2022 Business for the Arts Awards Luncheon

Japanese Arts Network performing at 2020 Awards Luncheon. Image by Amanda Tipton Photography

CBCA celebrated 12 honorees at its 2022 Business for the Arts Awards, presented by EY and PNC Bank, on March 15, 2022, which was attended by 600 corporate, cultural and civic leaders at the Seawell Ballroom at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, as well as livestreamed to attendees around the state. CBCA’s largest annual fundraiser and celebration, the Awards luncheon is the only statewide event honoring companies and individuals for their outstanding partnerships and engagement with the arts. Check out the full Awards luncheon program book.

The main Awards luncheon program, emceed by CBS4 Anchorman and award-winning Journalist Jim Benemann, was punctuated with four live performances, underwritten by Moye White. The program opened with spoken word artist, Assétou Xango, a poet, coach, community activist and former Poet Laureate of Aurora. Local indie band, Ramakhandra, provided an out-of-this-world sonic experience featuring a harpist, bassist, Atari synth player, drummer and vocalist. Boulder-based Local Theater Company premiered an excerpt from a new musical, “Say My Name,” with Book & Direction by Pang Yuan Yuan and Music and Lyrics by David Nehls. The Awards luncheon closed with an energetic Mexican folklorico dance performance from ArtistiCO, a nonprofit uplifting Denver’s local Latin culture.

Prior to the event, guests mingled at a networking reception, underwritten by Xcel Energy, featuring an immersive dance, theater and artistic experience provided by Fort Collins-based LuneAseas.  Honorees and sponsors attended a VIP Reception, underwritten by East West Partners, with live music from jazz musician Camilla Vaitaitis at Prelude + Post. The original Award Artwork presented to each of the honorees was commissioned from Wheat Ridge sculpture artist Kevin Robb and underwritten by HealthONE. Each of the table centerpieces were handcrafted by students from MSU Denver’s Center for Visual Art, which were unique upcycled artworks, underwritten by Bellco Credit Union.

Watch videos about all of the 2022 Honorees!

Congratulations to the 2022 Honorees

2022 ARTS & BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP AWARD HONOREES

The Arts & Business Partnership Award honorees are exemplary organizations that have gone above and beyond to support the arts and creative industries.

  • Artwork Archive, based in Denver with a global reach, goes beyond their core art inventory software platform to advance creative careers, including a robust blog and business accelerator grants and trainings. Watch the video!
  • The Colorado Chautauqua, a Boulder icon, partnered with Cal-Wood Education Center for Art in the Park, raising awareness for wildfire protection and recovery through creative benches built by local artists from fire damaged trees. Watch the video!
  • Conscious Alliance, of Broomfield, is a network of creatives working to end hunger through food drives and artistic posters at music concerts that fuel meals across Colorado and the U.S. Watch the video!
  • FCI Constructors, of Grand Junction, leverages their skills and resources to install downtown Grand Junction’s annual Art on the Corner sculptures, in addition to renovating the Avalon Theatre and philanthropically supporting the arts in Grand Valley. Watch the video!
  • Holiday Twin Drive-In, in Fort Collins, partnered with Fort Collins Musicians Association in 2020 to provide a safe place for live music during the pandemic with a weekly concert series supporting dozens of bands and hundreds of musicians. Watch the video!
  • Meow Wolf Denver’s new Convergence Station has been investing in Denver’s diverse creative community with a focus on social impact, accessibility and the needs of the Sun Valley neighborhood where they’re located. Watch the video!
  • PNC Bank has proven to be a champion of arts and culture partnerships through impactful sponsorships, significant grantmaking and employee leadership opportunities since entering the Colorado market in 2018. Watch the video!
  • Urban Peak’s downtown Denver youth shelter created a new music studio, spearheaded by a University of Colorado Denver songwriting professor, in order to provide youth experiencing homelessness with a cathartic and expressive outlet. Watch the video!
EY NEXT WAVE LEADERSHIP AWARD

The EY Next Wave Leadership Award honors rising professionals who are leading the future of our cultural community.

