DENVER - On August 28, 2024, Governor Polis and the Colorado Creative Industries Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that 125 arts organizations across 33 Colorado counties have been awarded $909,000 in Colorado Creates Grants. From Montezuma to Morgan County, these grants will help organizations and communities create art and cultural activities by providing general operating support. Grantees receive funding for two years, totaling $1,818,000 in awards over the funding period. 

“Colorado’s arts and culture scene are an important part of who we are and a major contributor to our thriving economy. As someone who grew up around artists in my family, I know firsthand the impact art can have. We are thrilled to support the great work Coloradans are doing to support art and culture,” said Governor Jared Polis. 

Forty percent of the recipients announced today are based in rural counties, a key focus of the Colorado Creates Grant Program. Research from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) suggests that rural counties with arts organizations have experienced increased population growth and higher household incomes than rural counties without performing arts organizations. Two out of three rural businesses report that arts and entertainment are important to attracting and retaining workers. Additionally, 24% of awardees represent Colorado’s smallest organizations, with annual operating budgets below $100,000. 

"Arts and cultural production accounts for 3.7% of the Colorado economy, contributing 104,163 jobs, due in large part to Colorado’s dedicated, diverse nonprofit arts and culture organizations supported through the Colorado Creates grant," said Director of Colorado Creative Industries, Josh Blanchard. "This year’s Colorado Creates grant cycle was the most competitive in recent years. We applaud the talented organizations that contribute to Colorado’s vibrant economy, enhancing the quality of life for residents throughout the state.” 

The Cortez Cultural Center is one of three recipients in Montezuma county making an important impact in their community. The Center’s mission is to provide programs that enrich the lives of community members and visitors by increasing cultural awareness, promoting the arts, and educating about the area's history, diversity and natural environment. Recent programming includes Young People in Recovery, which offers weekly, multi-disciplinary arts classes, and the Book Anthology Project that promoted Literary Arts through the publication of three books of poetry and prose involving 30 regional authors on the subjects of Earth, Wind, and Fire. 

In Denver County, Phamaly Theatre Company is a grant recipient and will use the funding to support their mission to be a creative home for theatre artists with disabilities; to model a disability-affirmative theatrical process; and to upend conventional narratives by transforming individuals, audiences, and the world. Their upcoming October schedule includes The Glorious World of Crowns, Kinks and Curls by Keli Goff. This production features a collection of monologues, scenes, and stories highlighting the special and sometimes complicated relationship between Black women and the way society views (and often regulates) their hair. Additionally, Phamaly's 2025 season will include partnering with Kelly Hunter of London’s Flute Theatre. 

A complete list of this year's grant recipients is below. Colorado Creates awards offer general operating support and funding amounts are based on the organization’s cash operating income. Grants are funded through a partnership between CCI and the National Endowment for the Arts. They are awarded annually on a competitive basis. Proposals are reviewed for artistic excellence and merit, community involvement and impact, and implementation capacity. The CCI Advisory Council approved the awards announced today on Thursday, August 1, 2024. 

Awarded Organizations 

Adams County 
Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation 
Arts Thornton 
Roshni Colorado Art Awards Inc. 
Inside the Orchestra 
A Child’s Song 
Colorado Youth Mariachi Program 
Colorado Afro Latin Dance and Arts Collective 

Arapahoe County 
Englewood Cultural Arts Center Association 
Feel the Beat, Corp. 
Young Voices of Colorado 
Vintage Theatre Productions, Inc 
Aurora Singers 
5th Element Center for Dance 
Colorado Bach Ensemble 

Boulder County 
Rainbow Socks, Inc. 
Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras 
JLF Colorado 
The Arts Hub 
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art 
Frequent Flyers Productions 
Longmont Museum 
Boulder Ballet 
Street Wise Arts 
Parlando School of Musical Arts 
Boulder Chorale 
Sans Souci Festival of Dance Cinema 
Ascent Vocals 
Colorado Film Society 

Broomfield County 
The Cultural Caravan 
M12 Incorporated 

Chaffee County 
Colorado TINTS 

Custer County 
Wet Mountain Broadcasting Corp. 

