Creative Communities 

 

Creative Districts Designation  

  

The guidelines and application process for Colorado Creative Districts is now available on the CCI website.
 
In 2011, the Colorado legislature passed HB11-1031. In brief, it encourages the formation of Creative Districts in communities, neighborhoods, or contiguous geographic areas, for the purposes of:

• Attracting creative entrepreneurs and artists to a community, infusing new energy and innovation which in turn will enhance the economic and civic capital of the community
• Creating hubs of economic activity, thereby enhancing the area as an appealing place to live, visit and conduct business, as well as create new economic activity
• Attracting visitors
• Revitalizing and beautifying communities
• Providing a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community's unique identity
• Showcasing cultural and artistic organizations, events, and amenities

Colorado Creative Industries will certify two creative districts. The town or city will receive a grant and consulting assistance to further develop their districts, including signage and promotion. We will also select five communities that are developing plans to include arts and creative industries as an economic development strategy and are considering creative districts as an option. We will provide grants and planning assistance to them as well.   
 
Applicants intending to apply for a Creative District designation must notify Maryo Gard Ewell at maryo@gard-sibley.org on or before January 15, 2012. Online applications are due January 30.   

 

Art District Best of 2011 Awards  

 

The Art District Best of 2011 Awards gives the public a chance to nominate and vote for their favorite Art District on Santa Fe galleries, artists and shows of the year. Nominations may be made in the following categories, and only one ballot per person will be counted: 

• Best Solo Show by Colorado Artist
• Best Solo Show by National Artist
• Best Curated Show
• Best Gallery
• Best Studio Artist
• Best Graffiti Wall
• Best Event

All nominations must pertain to work shown in the Art District on Santa Fe during 2011. Nominations are due by Monday, December 19, at midnight. Nominations can be made here. Voting will begin on Monday, December 26 at 7 p.m. and will end by Saturday, January 14 at midnight. Voting will be located at www.artdistrictonsantafe.com. The Awards and Gala reception is Friday, January 20 from 7-10 p.m. with the awards at 9 p.m.  

Professional Development and Networking

 

Startup Learning: Entrepreneurism     

 

This new course at Boulder Digital Works for Spring 2012 is taught by Robert Reich, entrepreneur, Boulder Denver New Tech Meetup founder and moderator, and founder of OpenSpace Store and One Riot. The course puts students inside the mind of the entrepreneur and immerses them in the daily leadership and innovation challenges of the startup environment. Applications are due December 15. Any questions of inquiries can be sent to the Graduate Program Coordinator, Jenifer Murray, at Jenifer.Murray@Colorado.edu.

American Music Abroad Initiative Now Accepting Applications 

Using music as a means to engage audiences worldwide, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced that the American Music Abroad program is now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 season. Musicians interested in applying for this international exchange program, which consists of month-long, multi-country tours for approximately 10 ensembles from a variety of American musical genres, may apply at www.americanvoices.org/ama. American Music Abroad ensembles will be selected on the basis of artistic quality and commitment to educational and cultural engagement. The deadline for applicants is January 16, 2012 at 5 p.m. PST. For more information, visit www.exchanges.state.gov

Arts Education and Workforce Development 

 

2012 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards Accepting Applications   

 

The twelve award-winning programs will receive $10,000 and an invitation to accept their award from the President's Committee's Honorary Chairman, First Lady Michelle Obama at a ceremony at the White House. In addition, winners will receive an award plaque, the opportunity to attend the Annual Awardee Conference in Washington, DC in the summer of 2012, and will be featured on the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards website.

  

After-school and out-of-school time arts and humanities programs sponsored by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations; educational institutions (e.g., preschools; elementary, middle, and high schools; universities; and colleges), arts centers, community service organizations, businesses, and eligible government entities are encouraged to consider submitting an application. Programs applying for the award must meet all of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award's Eligibility Criteria. The deadline for application submissions is Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 5 p.m. EST. Click here for more information.  

Colorado as a Creative Hub

 

CINEMA Day at the Capitol - Save the Date: February 8 

 

A big day of support for the Colorado Film and Television incentive legislation is happening on February 8 at the State Capitol. CINEMA (Colorado Innovators of New Entertainment, Media, and Arts), is a coalition of Colorado entertainment, media, and artistic interests engaged in promoting Colorado's creative industries. They have arranged a CINEMA Day at the Capitol in an effort to seek support from State Legislators and the Governor for increased film incentives in Colorado. This is an important day for these industries and will need community support. To learn more about the incentive legislation and the film, television and new media industries in Colorado, please subscribe to our other newsletter, Focus on Colorado here.

