Meet Kelly Bidstrup Graham | Maker of Art and Oppourtunity

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Bidstrup Graham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’ve always been super career driven. I’ve always been known to be a busy person. Before the pandemic I was working from 6am to 11pm some days doing a variety of things, like teaching music and theater full time, running an after school theater program, getting a teaching license, and music directing and performing in the community. When the world shut down I was forced to re-evaluate my priorities and how I spent my time. I dove into creative projects trying to fill the void left behind, but eventually the fatigue set in and I did have to really slow down. It was at that point I got pregnant unexpectedly. That turned everything on its head and forced me to really think about what mattered. The pandemic showed me I could slow down enough to start a familiy and it wouldn’t be the end of the world. We lost our kiddo Nov. 3rd 2020 while I was teaching remotely from home. We were devasted, my world was rocked, this year sucked for everyone and I was ending it with a personal tradgedy. But I still had the gift the pandemic gave me, which was that I could slow down, I could take time, and the career I’d worked so hard for would still be there. So in 2021 as the world attempted to get back to normal we gave birth to Nathan Graham in November of 2021. Because of an incredibly supportive family my husband and I have been able to mostly keep our sanity and I’m still able to do the things I love. As part of my work life balance journey, I realized that being a classroom teacher wasn’t good for my mental health anymore, teaching in a “post” pandemic world was just too hard for me. So in October of 2021 I quit and since have completed a masters in theater and I’m currently “yes anding” my career music directing, accompanying, teaching private lessons and classes, as well as working from home for Backstory Theatre as their program coordinator. Right now we’ve found a happy balance of being able to do the work I love, and getting to be the mom I never realized I’d love being.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think one of the most important aspects of my story is that I am very lucky and have benefited from privledge. While yes, I have also worked hard and definately had my share of set backs, I fully recognize that in many ways I have it really easy. Right now I’m able to program and grow Backstory and Wellspring together in Broomfield, I get to work on the Co New Musical Festival and grow an artistic community that lifts people up and tells important stories. It’s meaningful work that I care about deeply, but art is expensive and doesn’t pay what it should. Right now I’m working on a Fundraiser Cabaret for Wellspring on May 20th, because we need funding to grow and continue to do the work we want to do telling untold stories and filling up artists when they’re reserves and stamina are depleted from doing creative work. I could not do this work and have a 5 month old if it wasn’t for mine and my husbands parents who are able to help us in so many ways. A major take away from my story should be that you help people, even if you need help, there’s something you can still do for someone else. I have a huge support system, and that enables me to do work that supports artists and creatives, especially the ones who don’t have the support they need to make their art and tell their stories. I feel like it’s part of my job to be a steward of stories and creative work that doesn’t typically get told, representation matters, stories matter. One of the things I always say is, make art my friends, because it matters.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I was taking someone around Denver who’d never been here before I’d definately want to give them the creative’s Denver experience. We would definately visit Red Rocks, either for an event or a hike. We’d definately catch a show depending on what was playing around town, DCPA would be fun, but I’d also love to bring someone into a smaller theater with a lesser known show, like something playing at the John Hand or the Bug Theater, Vintage or Aurora Fox would also be fun options. I love going to Snooze for brunch, any location, any time. I also spend a lot of time in Olde Town Arvada, we’d for sure go to the Bluegrass Lounge and Scrumptious Ice Cream, I’m also quite fond of Teocalli the newest restuarant down there. While we’re there, we’d visit Balefire to look at beautiful artisinal work, and if it was the right time of year, I love the street fairs in Olde Town, I always discover a new artist I love! Another fun spot I adore is Book Bar, which is near the Cat Cafe and Denver Biscuit Company which I love. It would also be fun to punk around in Boulder on Pearl St, visit Two Hands Paperie and the Boulder Tea House. I also really love thrifting, like reaaaaallly love thrifting. So with the right person I’d love to hit the thrift stores and consignment shops all over town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am insanely lucky to have a wonderful tribe of humans who have made, and continue to make my success and sanity possible. I have a wonderful family, husband and inlaws, as well as an incredible group of friends and peers. In particular I’m so thankful to Mary Wilke and BackStory Theatre for giving me a way to keep working that makes sense in my current life state, plays to my strengths, and keeps me working in the arts. Not to mention how they’ve supported the Co New Musical festival I started in 2020 and have created space for my art as well as the art of our community through Wellspring.

Website: https://www.backstorytheatre.org/wellspring-adult-programming

Instagram: @Ilove_APiano