Strengthening Colorado’s Creative Economy: 187 Arts Organizations Awarded Colorado Creates Grants

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis and the Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced 187 new recipients of the Colorado Creates Grants. These grants support arts programs, services, and activities associated with the National Endowment of the Arts' (NEA) strategic plan by providing general operating support to arts-focused organizations for the presentation of public programming. The grants announced today will support 187 arts organizations across 33 Colorado counties.

"Growing up in a family of artists, I appreciate the difference art makes in our communities. Arts and culture are an essential part of who we are as Coloradans, driving local economies and inspiring creativity. These grants will support the great work of arts organizations across the state who fill daily life with creativity and fun," said Governor Jared Polis.

In total, 37% of this year's grantees are based in rural counties, a key focus of the Colorado Creates Grant program. Research from 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, 20% of grantees represent Colorado's smallest organizations, with annual operating budgets below $100,000.

"The creative industries contribute nearly $20 billion to Colorado's economy and support over 120,000 jobs annually. These arts organizations' work strengthens our creative economy and reinforces the vital role arts and culture play in our communities," said OEDIT Executive Director Eve Lieberman.

"Arts, culture, music and film play a vital role in strengthening communities and fostering resilient economies across the state. CCI is thrilled to support these organizations to help build a more equitable and resilient creative economy and ensure arts access for all in Colorado," said CCI Director Josh Blanchard.

Colorado Creates Grants offer general operating support within a one-year period, and the funding amounts are based on the organization's cash operating income. Award amounts range from $6,000 to $14,000. Grants are made possible through a partnership between CCI and the NEA. The 2026 Colorado Creates Grant recipients include:

Adams County

• A Child's Song
• Colorado Afro Latin Dance and Arts Collective
• Inside the Orchestra
• Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation
• Roshni The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary, Inc.

Arapahoe County

• 5th Element Center for Dance
• Aurora Singers
• Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum
• Cherry Creek Chorale Inc.
• Colorado Asian Pacific United
• Colorado Bach Ensemble
• Colorado Public Radio
• Colorado Youth Mariachi Program
• Englewood Cultural Arts Center Association
• Littleton Community Music Association
• Littleton Youth Ballet
• Voices West
• Young Voices of Colorado

Archuleta County

• Thingamajig Theatre Company

Boulder County

• Boulder Ballet
• Boulder Chorale
• Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
• Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
• Boulder Samba School
• Circle of Care
• Colorado Film Society
• Frequent Flyers® Productions, Inc.
• Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras
• Impact Arts Colorado
• Longmont Chorale, Inc.
• Longmont Museum and Cultural Center
• Music In Community
• Parlando Incorporated (DBA Parlando School of Musical Arts)
• Rainbow Socks, Inc.
• Sans Souci Festival of Dance
• Cinema Seicento Baroque Ensemble
• Society for Creative Aging/VIVA Theater
• Street Wise Arts
• The Arts Hub
• The Muse Performance Space

Chaffee County Colorado

• Theater in Non Traditional Spaces
• Salida Circus Outreach Foundation

Custer County

• Wet Mountain Broadcasting Corp. (KLZR)
• Delta County Blue Sage Center for the Arts
• Friends of the Paradise Theatre
• Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center
• Valley Youth Orchestra
• We Create Heart

Denver County

• Access Gallery
• Art Students League of Denver
• Big Heart Art
• Buntport Theater Company
• Center for Visual Art, MSU
• Denver CherryArts
• Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
• Clyfford Still Museum
• Colorado Art Awards Inc.
• Colorado Chamber Players Inc.
• Colorado Children's Chorale
• Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts
• Colorado Hebrew Chorale
• Colorado Humanities
• Denver Art Museum
• Denver Brass, Inc.
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts
• Denver Municipal Band
• Denver Theatre District Inc.
• Denver Young Artists
• Orchestra Association
• El Sistema Colorado
• Feel the Beat, Corp.
• Flamenco Denver
• Friends of Chamber Music
• Lighthouse Writers Workshop
• Mile High Youth Theatre Inc.
• Phamaly Theatre Company
• PlatteForum
• Presenting Denver
• RedLine
• Rocky Mountain Arts Association
• KBDI-Channel 12 dba PBS12
• Sphere Ensemble
• Su Teatro
• Swallow Hill Music Association
• The Art Garage
• Words To Power
• Youth on Record

