About

Denver is a top tier city for arts and culture and its residents share great pride in the creative spirit that is alive in the Mile High City. Nowhere is this more evident than at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, a 12-acre campus of theaters and public spaces in the heart of downtown.

The site of the Arts Complex has a long and noteworthy history as a cultural and civic center for metropolitan Denver, the state of Colorado, and the entire Rocky Mountain region. Owned and Operated by Denver Arts & Venues, the campus continues to serve as a vibrant cultural hub and gathering place for our community today.

It's home to four esteemed performing arts institutions – Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony, Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Opera Colorado – and plays a welcoming host to many national acts and local groups, festivals, conferences, public events and more.

About Denver Arts & Venues 

Arts & Venues is a social-cultural enterprise with the central purpose of supporting and investing in our thriving communities through grant programs, sector leadership and cultural and entertainment events within our venues and throughout the city. Our enterprise business model raises revenue through the operation of Denver’s iconic venues which allows us to maintain our venues and fulfill our mission.

• Mission Statement: Arts & Venues enriches and advances Denver’s quality of life and economic vitality through the advancement of arts, cultural, and entertainment opportunities for all. 
• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Commitment: Arts & Venues is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion as a fundamental guiding value and a practice weaved into all of our strategies, initiatives and decision-making processes. An equity practice supports our social and cultural purpose through the activation of our venues, leadership work and cultural investments. From public art selection panels and grantmaking programs to increasing access to our venues, we are committed to supporting Denver’s thriving and diverse communities.  

Our Commitment to Denver

Arts & Venues, Colorado Ballet, Colorado Symphony, Denver Center for the Performing Arts and Opera Colorado are proud to contribute to Denver's cultural legacy through our collective efforts at the Arts Complex and throughout metro Denver. We've combined our individual information into an annual report to illustrate our impact and commitment to Denver and our region. 

• We create access to great art in our communities
• Our educational mission is as important as our artistic mission
• We value community input and thrive when we collaborate
• Live performances are vital to the region's economy  

2018-2019 Public Impact Statement

Our Sustainability Efforts

Arts & Venues understands the responsibility of operating as a sustainable venue and the potential impact of our waste on the environment. Our operations team sets annual goals to align with the City and County of Denver’s Sustainability Goals as well as the agency’s own SMARTER Sustainable Arts & Venues campaign. 

Here are some of the following actions Arts & Venues has taken/is taking at the Arts Complex to reduce our impact and operate more sustainably.

Waste Diversion:

• Three-bin waste collection systems are located throughout the complex and back of house. A sorting team then works to maximize the amount headed to compost and recycling with our partner, GFL Environmental Inc. 
• Food & Beverage materials are 95% compostable or recyclable, and compostable straws and lids are limited to by request only 
• We prioritize partners that prioritize sustainable packaging
• Patrons and staff are permitted to bring empty, reusable water bottles for use at filling stations within the venues

Energy Efficiency and Reducing Carbon Footprint:

• The Buell Theatre façade was replaced in 2021 with energy efficient glass to increase HVAC efficiency, lower energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions
• Custodial and cleaning staff use Green Seal Certified products, unless it interferes with CDC guidelines or requirements from DDPHE
• Energy efficient LED lighting has been replaced throughout venues. Replacing and/or adding new LED fixtures in the garage is underway.
• Carbon emissions and energy use tracked through EnergyStar to guide future goal-setting, policy changes, building updates, etc.
• The Arts Complex Garage has accommodations for Electric vehicle parking and we encourage carpooling and alternative public transportation as a downtown venue