Member Highlight: City of Lakewood Heritage, Culture & the Arts

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City of Lakewood’s Heritage, Culture & the Arts division engages and builds community through inclusive, diverse and sustainable experiences, programs and places that inspire opportunities for discovery and foster connection. Three destinations host classes, exhibits, performances and a myriad of special events. As the hub of arts programming, Lakewood Cultural Center hosts an annual series of renowned performances, rents meeting and performance spaces to local groups, showcases rotating art exhibitions and offers classes and programming for all ages. While the Lakewood Cultural Center recently celebrated 25 years in the community, Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park will commemorate 50 years in 2026! As a 20th-century outdoor history park and festival experience, Heritage Lakewood manages over 40,000 artifacts, hosts signature community events, site tours and offers hands-on classes and camps. Serving a unique niche, Washington Heights Arts Center focuses on ceramics, drawing, painting and fibers.

Share a story of your company’s engagement or an employee’s engagement in the arts.

At Heritage Lakewood, our historic structures are tangible connections to our community’s resilient history of agriculture and commerce. We rely on our dedicated Historic Preservation & Restoration Volunteers, who work under a strict but rewarding set of guidelines: the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, to accurately maintain that history. This is where the intersection of business and the arts becomes clear. The historic buildings, which tell the story of commerce, are canvases. The careful, thoughtful, and skillful work of preservation then becomes the art, maintaining that history for the future.

A recent restoration project, the rehabilitation of the Peerless Gas Station, illustrates this connection. While walking on site with his son, longtime community member Chuck Houser noticed two historic gas pumps in need of repair. Inspired by his son, Chuck saw an opportunity and volunteered to take on the detailed process of restoring the pumps, transforming them from rusty relics back to their former glory.

Chuck’s connection to gas stations runs deep; in the 1950s, he owned gas stations in the San Luis Valley and he had firsthand experience working with this exact type of pump. This unique blend of business experience and personal passion made his restoration effort a true work of art. Under his expert care, and with over 250 hours of volunteer time, the pumps were meticulously restored. Today, they are a focal point at Heritage Lakewood.

How have arts and/or creativity helped your company innovate or grow your impact in the community?

Lakewood Heritage, Culture and the Arts fosters creativity, strengthens social connections, supports diversity, and drives economic growth through a strategic offering of classes, programs, performances and events.

At its core, the team fosters creativity by offering accessible programs in painting, ceramics, music, and dance. These programs empower individuals of all ages to discover new skills and build confidence, fueling a more resilient community. This focus on individual expression also supports a collective cultural identity, giving residents a shared sense of place through art and history.

Culture and the arts are powerful tools for supporting diversity by celebrating the unique traditions of Lakewood’s diverse population. Events, classes and performances provide opportunities for cultural exchange. By showcasing diverse artists, we acknowledge the broader community through known and new experiences, strengthening social connections and building understanding. These same opportunities create gathering points for shared experiences, which foster unity and promote community.

As part of the creative economy, Lakewood’s Heritage, Culture and the Arts employs and elevates artists, attracts visitors to local businesses, and is a draw for new residents. Lakewood’s arts and culture are key to fostering a dynamic community.

Why are you involved with CBCA?

Lakewood’s involvement with CBCA is a partnership between the Economic Development department and the Heritage, Culture and the Arts division, demonstrating commitment to cultural impact and economic vitality. The partnership provides a platform for cross-collaboration, networking and learning. As an active member, the city gains access to a statewide network of business leaders and arts organizations. Through CBCA’s events and programs, Lakewood’s arts team engages directly with fellow businesses interested in elevating the arts and sharing best practices among cultural organizations across Colorado. Ultimately, participation with CBCA ensures that Lakewood’s vibrant arts scene is not an isolated effort but a recognized and integral part of Colorado’s thriving creative economy, fostering a powerful synergy between culture and commerce.

If you would like more information about becoming a CBCA member, visit the CBCA Membership page or contact our Membership & Development Manager, Sarah Braverman at sbraverman@cbca.org.