they can view items from the permanent collections.

“This includes our wonderful exhibit of Southwestern pieces depicting the Virgin of Guadalupe, work by John Singer Sargent, and other old friends,” Gappmayer said.For more information, visit: www.csfineartscenter.org/information.asp.

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