Update: Denver and Colorado’s Creative Economy

In January, we delved into some of the stats on the creative economy in Colorado and Denver in this post, and we looked at the two main government agencies that advance the arts in Denver and Colorado in part two of the series. Here’s some news from both:

Colorado Creative Industries Showcases Colorado Artists at SXSW

SXSWcomuspartyFor the first time, Colorado government, through Colorado Creative Industries, provided financial support for Colorado showcases at SXSW in Austin, TX. The showcases, held during last week’s event at The 512 on 6th Street, featured 28 Colorado bands over two days. The Denver Post’s music blog, Hey Reverb, posted photos and highlights from the party.

Imagine Denver 2020 Cultural Plan Released

ImagineDenver2020When we wrote in January, a draft plan developed with input from over 5,000 Denver citizens was circulating. This month, the city’s Arts & Venues department, which spearheaded the effort, released the plan. Highlights include:

  • more measurement of the types of resources and economic impact we reported in our post
  • accessible and affordable live/work spaces for creators
  • support for Denver Public Schools’ arts education strategic plan, a cause dear to the hearts of musicians

Find a short summary here, in A Collective Vision for Denver, and more information at ImagineDenver2020.org