Welcome to 2026!
Christin Crampton Day at the 2025 Economic Activity Study of Metro Denver Culture roll-out event. Courtesy of Amanda Tipton Photography.
As we forge ahead with a new year, we want to pause to thank our members, donors, partners and stakeholders who have helped build CBCA over the last year and past four decades.
2025 was a celebration of CBCA’s 40th anniversary year, and now, as we look forward, we are thrilled to share CBCA’s next strategic plan guiding us into the future. A priority of the plan is continuing to listen and learn from our constituents about what is needed most in these fast-changing times.
In truth, much has changed over the past year that has created real challenges for arts and business, and we continue to face tough headwinds heading into 2026. This is why CBCA’s mission at the intersection of arts and business is more relevant than ever. We need to lean on each other to navigate these unpredictable times and lean into creativity and innovation to move us forward.
CBCA’s board and staff at the 2025 retreat.
Meanwhile, we know that access to arts and culture feeds our hearts and souls, builds and brings community together where we become individually and collectively inspired, hopeful, resourceful and resilient. We thank our members, partners, donors and supporters for helping us to dream about what the future can be for a better Colorado where arts and culture are accessible to all.
2026 is also a milestone celebration of Colorado’s sesquicentennial. As Colorado celebrates its 150th and America’s 250th anniversaries, arts, culture and heritage will be a central theme, and an opportunity to cherish and highlight what makes Colorado truly distinctive. As the cultural hub of the West, we have much to commemorate and build upon, ensuring our arts and creative ecosystem continue to thrive.
So, with this year of possibility before us, I encourage you to get involved and experience all the arts and creative sector in Colorado has to offer. Support your local arts and culture, artists and creative businesses with your time and treasure – attend cultural events, make art, buy art, go to a show, give a donation. There are so many ways to get engaged, including with CBCA and our unique mission at the intersection of arts and business to advance our creative economy.
DCI Tour at the 2025 Business for the Arts Awards. Courtesy of Amanda Tipton Photography.
CBCA offers many diverse programs and events all year long that serve businesses big and small, nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, and artists and creative entrepreneurs. There’s a variety of ways to engage and support our mission throughout the year such as membership, sponsorship, contributions, and participation in our many events and programs. Network and connect at a Member Meet-Up, become inspired at an ArtsConnect member event, share your voice through the Colorado Arts Action Network, and connect with us at the 2026 Business for the Arts Awards luncheon. In fact, tickets and tables are now on sale! Don’t miss out on the largest annual gathering of arts, business and civic leaders in the state and register now.
Members of the 2024-2025 Leadership Arts Cohort at the Arts & Healing session.
We’re in this together – arts and business depend on each other and succeed together. We’ve got this, and we are sincerely grateful for you. Happy New Year, and I’m excited about what we will accomplish together in 2026!
With sincere gratitude,
Christin Crampton Day