  

Terrazzo Floor Installation at the History Colorado Center 

  

The Great Map of Colorado™ was installed by artist Steven Weitzman in the Colorado History Center that is scheduled to open in April of 2012. This dynamic art installation creates a topographical view of the state as seen from 400 miles away, accentuating the elevations, mountains, and rivers of Colorado's legendary terrain. The artist wanted to create an experience that evoked the awe and beauty of Colorado's glorious natural landscape. The floor is made up of 234 individual FŌTERA® Terrazzo paintings, each one a wonderfully composed, unique painting in itself. The map serves as a microcosm of the entire state, allowing visitors to explore parts of the state that are unfamiliar to them through the act of walking the "landscape." By removing man-made additions, and/or other contemporary place holders, the map evokes the pre-settlement excitement of the unspoiled terrain. At each subsequent level of the Center's four stories, the tile meld together to reveal the fullness of Colorado's topography.

 

 

Art is the Best Teacher: Works by Colorado's Higher Education Faculty  

  

Artwork by Ajean Rayn

This Creative Capitol exhibition highlights visual arts faculty from fourteen higher education campuses across Colorado. A broad range of media, subject matter, and disciplines show the diversity and the overall unity of Colorado's art in higher education.  

 

The artists featured teach at the following institutions: Colorado Mountain College, Colorado State University - Pueblo, Colorado State University - Fort Collins Community College of Aurora, Fort Lewis College, Front Range Community College, Mesa State College, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Red Rocks Community College, Regis University, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, Trinidad State Junior College, University of Denver, and University of Northern Colorado.

  

The exhibition will be on display at the Colorado Capitol Building in the Lt. Governor's offices and the basement rotunda through May 13, 2012. The Capitol is open to visitors from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.       

 

 

Colorado Masterpieces: Celebrating Agricultural Life and Art Visits the National Western Stock Show  

 

Harvest of Heritage, Colorado Masterpieces: Celebrating Agricultural Life and Art is a touring exhibit honoring over two dozen of Colorado's master traditional artists. The exhibit started in September 2010 and has visited eight museums and cultural centers around the state as well as the Colorado State Fair. Starting January 7 the exhibit will open at the National Western Stock Show in the lower level of the Events Center where many of the horse show activities are held. The exhibit runs through January 22.  

 

Art work on view includes wheat art, leather and rawhide braiding, horsehair work, Mexican fabric art, and saddles made by members of the Colorado Saddle Makers Association. An interpretive display features photographs and information about these and many other art forms including stained glass work, quilt making, painting and weaving. All of the artists have links to Colorado's rich agricultural heritage and their stories bring the state's history and geography to life. For further information please contact Ronna Lee Sharpe at rsharpe@westcomuseum.org or visit the Museum of Western Colorado website.    

  

Fourteen Colorado Organizations Receive NEA Grants

 

Congratulations to the following 14 Colorado Organizations that received National Endowment for the Arts grants totaling almost $220,000 in the following programs: Art Works I, Challenge America Fast-Track Grants and Literature Fellowships (Prose). 

• Anderson Ranch Arts Foundation (aka Anderson Ranch Arts Center)
• Aspen Santa Fe Ballet 
• Bravo! Colorado at Vail-Beaver Creek (aka Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival)
• Central City Opera House Association
• Creede Repertory Theatre, Inc.
• Crestone Performances, Inc. (aka Crestone Music Festival)
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts
• International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management, Inc.
• Music Associates of Aspen, Inc. (aka Aspen Music Festival and School)
• New Dance Theatre, Inc. (aka Cleo Parker Robinson Dance)
• PlatteForum
• Pueblo Performing Arts Guild, Inc.
• Sheffield, Elisabeth
• Vail Valley Foundation

More information on these awards is available here. 

Financial Support and Incentives  

   

New Grants Available from the Lone Tree Arts Commission   

 

The Lone Tree Arts Commission has historically recommended funding for organizations that produce performing arts experiences for Lone Tree residents. Beginning in 2012, the Lone Tree Arts Commission will recommend funding to a potentially broader number and wider variety of arts organizations, with the general purpose of bringing high-quality semi-professional and professional performances, events, and exhibits to the Lone Tree Arts Center that will complement already-planned programming. The intention of this new grant program is to increase the diversity of excellent performing arts experiences, events and exhibits available to Lone Tree residents.

Grants will be awarded to metro-Denver area 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations whose programming: 

• is artistically excellent;
• represents a diversity of genres;
• works well in the performing spaces available;
• reflects sound business management;
• contributes to a dynamic cultural environment in the City of Lone Tree. 

For additional information and to download the grant application click here.