Colorado as a Creative Hub

   

Creative Industries included in Hickenlooper's Strategies for Job Growth

  

The Governor's Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) recently announced a Key Industry Strategy to retain and grow jobs. Using industry feedback and an analysis developed independently by PricewaterhouseCoopers, OEDIT identified 15 key industries to focus on, with the goal of creating jobs and increasing the stability and competitiveness of the Colorado economy: Manufacturing, Technology, Electronics, Energy & Natural Resources, Bioscience, Food & Agriculture, Defense & Homeland Security, Aerospace, Information, Health & Wellness, Creative Industries, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation, Transportation and Logistics, Infrastructure Engineering & Construction, and Financial & Business Services.
 
Over the next eight months, OEDIT will be convening business leaders from each industry across the state and facilitating the development of industry-specific business plans. The business plans will focus on job creation within each industry, as well as policy development and industry growth action items. By year-end, OEDIT will create a Colorado Economic Forum where the champions of each industry can collaborate on similar issues affecting multiple industries. Such discussion will help frame the policy agenda that will spur job growth for the upcoming legislative session.     

 

 

Save the Date: Creative Industries Summit April 12-13

 

Mark your calendars now for the Colorado Creative Industries Summit April 12-13 in beautiful Breckenridge. The event will provide inspiration, networking and learning opportunities for Colorado creatives. Artist-entrepreneurs, owners of creative sector businesses, nonprofit cultural workers, and emerging creatives will come together for this inaugural event.  More information will be available soon and registration will open in mid February. 

 

 

Denver to Host National Poetry Slam in March
 
Every year, hundreds of women travel from around the globe and descend upon one city to battle for the title of Women of the World Slam Poetry Champion.  As a thriving  arts scene and the home to many slam poetry champions, Denver will host the 2012 Women of the World Poetry Slam (WOWps) on March 7-10, 2012. WOWps is a national spoken word tournament in its 5th year - created for women, facilitated by women, honoring women. The 2012 WOWps will feature 72 regional champions competing for one title as well as a number of free and discounted community workshops and performances. For more information, visit http://wow.poetryslam.com.  

 

 

Creative Industries on Facebook

 

Colorado Creative Industries is active on Facebook. We post articles, calls for entry, tips on how to grow your creative business and much more. We would like to increase our LIKES and connect with more creatives across the state. Connect with us in real time by clicking LIKE now.

 

Financial Support and Incentives  

 

CINEMA Day Gets Industry Support 

 

Industry leaders and film fans alike came out in droves to brave the winter chill in support of CINEMA Day at the Capitol on February 8.  

 

Hundreds of rally attendees held signs, chanted, and cheered as Donald Zuckerman (Office of Film, Television, & Media) and Melissa Kuipers (Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck) introduced the film incentive program and thanked Representative Tom Massey, Senator Linda Newell, Representative Nancy Todd, and Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino for their continued efforts in sponsoring House Bill #1286.
 
House Bill #1286 increases the current film incentive from 10 percent to 20 percent, offers a bank loan-guarantee program, and enters Colorado in the competitive marketplace for future film and television productions. The proposed legislation will help create new jobs within the film and television sector state-wide.  

 

February 8th is now CINEMA (Colorado Innovators of New Entertainment Media & Arts) Day in Colorado.

 

TourWest Grant Program Accepting Applications

TourWest is a competitive grant program that provides subsidies to arts and community organizations for the presentation of out-of-state touring performers and literary artists. Funds are available to organizations that sponsor performances within the 13-state WESTAF region.  Projects must take place between September 01, 2012 and August 31, 2013. All projects must have one public performance and one outreach activity. TourWest standard performance grants are available in an amount of up to $2,500 or 50% of the artistic fees, whichever is less.  Applicants may apply for up to two standard performance grants.  This year, they will not be accepting work samples by mail.  All work samples must be uploaded as a digital file on the TourWest application site.  To apply to TourWest and view additional information regarding the grant guidelines and work sample file requirements, please visit http://westaf.cgweb.org.

