Colorado Business Committee For The Arts

COLORADO BUSINESS COMMITTEE FOR THE ARTS (CBCA)'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE COLORADO'S CREATIVE ECONOMY BY CONNECTING BUSINESS AND ARTS. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS MISSION THROUGH STATEWIDE ADVOCACY, RESEARCH, TRAINING, VOLUNTEERISM AND ARTS ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS. CBCA HAS BEEN FORGING INSPIRING ARTS AND BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1985.

ADVANCING CREATIVES, LAUNCHED IN EARLY 2020, OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SKILLS TRAININGS TO ARTISTS, PERFORMERS, CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS, AND ARTISTIC ENTITIES THROUGH COLLABORATIVE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH ENT CREDIT UNION, CBCA OFFERED A THREE-PART WORKSHOP SERIES ON CHARTING FINANCIAL FUTURES FOR ARTISTS. A TOTAL OF 24 EVENTS WERE HOSTED OR CO-PRESENTED IN 2021 SERVING 581 CREATIVE INDUSTRY WORKERS. TWELVE DIFFERENT PROGRAM PARTNERS COLLABORATED WITH CBCA TO OFFER THESE WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS RANGING FROM TAXES PREP FOR ARTISTS TO APPLYING FOR ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAMS AND SPECIFIC ISSUES RELEVANT TO BIPOC CREATIVES AND COLORADO'S MUSIC INDUSTRY. ARTS + INDUSTRY FORUM SERIES OFFERS ENGAGING DISCOVERY SESSIONS THAT BRING TOGETHER EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM A VARIETY OF ARTS AND BUSINESS SECTORS. EACH FORUM FOCUSES ON THE UNIQUE MULTIFACETED INTERSECTION BETWEEN THE ARTS AND A BUSINESS INDUSTRY RELEVANT TO COLORADO. EVERY FORUM INCLUDES A VARIETY OF SPEAKERS OR PANELISTS, NETWORKING AND AN ARTISTIC COMPONENT. IN 2021, CBCA HOSTED THREE FORUMS ON THE INTERSECTION OF ARTS AND WELLNESS GIVEN THE RISING MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AMID THE PANDEMIC. EACH FORUM EXAMINED A DIFFERENT FACET OF THIS INTERSECTION: RESILIENCY FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS; SELF-CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH; AND HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY. THE FIRST FORUM WAS HOSTED VIRTUALLY AND THE LAST TWO WERE HELD IN-PERSON. ARTSCONNECT (FORMERLY KNOWN AS NIGHT AT) DISTRIBUTES COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS TO MONTHLY CULTURAL EVENTS TO CBCA MEMBER COMPANIES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS A PRIMARY BENEFIT FOR MEMBERSHIP. ARTSCONNECT EVENTS OFFER ACCESS TO DIVERSE ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES, PERFORMANCES AND EXHIBITIONS, WHILE HELPING TO BUILD NEW AUDIENCES FOR LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS. 2021 ARTSCONNECT EVENTS RANGED FROM A DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL AND ARTIST TALK TO EXHIBITION TOURS, THEATER PERFORMANCES AND OUTDOOR MUSIC CONCERTS. IN 2021, 894 INDIVIDUALS FROM CBCA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED IN THESE FREE MONTHLY CULTURAL EXPERIENCES IN THE DENVER METRO REGION. BUSINESS FOR THE ARTS AWARDS SALUTE EXEMPLARY PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND THE ARTS. THE ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON IN MARCH CELEBRATES INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS, GENEROUS PHILANTHROPY, CREATIVE BUSINESSES AND STELLAR LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE STATE. IN 2021, CBCA HELD ITS FIRST-EVER ALL VIRTUAL BUSINESS FOR THE ARTS AWARDS LUNCHEON. REIMAGINING THIS SIGNATURE EVENT RESULTED IN A HIGHLY ENTERTAINING AND ENGAGING ONLINE EVENT LIVE STREAMED TO 400 PEOPLE. CORPORATE PACKAGES RECEIVED LUNCH DELIVERY VOUCHERS AND ATTENDEES NETWORKED IN VIRTUAL BREAKOUT ROOMS BEFORE