Honoring Creative Leadership in Colorado: Gov. Polis Announces 2025 Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards

To be presented at the Colorado Creative Industries Summit in Grand Junction, May 2

DENVER — Today, the Polis Administration and the Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced the 2025 recipients of the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards to recognize Coloradans who have demonstrated a significant commitment to the state’s creative landscape through civic leadershi

Boulder, Colorado Named New Host of Sundance Film Festival Beginning in 2027

Press conference to be held at 2 p.m. today in downtown Boulder

BOULDER — Today, the Sundance Institute named Boulder, Colorado as the new host of the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027. To celebrate the announcement, a press conference will be held at 2 p.m. today, March 27, in front of the Boulder Theater on the southwest corner of 14th and Spruce in downtown Boulder, Colorado. State officials, including Gov. Polis, Sundance Institute representatives, and Visit Boulder are all expected to speak.

Colorado Teen Rize Simmons Wins State Poetry Out Loud Competition for the Second Year in a Row

Once again, headed to the National Finals to represent Colorado in Washington, DC

DENVER — Gov. Polis, Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and Empowered are pleased to announce that Rize Simmons of Windsor High School in Weld County has been named the 2025 Colorado Poetry Out Loud State Champion.

Honoring Colorado’s Cultural Legacy with Folk and Traditional Arts Initiatives

The Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced today that 25 artists and arts organizations across Colorado have been awarded Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grants. From Archuleta to Larimer counties and Huerfano to Denver counties, these grants will help preserve, celebrate and document the local artistic traditions and heritage of unique Colorado communities.

Finding Compassion in Poetry: Q&A with the Poet Laureate of Colorado, Andrea Gibson

Every two to four years, the Governor chooses the Poet Laureate to promote an appreciation of poetry in the state and honor outstanding Colorado poets. This position, created in partnership with the Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) division of OEDIT and Colorado Humanities, is an advocate for poetry, literacy, and literature who participates in public readings and other events statewide. In September 2023, Andrea Gibson was announced as the chosen Poet Laureate for 2023-2025.

“Colorado Creates” Provides 125 Grants Awarded Across 33 Colorado Counties to Arts Organizations

DENVER — Today, Governor Polis and the Colorado Creative Industries Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that 125 arts organizations across 33 Colorado counties have been awarded $909,000 in Colorado Creates Grants. From Montezuma to Morgan County, these grants will help organizations and communities create art and cultural activities by providing general operating support.