  • Tara Rynders, Registered Nurse, Artistic Director and Founder of You & Me and The Clinic, is harnessing the power of dance to combat compassion fatigue and build resiliency for healthcare workers through immersive performances and art-based workshops. Watch the video!
PNC BANK CULTURAL LEADERSHIP AWARD

The PNC Bank Cultural Leadership Award recognizes an outstanding graduate of CBCA’s Leadership Arts program who has made an impact on arts and culture in Colorado.

  • Roopesh Aggarwal, Senior Director – Business Innovation at Xcel Energy, joined the Board of Central City Opera after graduating from Leadership Arts in 2016 and has provided extraordinary leadership, guidance and vision as Board President and now Co-Chairman during a transformative time for the organization. Watch the video!
VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY IMPACT AWARD

The Volunteer Attorney Impact Award recognizes an outstanding attorney who has provided pro bono legal services to Colorado creatives and advanced CBCA’s Colorado Attorneys for the Arts (CAFTA) program.

  • Dave Rein, Attorney at Avek IP, is an advocate for the arts through his pro bono legal service and education with CAFTA, as well as volunteer roles with 40 West Arts, Jefferson County Cultural Council and Mi Casa Resource Center. Watch the video!
JOHN MADDEN, JR. LEADERSHIP AWARD

Named for CBCA’s founding chairman, the John Madden, Jr. Leadership Award recognizes a lifetime of extraordinary leadership and a legacy of support for the arts.

  • Richard Carter is a renowned artist and activist and has been spearheading creative development in the Roaring Fork Valley since the 1970s, including founding the Aspen Art Museum and supporting Anderson Ranch Art Center, Art Base and the new The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW) in Basalt. Watch the video!

Each 2022 Business for the Arts Award Honorees received an original sculpture by Wheat Ridge-based artist Kevin Rob. Learn more about Kevin Robb and the award artwork

2022 Awards Judges

The 2022 Arts & Business Partnership Award honorees, EY Next Wave Leadership Award, PNC Bank Cultural Leadership Award and John Madden, Jr. Leadership Award were selected by an independent panel of judges.

  • Lance Burch, Senior Financial Consultant-Vice President, Charles Schwab
  • Kathy Kranz, Chief Financial Officer, Pinnacol Assurance
  • Claudia Moran, Executive Director, Museo de las Americas
  • Christine Quintana, Partner – Assurance Services, EY
  • Armando Silva, Artist / Creative Consultant
  • Kendall Smith, Director of Programming, The Arts Center at Willits (TACAW)
  • Tara Thomas, Director, Bemis School of Art at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College

The Volunteer Attorney of the Year Award was selected by the CAFTA Advisory Committee.

In addition to celebrating the 2022 Business for the Arts Award honorees, CBCA recognized Colorado State Representative Leslie Herod for receiving the 2021 Public Leadership in the Arts Award during this event. Representative Herod was presented with this Award by Americans for the Arts and National Conference of State Legislatures.

COVID Regulations and Considerations

In order to protect your health and the health of our community, CBCA has implemented the following safety protocols for this event, which may be updated in accordance with CDC, state and local recommendations.

All attendees in person must by fully vaccinated (i.e., have completed the full course of COVID-19 shots 14 days before attending), and must provide proof of vaccination along with their photo ID at the door (i.e., original or photo of CDC vaccination card, copy of Colorado CIIS vaccination record, or myColorado app).  Persons who are not vaccinated may attend by bringing proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of the event start time.  Masks will be worn by attendees when not actively eating or drinking and attendees should socially distance to the extent possible. If you have any questions on these policies, please contact CBCA at main@cbca.org.

Photography/Video Notice

Photographs and/or video will be taken at this event. By taking part in this event, you consent to your image/likeness, voice, and/or name being used in photographs and/or film, and any reproductions or adaptations thereafter, by Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) for utilization in any and all print and digital media in perpetuity. If you do not wish to be photographed and/or filmed, please contact CBCA at main@cbca.org.

Thank You to our Sponsors!

Presenting sponsors

Award Artwork Underwriter

Centerpiece Underwriter

Entertainment Underwriter

Networking Reception Underwriter

VIP Reception Underwriter

In-Kind and Media Partners