THE MAIN PROGRAM. THE 2021 BUSINESS FOR THE ARTS AWARD HONOREES RECOGNIZED EIGHT OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATIONS AND FOUR INDIVIDUAL LEADERS, INCLUDING TWO AWARDS CONNECTED TO SIGNATURE CBCA PROGRAMS. PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED A VARIETY OF PRE-RECORDED ENTERTAINMENT AND LIVE PERFORMANCES DURING THE EVENT FEATURING MUSIC, THEATRE, SINGING AND DANCE. EACH HONOREE RECEIVED A CUSTOM BRONZE SCULPTURE BY A LOCAL ARTIST AS THEIR AWARD. COLORADO ATTORNEYS FOR THE ARTS (CAFTA) IS A LEGAL REFERRAL SERVICE THAT CONNECTS INCOME-QUALIFIED ARTISTS, CULTURAL NONPROFITS AND CREATIVE BUSINESSES STATEWIDE WITH PRO BONO LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND ARTS-RELATED LEGAL EDUCATION. CAFTA MADE 41 REFERRALS CONNECTING A CREATIVE CLIENT WITH A VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY IN 2021 AND OFFERED 12 EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS REACHING 228 PEOPLE. MANY OF THOSE PRESENTATIONS WERE WEBINARS THAT WERE RECORDED SO PEOPLE CAN ACCESS THEM LATER. CAFTA ALSO PROVIDED A FEW IN- PERSON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS LOCATED OUTSIDE THE DENVER METRO AREA, INCLUDING CO-PRESENTING A FULL DAY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION (CLE) SEMINAR ON ART, LAW AND REAL ESTATE IN TELLURIDE. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY STUDY OF METRO DENVER CULTURE IS A BIENNIAL STUDY THAT DEMONSTRATES THE FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE ARTS THE DENVER METRO REGION. CBCA HAS BEEN PUBLISHING DATA ON THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AND ACTIVITY GENERATED FROM THE NONPROFIT ARTS SECTOR SINCE 1992. CBCA RELEASED THE LATEST ECONOMIC ACTIVITY STUDY OF METRO DENVER CULTURE, PRESENTED BY U.S. BANK, ON NOVEMBER 4, 2021, WITH AN ARTS-INSPIRED HAPPY HOUR EVENT ATTENDED BY 300 ARTS, BUSINESS AND CIVIC CHAMPIONS FOR THE ARTS. THE EVENT FEATURED THREE LIVE PERFORMANCES, VARIOUS ARTS, BUSINESS AND CIVIC SPEAKERS AND AN ENGAGING PANEL DISCUSSION. ANALYZING DATA FROM 2019 AND 2020, THIS STUDY ILLUSTRATES THE ABRUPT AND DRASTIC IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON ARTS, CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SEVEN-COUNTY METRO AREA, REVERSING A DECADE OF CULTURAL GROWTH FOR THE REGION. THERE IS AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE WITH THE FULL REPORT AND SUMMARIES PRINTED IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. CBCA WILL CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE THIS INFORMATION AND GIVE LIVE PRESENTATIONS OF THE DATA FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. LEADERSHIP ARTS IS A UNIQUE NINE-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM THAT PREPARES PEOPLE TO SERVE ON NONPROFIT BOARDS AND INCREASE THEIR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE ARTS. LEADERSHIP ARTS EDUCATES, INSPIRES AND EQUIPS A COHORT OF ABOUT 50 PROFESSIONALS FROM ALL SECTORS TO BE EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY LEADERS. EXPERT SPEAKERS PRESENT ON TOPICS SUCH AS STRATEGIC PLANNING, ADVOCACY, GOVERNANCE, FUNDRAISING, LEGAL ISSUES AND CURRENT ISSUES IN THE ARTS LIKE ARTS & SOCIAL JUSTICE OR ARTS & HEALING. THE 2020-2021 LEADERSHIP ARTS PROGRAM ADAPTED TO AN ENTIRELY VIRTUAL FORMAT IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ITS GOAL OF TRAINING LEADERS TO SERVE ON NONPROFIT BOARDS AND INCREASE THEIR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE ARTS AMIDST HEALTH CONCERNS OF THE PANDEMIC. THIS COHORT CONVENED FOR 16 VIRTUAL CLASSES, EXPANDING FROM NINE HALF-DAY IN- PERSON SESSIONS, AND INCLUDED NEW TOPICS AND NATIONAL SPEAKERS. IN