Colorado Creative Districts is sponsored by State of Colorado. Colorado Creative Districts This program certifies communities that contribute to our state’s economy through creativity, culture, and the arts.

4. Colorado Creative Districts The Colorado Creative Districts program certifies communities that contribute to our state’s economy through creativity, culture, and the arts. The program’s goal is to help communities increase jobs, incomes, and investments in creative places.

Colorado Creative Districts attract artists and creative entrepreneurs to a community, infusing new energy and innovation, which in turn enhances the economic and civic capital of the community. Districts also serve as a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s unique identity, become a space to showcase cultural and artistic organizations and events, and contribute to the development of healthy communities.

Benefits of the program include: * A cash award of up to $10,000 for newly certified districts (local match required). * A technical and professional assistance fund available to districts that have been certified for one or more years (local match required). * A marketing strategy developed in partnership with the Colorado Tourism Office to support tourism and bring Colorado’s Creative Districts to a national audience.

* Support in developing and pitching content and news about how creativity is changing Colorado through the work of creative districts. * Two highway signs placed on state highways near districts. * Access to statewide economic data on the impact of creative districts.

* Access to creative economy data. * Facilitate access to resources and facilitate a learning community among districts. A year after certification, districts can apply for the technical and professional assistance grant (see below) for projects and activities that support strategic goals.

**Type:**Certification, grant, and technical assistance **Applications:**By invitation only **OEDIT division:**Colorado Creative Industries Districts must go through a rigorous application and certification process in order to become a Certified Colorado Creative District.

Communities need to: * Complete one of these two prerequisites: * Call Yourself Creative Program * Be a contiguous area, with a mix of uses in the boundaries, that is easy to walk and navigate. * Be distinguished by physical, artistic, and cultural resources. * Be a concentrated area of artistic and cultural activity, including.

major arts or culture facilities, arts, entertainment businesses, arts and cultural activities, or artistic/cultural and creative sector production. * Promote, preserve, and educate on aspects of arts and culture. * Have broad community support and buy-in.

* Be a structured entity such as municipal or county government, a registered neighborhood organization, downtown or economic development authority, 501(c)(3), or 501(c)(6). * Have an advisory or governing board. * Have paid district staff (can be a dedicated percentage of time).

* Have a minimum $10,000 cash operating budget and sustainable funding source(s). > If your community is not eligible or does not wish to become a formally certified Colorado Creative District, you may be interested in the Call Yourself Creative program. A panel of experts in creative districts and community development will review applications and approve a list of finalists.

The reviewers will evaluate and rank applications with these categories and weights: * **Creative district information (30%)** * A documented concentration of artists and creative sector workers. * Arts and cultural institutions located within the district. * Economic data provided such as sales tax, visitors, maps, other.

* Budget including sustainable funding and staff resources. * **District characteristics (40%)** * Character, authenticity, sense of place, “it” factor. * An attractiveness of the district for visitors.

* Amenities including brand recognition, signs, community spaces, access to open space and outdoor amenities. * Schedule of activities, including authentic and unique offerings. * Livability, including support services and complimentary retail activity.

* Walkability and alternative transportation, such as bike paths or public transportation. * **Community buy-in and leadership (30%)** * Board structure and community representation. * Consistent leadership on board and staff.

* Strategic investments by the district and local agencies. * Inclusion of district in community planning documents such as comprehensive plan, infrastructure, housing, zoning, economic development plans. * Local leadership and vision for how district will evolve in the future.

* Broad participation and input from residents and people living within and adjacent to the district, including strong evidence of engagement of individuals and groups mirroring the demographics of the community. Applicants may appeal the Colorado Creative Industries Council's decision on an application if there is evidence that the: * Stated review process was not followed. * Council's conflict of interest policy was violated.

A written appeal, describing the grounds for appeal and the desired remedy, needs to be sent to the Chair of the Colorado Creative Industries Council no later than three weeks after you receive a denial notice. The Council will reconsider its decision at its next regularly scheduled meeting. Unhappiness with a denial is not grounds for an appeal.

Reports are submitted on the OEDIT grant portal(opens in new window). Contact Katy Zeigler for technical support by emailing Kathryn. Zeigler@state.

co. us. ### Mid-year Report Period: July 1, 2025-December 31, 2025 The report opens on Jan.

6, 2025 and reports are due on February 10, 2026 at 4 p. m. ### Annual Report Period: July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026 The report opens on June 16, 2025 and closes on July 28, 2026 at 4 p.

m. **After five years of certification, districts need to apply for recertification. **