DENVER CREATES - Cultural Commitment
DENVER CREATES: A COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT TO THE ARTS
Arts, culture and creativity are integral to Denver’s identity, intentionally woven into the very fabric of our city through public art programs, cultural investments and iconic landmarks.
Together, we’re building a city where the arts thrive and our culture flourishes.
The Guiding Vision of DENVER CREATES: To grow and strengthen Denver's arts and culture ecosystem for everyone to enjoy.
The Research Process
Crafting a strategic roadmap is critical to shaping the creative future of Denver. DENVER CREATES was built on comprehensive, inclusive research and provides a framework that serves as a practical guide to strengthen and grow the city’s arts and culture ecosystem. Key steps of the research included:
- Community Engagement: Over 2,500 voices were heard.
- Arts and Culture Sector-Specific Research: More than 100 in-depth interviews were conducted.
- Supplemental Data Analysis: Trends in participation and funding were examined.
- Collaborative Planning: Advisory committees, focus groups and targeted outreach ensured representation.
The Three Collective Commitments
DENVER CREATES consists of three commitments, bolstered by actionable strategies.
- Broaden Access to Arts and Culture
- Cultivate the Cultural Community
- Support the Economic Vitality of Denver's Cultural Sector
Learn more about the strategies and action items under each commitment below.
Join Us
DENVER CREATES is a roadmap designed to shape the future of arts and culture in our city. From artists and arts sector employees to community leaders and passionate arts supporters — each of us has something to give — and something to gain — from supporting arts and culture in Denver.
While Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) will steward DENVER CREATES and serve as a convener of the cultural sector, this is our collective invitation to co-create a city where imagination thrives, expression is everywhere and creativity belongs to us all.
Whatever role you choose to play —center stage or behind the scenes— your voice and your passion matter. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
Denver Arts & Venues (DAV) will launch four new programs, shaped by community-identified needs from DENVER CREATES, to maximize impact, leverage DAV resources and foster collaboration with partners and other City agencies.
Arts Complex Cultural Partner Program
This initiative will maximize unprogrammed time in DAV-operated venues, our rehearsal studio and the outdoor Galleria to support artists and arts groups and to sustain a thriving and inclusive cultural environment at the Arts Complex. This will include the award of annual partnerships to rehearse, perform, produce and create new work in Denver, to stimulate innovation and collaboration.
Artist as Career
- Arts Marketplace and Pilot Artists-in-Residence Program – DAV is proposing an arts retail marketplace and a pilot program for artists-in-residence in downtown Denver, to support creative careers and to bring arts activation to downtown.
- Creative Economy Data – in partnership with state research organizations, DAV will develop market analysis and research-backed recommendations to support the private cultural sector in Denver and the wider creative economy.
Sector-Wide Strategy for Arts Amplification
With our partners, DAV will build a coalition to develop an arts and culture brand campaign, promoting the vitality, diversity and strength of Denver’s cultural organizations and our regional cultural sector. This will be an inclusive process to drive attendance for cultural organizations and boost arts-driven tourism.
Arts and Youth
DAV will fund a cross-agency collaboration to provide arts and culture engagement for youth ages 12 and up during out-of-school time in City-owned facilities.
Questions?
For more information, please contact us at Denver.Creates@denvergov.org