Special to the Plaindealer
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Colorado Creative Industries is now accepting applications from towns, cities and neighborhood groups seeking formal designation as a Colorado Creative District. The deadline to submit the online application is Jan. 30, 2012.
Ouray County's Creative District Committee, which grew out of the Bottom-Up Economic Development process, will submit an application for a designated creative district in Ridgway.
In 2011, Governor Hickenlooper signed legislation passed by... the General Assembly that encourages the formation of Creative Districts in communities, neighborhoods, or contiguous geographic areas, for the purposes of:
--attracting creative entrepreneurs and artists to a community, infusing new energy and innovation which in turn will enhance the economic and civic capital of the community;
--creating hubs of economic activity, thereby enhancing the area as an appealing place to live, visit and conduct business, as well as create new economic activity;
--attracting visitors;
--revitalizing and beautifying communities;
--providing a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a communityís unique identity; and
--showcasing cultural and artistic organizations, events, and amenities.
Two Creative Districts will be certified in 2012. Each will receive a $15,000 grant and a technical assistance package to enhance their districts. Five applicants will be identified as 'Prospective' districts and each will receive $8,000 and a customized package of technical assistance to enhance the likelihood that they will be certified in the future. Up to eight applicants will be identified as 'Emerging' and each will receive $2,000 and technical assistance to further their district planning.
Creative District certification can be equally valuable for small rural towns, identified areas of cities and contiguous areas in counties. All communities interested in the program Certified, Prospective or Emerging must apply for district certification to be eligible for any of the levels of grants and technical assistance.
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of professionals with experience in arts and creative industries, city planning, economic development and business development. Panelists will assess applications based primarily on district characteristics, management and planning, and community buy-in.
Detailed information, application guidelines and online forms are available at www.coloradocreativeindustries.org. Applicants must contact Maryo Ewell at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it prior to Jan. 15 to discuss their application proposal.
Colorado is a magnet for creative enterprises and creative workers. With almost 8,000 businesses and 186,000 jobs, the creative sector comprises the state's fifth largest employment cluster. Colorado's Creative Industries Division, within the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, was established in July 2010 to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to drive economic growth in Colorado. The division merges the former Colorado Council on the Arts, the Office of Film, Television and Media and the state's Art in Public Places program.