2021 Award Honorees

Through print, online and events, The Denver Business Journal offers business leaders many avenues for making connections and gives them a competitive edge locally.

CBCA is honoring 8 organizations and 4 individual leaders for their support of the arts in 2021. This year’s honorees were selected by an independent statewide panel of business, arts and civic leaders.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Watch all of the 2021 Award Honoree Videos here. 

Check out the list of over 180 past Business for the Arts Award recipients (click here and scroll down).

Business for the Arts Award Honorees

Carbondale Clay Center

Carbondale Clay Center plays a vital role in the Roaring Fork Valley as a supportive and healing place to build community through artistic expression and education. Learn More

Charles Schwab logo

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab has integrated the arts into their metro Denver campus and supports a range of accessible and inclusive arts programs at the Lone Tree Arts Center. Learn More

Craig Hospital

Craig Hospital has embedded the arts into their rehabilitation programs and partners with groups like Phamaly Theatre Company to ensure the arts are accessible for all. Learn More

Eclectic Activation

Eclectic Activation launched Windows of Inspiration, which brings together corporate sponsors, small businesses, and artists to boost awareness and hope at this challenging time. Learn More

Jack’s Solar Garden

Jack’s Solar Garden, a solar-powered farm in Longmont, is cultivating creativity through their Artist on the Farm program and unique community partnerships. Learn More

Levitt Pavilion Denver

Levitt Pavilion Denver’s impact extends beyond their 50 free music concerts a year to advance Colorado’s music industry through education, inclusion and advocacy. Learn More

Pizzeria Locale

Pizzeria Locale amplifies the transformational power of the arts through partnerships with Access Gallery and Art from Ashes, such as featuring their creative artworks on pizza boxes. Learn More

RedLine Contemporary Art Center

RedLine Contemporary Art Center has stepped up in countless ways to support Colorado’s creative sector, from administering economic relief funds to community organizing for social justice. Learn More

EY Next Wave Leadership Award

Jose “Chepe” Rosales

Founder and Artistic Director, ArtistiCO

Jose is a trailblazing leader and professional dancer with an entrepreneurial spirit who is innovating new ways to advance arts and culture across heritages, generations, borders and technology. Learn More

PNC Bank Cultural Leadership Award

Michael Sattler

Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Arts Association

Michael is a true arts champion, despite uncertainty, leading his 2020 Leadership Arts class to raise scholarship funds while steering the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus and Denver Women’s Chorus. Learn More

Volunteer Attorney Impact Award

Shirin Chahal

Partner, Law Offices of Daniel T. Goodwin

Shirin has transformed a lifelong passion for the arts into a legal practice that supports the creative industries, including pro bono help through Colorado Attorneys for the Arts and civic leadership positions. Learn More

John Madden, Jr. Leadership Award

Jeanette Trujillo-Lucero

Founder and Artistic Director, Fiesta Colorado Dance Company

Jeanette is a pillar in Colorado’s arts community and has been a tireless performer, educator, mentor and catalyst for the Latino arts and cultural heritage for over 40 years. Learn More

2021 Judges

The 2021 Business for the Arts Awards honorees, EY Next Wave Leadership Award, PNC Bank Cultural Leadership Award and John Madden, Jr. Leadership Award were selected by an independent panel of statewide arts, business and community leaders. The 2021 Business for the Arts Awards judges are:

  • donnie l. betts, Founder and Director, No Credits Productions
  • Mark Davidson, Director, Fairfield and Woods
  • Betty Hart, Director, AEA Actor; Facilitator, Kaiser Permanente; President, Colorado Theatre Guild
  • Amy Kimberly, Executive Director, Carbondale Arts
  • Chris Otto, Office Managing Partner, Plante Moran
  • Doug Tueller, Founding Partner, Tueller & Gibbs
  • Ashley Unverferth, Owner, America’s Mattress of Western Colorado

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