Douglas County

• Cherokee Ranch & Castle Foundation
• Colorado Jazz Inc.
• Lone Tree Arts Center
• Parker Symphony Orchestra (previously South Suburban Community Orchestra)

Eagle County

• Aspen Dance Connection
• Bravo Colorado at Beaver Creek
• Eagle ARTS
• High Five Access Media
• The Art Base (Wyly Community Arts Center)
• The Arts Campus at Willits Vail
• Jazz Foundation
• Vilar Performing Arts Center

El Paso County

• Cheyenne Mountain Public Broadcast House, Inc.
• ChoralSong of Colorado Springs
• Colorado College Summer Music Festival
• Colorado Springs Children's Chorale
• Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association
• Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble
• Concrete Couch
• Cottonwood Center for the Arts
• Green Box Arts
• Imagination Celebration
• Rocky Mountain Women's Film
• Youth Documentary Academy

Garfield County

• Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program
• Stage of Life (Sol) Theatre Company

Grand County

• Fraser Valley Community Media
• Rocky Mountain Folk School
• Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre
• Shadowcliff

Gunnison County

• Crested Butte Film Festival
• Crested Butte Society, Inc
• The Trailhead Children's Museum

Huerfano County

• Museum of Friends
• Spanish Peaks Arts Council

Jefferson County

• Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
• Arvada Chorale
• Colorado Dragon Boat
• Colorado Environmental Film Festival
• Colorado Institute of Music
• Control Group Productions
• Lakewood Symphony
• Mirror Image dba Mirror Image Arts
• Ovation West Performing Arts
• Performance Now Theatre Company
• The Center for the Arts Evergreen
• Wheat Ridge 2020 Inc. (dba Localworks)

La Plata County

• Durango Arts Center
• Durango Playfest iAM Music
• KSUT Public Radio
• San Juan Symphony
• Seed Studio
• Stillwater Music
• Southwest Civic Winds
• The Hive DGO
• The Powerhouse Women
• Writing the West

Lake County

• Tabor Opera House

Larimer County

• Bas Bleu Theatre Company
• Front Range Chamber Players
• Howdy Neighbor Events
• International Keyboard Odyssiad & Festival
• KRFC 88.9 FM Radio
• Fort Collins Laudamus
• Chamber Chorale
• LuneAseas
• Off the Hook Arts
• Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities
• Thompson Valley Art League
• Wildfire Community Arts Center

Las Animas

• A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art

Lincoln County

• Centro Inc.

Mesa County

• Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra
• Grand Valley Creative Alliance
• The Art Center of Western Colorado
• Mineral County Creede Arts Council Inc
• Creede Musical Arts Collective
• Creede Repertory Theatre, Inc.

Montrose County

• Magic Circle Players
• Montrose Center for the Arts

Otero County

• Picketwire Players

Ouray County

• Friends of the Wright Opera House, Inc.
• Weehawken Creative Arts

Pitkin County

• Aspen Music Festival and School
• Aspen Public Radio
• Dance Aspen
• Redstone Art Foundation
• Roaring Fork Friend of the Theater

Pueblo County

• Pueblo Children's Chorale
• Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center

Routt County

• Friends of Perry-Mansfield Inc.
• Steamboat Art Museum
• Town of Hayden
• San Miguel County
• Ah Haa School for the Arts
• Telluride Chamber Music Association
• Telluride Dance Collective
• Telluride Repertory Theatre Company

Summit County

• National Repertory Orchestra Inc

Weld County

• Community Radio for Northern Colorado

Yuma County

• The Space, INC

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 to empower all to thrive in Colorado's economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire-and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT.

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