Denver Arts & Venues Announces Safe Creative Spaces Fund

As an extension of Denver's Safe Occupancy Program, Denver Arts & Venues has announced the Safe Creative Spaces Fund, providing $300,000 in need-based funding for creative space tenant safety and building improvements.

"We are committed to cultivating, sustaining and promoting our diverse artistic and creative industry, including ensuring that our artists have a safe, affordable space where they can live and work," Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. "The Safe Occupancy Program and the Safe Creative Spaces Fund are designed to support our creative professionals with resources to get these live/work spaces up to code, keep them affordable and avoid further displacements."

Arts & Venues is committed to exploring short- and long-term opportunities for safe creative spaces, and along with Denver Community Planning and Development and the Denver Fire Department, is working to provide resources and assistance through innovative solutions for those working to make these spaces safe and up to code.

"For Denver's creative community to thrive, it is vital that creative spaces are safe and affordable to live and work in," said Arts & Venues Deputy Director, Ginger White. "In addition to Denver's effort to grant conditional occupancy in these spaces while they are being brought up to code, Arts & Venues' Safe Creative Spaces fund offers financial support for tenants and owners to offset the cost of becoming code-compliant. The fund is another example of our commitment to supporting creative production and artistic growth in Denver."

Funding will be administered from December 12, 2017 through January 17, 2020 and is available to tenant or owner applicants who own or run a creative space such as a live/work collective, a creative business or a creative assembly space in the City and County of Denver that is enrolled in the Safe Occupancy Program.

The funds will be administered through a partnership with RedLine, a nonprofit contemporary art center. RedLine will also facilitate support between artists and art businesses, and applicants are encouraged to contact RedLine for free, confidential guidance before enrolling in the Safe Occupancy Program or applying for Safe Creative Spaces funding.

"RedLine is very excited to collaborate with Denver Arts & Venues, the City of Denver and the greater arts and culture communities to help address the growing need for safe creative spaces in Denver," said RedLine Executive Director, Louise Martorano. "Both the Safe Occupancy Program and Safe Creative Space Fund represent two key initiatives that not only provide a path for security and stability for artists in creative spaces, but also the financial resources to make that path accessible."

Applications will be accepted online at redlineart.org beginning December 12. Potential applicants are encouraged to attend a free informational session at RedLine Contemporary Art Center, 2350 Arapahoe St., Tuesday, Dec. 12, 5:30-7 p.m.

For more information, visit ArtsandVenues.com/creativespaces.

Denver Arts & Venues' mission is to amplify Denver's quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, arts and entertainment opportunities. Arts & Venues is the City and County of Denver agency responsible for operating some of the region's most renowned facilities, including Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum and McNichols Civic Center Building. Arts & Venues also oversees the Denver Public Art Program, Create Denver, SCFD Tier III granting process, Arts Education Fund and other entertainment and cultural events such as the Five Points Jazz Festival, Urban Arts Fund, P.S. You Are Here and implementation of IMAGINE 2020: Denver's Cultural Plan. Denver Arts & Venues is committed to diversity, equity and inclusiveness in all our programs, initiatives and decision-making processes.

RedLine is a nonprofit contemporary art center that fosters education and engagement between artists and communities to create positive social change. Located in Denver's Five Points neighborhood, RedLine combines an exhibition space and two-year artist residency program with project-based engagement in the arts. RedLine responds to the needs of the community by engaging resident artists in programs that offer arts education for under-resourced youth, a community network for artists experiencing homelessness, and relevant public programming for members of the surrounding neighborhoods. Go to www.redlineart.org for more.