Colorado Creative Industries

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) believes in the power of creativity to inspire human connections, create social change, and support economic vibrancy throughout Colorado. We focus on strengthening the vitality of visual, performing, and literary arts through promotion, resources, and funding opportunities.

Our mission is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life. The creative economy subgroups are design, film and media, literary and publishing, performing arts, visual arts and design, and heritage.

Colorado ranks number 1 in the percentage of residents who personally perform or create artworks, according to the National Endowment for the Arts' Participation Study.

Colorado is recognized as a premier creative hub and a home for world-class creative businesses, productions, and experiences. It's our goal to make sure all Coloradans will have access to creative environments and experiences while preserving the state's unique cultural heritage.

Programs and Funding

Grants and Awards

These programs provide funding, support and recognition for artists, creative business and organizations.

• Colorado Creates Grant
• Arts in Society Grant
• Colorado Poet Laureate
• Governor’s Creative Leadership Award
• Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grant

Arts Education

• Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth Grant
• Poetry Out Loud Competition

Community Development

These programs work to develop sustainable communities through job creation, creative placemaking, leadership development and arts at the intersection of social issues.

• Colorado Creative Districts
• Space to Create Colorado
• Colorado Community Revitalization Grant
• Colorado Community Revitalization Tax Credit

Professional Development

• CCI Summit
• Colorado Change Leader Program

Public Art

These programs activate public spaces, address public safety issues, engender civic pride and make art available to all citizens.

• Art in Public Places
• Creative Capitol Exhibition

All CCI Programs and Funding

The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Portal

Interested in applying for CCI grants this year? Log in or create an account on the new OEDIT Portal before applications open. If you need to reset your password, select “Forgot Your Password?” and enter your username.

• For previous CCI grantees: Your username is your old email followed by .oedit (e.g., john.doe@gmail.com becomes john.doe@gmail.com.oedit).
• For new or existing portal users: Your username is your email followed by .oeditcc (e.g., jane.doe@gmail.com becomes jane.doe@gmail.com.oeditcc).

For assistance, contact Katy Zeigler at kathryn.zeigler@state.co.us.