Delta County 
Valley Youth Orchestra 
Grand Mesa Arts Center 
Blue Sage Center for the Arts 

Denver County 
Denver Young Artists Orchestra Association 
El Sistema Colorado 
RedLine Contemporary Art Center 
PlatteForum 
Creative Strategies for Change 
The Denver Brass, Inc. 
Lighthouse Writers Workshop 
The Art Garage 
Su Teatro 
Phamaly Theatre Company 
Art Students League of Denver 
CherryArts 
Denver Center for the Performing Arts 
Presenting Denver 
Youth on Record 
Art from Ashes Inc. 
New Dance Theatre 
Words To Power 
Center for Visual Art, MSUD 
Access Gallery 
Rocky Mountain Arts Association 
Colorado Chamber Players Inc. 

Douglas County 
Parker Symphony Orchestra 
Audience of One Youth Theater Inc. 
Performing Arts Academy 
Lone Tree Arts Center 

Eagle County Bravo 
Colorado at Vail-Beaver Creek 
Vilar Performing Arts Center 

El Paso County 
Green Box Arts Project 
Colorado Springs Children's Chorale 
Imagination Celebration 
Cottonwood Center for the Arts 
Youth Documentary Academy 
Concrete Couch 

Garfield County 
Voices 
Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program (AZYEP) 
5Point Adventure Film Festival 

Grand County 
Rocky Mountain Folk School 
Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre 

Gunnison County 
The Trailhead Children's Museum 

Huerfano County 
Spanish Peaks Community Foundation 
Museum of Friends 
Spanish Peaks Arts Council, Inc. 

Jefferson County 
Mirror Image Arts 
Tesoro Cultural Center 
The E Project dba Benchmark Theatre 
Morrison Theatre Company 
LuneAseas 
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities 
Evergreen Chamber Orchestra 
City of Lakewood - Heritage, Culture & the Arts Division 
Denver Digerati 
The Center for the Arts Evergreen 
Colorado Environmental Film Festival 

La Plata County 
San Juan Symphony 
Stillwater Music 
KUTE, Inc. 

Larimer County 
KRFC 88.9 FM Radio Fort Collins 
Fort Collins Mural Project 
Foundation Music School 
Wildfire Community Arts Center 
Howdy Neighbor Events 

Las Animas County 
Arthur Roy Mitchell Museum 

Mesa County 
Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra 
Delta Egyptian Theater 
The Art Center of Western Colorado 

Mineral County 
Creede Repertory Theatre Inc. 
Creede Arts Council Inc. Creede Musical Arts Collective Inc. 

Montezuma County 
Cortez Cultural Center Inc. 
Southwest Farm to Yarn Collective 
Willowtail Springs Nature Preserve and Education Center 

Montrose County 
Magic Circle Players 

Morgan County 
Center for Arts and Community Enrichment (CACE) 

Otero County 
Picketwire Players 

Ouray County 
Weehawken Creative Arts 
Ouray County Performing Arts Guild 

Pitkin County 
Roaring Fork Public Radio 
Music Associates of Aspen, Inc. 

Pueblo County 
Pueblo Symphony Association Inc. 

Routt County 
Friends of Perry-Mansfield 
Steamboat Dance Theatre 
Steamboat Art Museum 

San Juan County 
Silverton Creative District 

San Miguel County 
Rocky Mountain Arts 

Summit County 
Theatre SilCo 
National Repertory Orchestra Inc 

Weld County 
Colorado Dance Collective Adult Repertoire Company 
Community Radio for Northern Colorado The Colorado Sound 

About Colorado Creative Industries 

Colorado Creative Industries is a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of Colorado Creative Industries is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life. For more information, visit oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-creative-industries. 

About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works with partners to create a positive business climate that encourages dynamic economic development and sustainable job growth. Under the leadership of Governor Jared Polis, we strive to advance the State’s economy through financial and technical assistance that fosters local and regional economic development activities throughout Colorado. OEDIT offers a host of programs and services tailored to support business development at every level including business retention services, business relocation services, and business funding and incentives. Our office includes the Global Business Development division; Colorado Tourism Office; Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office; Colorado Creative Industries; Business Financing & Incentives division; the Colorado Small Business Development Network; Cannabis Business Office; Colorado Office of Film, TV & Media; the Minority Business Office; Employee Ownership Office; and Rural Opportunity Office. Learn more at oedit.colorado.gov.