Creative Dialogues: Imagining the Future of Arts and Culture in Colorado

Arts Advocacy | Community Listening | Future Thinking

Creative Dialogues is a series of community conversations across Colorado to discuss the future of art, culture, and creative industries. This robust engagement initiative aims to develop an Arts Policy Framework to shape future arts advocacy in Colorado and build a thriving arts community for all. Join us this summer to contribute to the conversation and make your voice heard! Register here!

What to Expect

Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) will share advocacy wins from the 2024 state legislative session, as well as new policy and ongoing resources for creatives. This will be followed by an open dialogue where we want to hear from you about your experiences, needs, and creative vision for your community. Listening sessions will be facilitated by Empowered Consulting. 

Who is Invited?

Everyone with a connection to the arts is welcome! This includes artists, performers, creators, organizations supporting the arts, educators, lovers of the arts, local government representatives, and beyond. Here are the in-person event details:

  • Greeley: June 13th | 6:30-8:00 PM | Greeley Public Library Innovation Center
  • Mancos: June 18th | 6:00-7:30 PM | Mancos Commons
  • La Junta: July 11th | 5:30-7:00 PM | Klein Makerspace
  • Glenwood Springs: July 23rd | 6:15-8:00 PM | Glenwood Public Library Community Room 

Register here for the in-person listening sessions.

Additionally, there will be two online sessions:

  • BIPOC Front Range Voices: June 12th | 7:00-8:30 PM | Virtual/Zoom (Register)
  • Arts Educators of All: August 1st | 4:00 – 5:30 PM | Virtual/Zoom (Register)

Why We Are Doing This Project

The goal is to develop an inclusive, community-informed policy framework to guide ongoing state-level advocacy for arts, culture and creative industries. A policy framework is a set of values and priorities that serves as a foundation for awareness building and action, ensuring consistency and coherence in policy development and implementation. This platform will help to direct and achieve long-term goals and positive outcomes for all corners of Colorado.

Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) has stepped up to lead Colorado’s statewide arts advocacy initiatives. CBCA’s vision for their advocacy work is that arts, culture and the creative industries are valued and supported by policymakers and voters, resulting in economically vibrant, healthy, and equitable communities throughout our state. Learn more about CBCA’s Advocacy role and initiatives. 

How We Are Doing This Project

To ensure this framework is informed by the expansive and diverse Colorado Arts Community, an online survey and numerous interviews were first executed with the intention of (1) understanding the general issues experienced in the arts (2) resource needs (3) topics and communities of interest. Based on the survey results and interviews, the Creative Dialogue listening sessions were planned and designed. The dates for those sessions are above.

The survey, interview and listening session findings will be reviewed by an Arts Framework Working Group. This Working Group is an intentionally selected team from across the state, creative disciplines, and professional backgrounds including actors, facilitators, teaching artists, visual artists, local government representatives, creative district employees and more! A special thanks to Betty Hart, Dagny McKinley, Daisy McGowan, Gabe Rodriguez, John Clark, and Kathryn Waggener for their commitment to this work, as well as guidance from CBCA’s Policy Committee and Colorado Cultural Champions. 

We look forward to sharing our Arts Policy Framework this coming Fall of 2024.