Governor John Hickenlooper introduced Joseph Hutchison as Colorado’s most recent Poet Laureate in September of 2014. In this role, Hutchison serves as an advocate for poetry, literacy and literature in Colorado. Activities of the Poet Laureate include visiting local schools and libraries, participating in Arts & Humanities Month, and reading at literary festivals.

Hannah Alexander of Niwot High School has been named the 2018 Colorado Poetry Out Loud champion. Tyler Ramos of Windsor High School is the runner-up.

Spanish Peaks Arts Council has been selected for the Creative Capitol Exhibition. The exhibit will be active from March to June 2018.

This exhibition at the Colorado State Capitol is a collection of works by 25 members of the Spanish Peaks Arts Council, located in La Veta, Colorado. Many members travel at least an hour to participate in SPACe shows, choosing to live in rural areas of southern Colorado.

Nineteen Colorado arts organizations have been awarded more than $300,000 in grants in the latest round of funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Communities and residents in all parts of the state will benefit from programming enhanced by these grants.

The Aurora Artists Guild has been selected for the Creative Capitol Exhibition. The exhibit will be active from December 2017 to March 2018.

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) wrapped up this year's fall Change Leader Institute, which took place November 6 - 8 in Colorado Springs. The Institute creates a statewide network for creative professionals and community leaders, and supports CCI's goal of enabling cultural and community leaders to work through environmental and organizational change.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), Colorado Creative Industries division (CCI) and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) along with Boettcher Foundation, Artspace and the town of Paonia gathered yesterday at the annual Mountain Harvest Festival to announce Paonia as the community selected for Space to Create in northwest Colorado.

Art Students League of Denver has been selected for the Creative Capitol Exhibition. The exhibit will be active from September to December 2017.

As the only funder in the country to support arts activities in all 50 states and five U.S. jurisdictions, the National Endowment for the Arts announces its second round of funding for FY 2017. This funding round includes partnerships with state, jurisdictional, and regional arts agencies. The NEA will award 16 grants totaling over $2.8M to support Colorado organizations that employ artists and cultural workers to provide programs for thousands of people.

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) today announced the certification of three new Creative Districts into the Colorado Creative Districts Program. The newly certified districts are Manitou Springs Creative District, Steamboat Springs Creative District and Westwood Creative District (Denver). Certification is for a five year period.