SEPTEMBER 2021, LEADERSHIP ARTS WELCOMED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY COHORT. THE PROGRAM TRANSITIONED FROM AN ALL-VIRTUAL LEADERSHIP ARTS CLASS IN 2020-2021 TO A HYBRID PROGRAM FOR THE 2021-2022 COHORT, ALTERNATING BETWEEN VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SESSIONS. THE CBCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS STARTED THE DEBORAH JORDY LEADERSHIP ARTS SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN 2016. THE 2020-2021 COHORT RAISED A RECORD-BREAKING AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH WAS MATCHED BY CBCA'S BOARD AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. CBCA WAS ABLE TO OFFER A TOTAL OF NINE FULL AND PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP ARTS 2021-2022 CLASS. LEADERSHIP ARTS ALUMNI NETWORK (LAAN) CONNECTS GRADUATES OF CBCA'S LEADERSHIP ARTS PROGRAM TO EACH OTHER AND VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY WITH A FOCUS ON CONTINUED BOARD EDUCATION AND NETWORKING. IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL LEADERSHIP ARTS BOARD FAIR, LAAN ORGANIZED A VIEWING OF AND FACILITATED DISCUSSION OF A VIRTUAL PLAY FOCUSED ON ISSUES OF RACISM AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND A TOUR OF ONE OF COLORADO'S NEWEST STATE-CERTIFIED CREATIVE DISTRICTS ROOTED IN CHICANO CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CULINARY ARTS. LAAN ALSO CONTINUED TO SEND A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER WITH UPDATES ON ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS AND AVAILABLE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS. COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ARE A GROWING AREA OF FOCUS AND LEADERSHIP FOR CBCA AS IT WORKS TO COLLABORATIVELY REIMAGINE COLORADO'S ARTS ECOSYSTEM WITH A SUSTAINABLE ADVOCACY PROGRAM. CBCA HIRED A CONSULTANT TO HELP DEVELOP THE VISION AND STRATEGY THAT WILL GUIDE THIS WORK OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. CBCA ALSO LED GRASSROOTS AND DIRECT ARTS ADVOCACY INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH INCLUDED HOSTING TWO LEGISLATIVE ARTS CAUCUSES; ADVOCATING TO FULLY RESTORE THE STATE ARTS AGENCY, COLORADO CREATIVE INDUSTRIES', BUDGET BACK TO PRIOR LEVELS; RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS FOR THE SECTOR THROUGH THE ARTS THROUGH IT ALL CAMPAIGN; AND COORDINATING 40 STATEWIDE ARTS ADVOCATES TO PARTICIPATE IN VIRTUAL MEETINGS WITH COLORADO'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO ELEVATE FEDERAL ARTS POLICY PRIORITIES. IN ADDITION, CBCA ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF CRITICAL PIECES IN THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT PASSED TO IMPACT THE CREATIVE SECTOR AND PROPEL THE STATE'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDED 23 MILLION IN CRITICAL FUNDING FOR ARTISTS, CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, PERFORMANCE VENUES, FILM AND OTHERS IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN RESPONSE TO THE NEGATIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, AND 65 MILLION IN "GAP FUNDING" FOR PROJECTS IN CREATIVE DISTRICTS, HISTORIC DISTRICTS, MAIN STREETS OR NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL CENTERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ECONOMIC RECOVERY BY SUPPORTING CREATIVE SECTOR ENTREPRENEURS, ARTISANS, AND COMMUNITY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. IN AUGUST 2021, CBCA ALSO LAUNCHED COLORADO CULTURAL CHAMPIONS, AN INCLUSIVE STATEWIDE NETWORK OF ARTS CHAMPIONS WHO ENGAGE IN PEER LEARNING, RESOURCE SHARING, CAPACITY BUILDING, ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP.