The arts are an important contributor to Denver's quality of life and economic vitality. One of Denver's greatest examples of its commitment to the arts is the Arts Complex.
For more than 40 years, the complex has served as a cultural magnet for one million patrons annually seeking to experience performing arts in the Rocky Mountain region. As patrons demand more sophisticated and exemplary customer experiences, the Arts Complex needs to keep pace with this changing dynamic.
Looking to reinvigorate the Arts Complex and reinforce its position as Denver’s cultural anchor, in 2014 Mayor Hancock appointed over 30 community leaders to an advisory group to guide a thoughtful planning process to propose changes to the campus. Released in March 2016, The Next Stage Vision Plan distilled an 18-month robust public process into an aspirational plan which, through carefully planned physical change adds new and improved arts facilities, introduces arts supportive uses such as retail and an improved parking experience and integrates the Arts Complex more fully into downtown.
The Vision plan outlined a proposal to enliven, diversify and sustain the Arts Complex and imagined a renewed destination that is fit for a 21-century inclusive city. With its assets of land, venues, leadership, creative talent and shared mission - to uplift our city through the arts and to create more opportunity and accessibility to the arts - the Arts Complex is uniquely positioned to continue to serve as the creative hub of the Rocky Mountain West.
On the heels of the Vision Plan, in April 2016, Mayor Hancock convened 64 professionals from the areas of philanthropy, law, finance, real estate, construction, and government to take the Vision Plan concepts and apply the combined expertise of the participants to determine if the plan is practically and economically feasible and identify issues that need to be addressed further. The FunGov presented their findings to Mayor Hancock in 2018.
Additional visioning, due diligence and stakeholder alignment discussions are now taking place in an effort to determine next steps for future reinvestment at the Arts Complex.