Professional Development and Networking

 

DiMe - Digital Media Symposium February 17

 

The Digital Media Symposium (DiMe) is a unique event combining the creative and technical aspects of digital media. The event will take place at the St. Julian Hotel in Boulder on Friday, February 17. Speakers will share their expertise and insider tips on entertainment, film, video, sports, gaming, marketing, and transmedia storytelling.

 

Pixar's co-founder and two-time Academy Award winner, Alvy Ray Smith, will deliver the keynote this year. Plus, Disney's producer of Beauty and the Beast, Don Hahn, will moderate a new, fast-moving format.  

Calls for Entry       

 

Community College of Denver Call for Entry

The Community College of Denver is requesting qualifications for a piece of artwork for either the interior or exterior for the new Engagement Building on the campus of the Auraria Higher Education Center in downtown Denver. This building will house various student services functions, classrooms, testing, tutoring center and a café, becoming a hub for student activity. Budget: $150,000. Submission deadline: February 21, 2012. The building will open the spring of 2013. RFQ here.

 

Creative Capitol Exhibit Call for Photographers

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) in partnership with Colorado Photographic Arts Center is pleased to announce a call to Colorado artists to participate in the Creative Capitol Exhibit "Our Town, Colorado" - an exhibit of documentary photography illustrating what makes your community unique. You may include up to eight images to tell your story. Deadline: March 8, 2012. RFQ here. 

 

Center for Innovation at Metropolitan State College of Denver - Metro Creates

The Center for Innovation (CFI) at Metropolitan State College of Denver invites current students, faculty, staff, alumni and all members of the Colorado Creative Industries community to submit their Creative works. The 1,100-foot showroom provides opportunities to showcase Art and Design work that promotes Entrepreneurship in creative endeavors in the Denver Community. "Metro State Creates" is housed in the new Student Success Building on the Auraria campus. Deadline: March 8, 2012

 

Please go to CAFE  to apply for these calls.

 

 

The Colorado Nonprofit Week Awards Luncheon will be on March 12, 11:30-1:30 at the Denver Marriott City Center, 1701 California Street. In addition to honoring and hearing from many leaders who have advanced the nonprofit sector, Governor John Hickenlooper, Secretary of State Scott Gessler and Treasurer Walker Stapleton will also address the audience. Through February 10, tables of ten for Colorado Nonprofit Association members are $495 and  individual tickets are $55. Register here.

 

 

CBCA Business for the Arts Awards Luncheon

 

The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts Awards Luncheon will take place Tuesday, March 6 at the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the program is noon - 1:30 p.m. More information here. Please RSVP by Tuesday, February 28. 

 

National Children's Book of the Year Award

 

The National Children's Book of the Year Award Contest is open to anyone who is interested in being a published children's book author.  Last year, they received more than 1,000 entries in the contest.  If you would like more information about the National Book Award Contest, call the NAESP Foundation at 800-386-2377 or click here to download the entry form.

Creative Communities 

 

Christo's Over the River Continues to Gather Support 

   

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, the project is supported by the governor and many elected officials as well as local citizens. But not everyone is enthusiastic about the project. However Christo embraces it all. 

 

"Of course it's part of the art," Christo said in an interview. "Thousands of people discussing the art for many years before it is there. What artist gets to have his art discussed for 20 years before it is created?"

 

Read the article.  

 

Arts Education and Workforce Development 

 

The Colorado Creative Careers Festival is a one-day, statewide event hosted by the colleges on the Auraria Campus scheduled for Friday, February 24. The event offers workshops for high school students and their teachers in Creative Career fields and is sponsored by the Colorado Community College System with partnership support from higher education institutions, Colorado Creative Industries and Arts & Venues Denver.  The day features hands-on workshops taught by working professionals and education faculty and informational sessions about careers in the arts fields. The festival showcases opportunities in Computer/Digital Animation, Film/Video Production, Media Communications, Product Design, Graphic and Web Design, Photography, Audio and Sound Technology, and Technical Theatre.

Click here for more information about the festival, to RSVP or to volunteer: