Program Summary
The Creative Capitol Exhibition program showcases Colorado artists and organizations through rotating art exhibitions to the State Capitol building. This program was established to take advantage of our creative sector to support economic growth in Colorado.
Artwork is hung in the:
- basement level of the Capitol’s rotunda
- Lieutenant Governor’s office
- Governor’s office lobby
Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) offers exhibitors:
- a modest honorarium depending on scale of exhibition
- publicity for the exhibition through an e-newsletter, social media, and this website
- support in coordinating the artwork installation
- support in creating labels and promotional posters and signs (CCI has final editorial decision on promotional tools)
- support in coordinating the artwork de-installation
Current Exhibition: The Art of Teaching Artistry
On View February through August 2025
The Creative Capitol: Art of Teaching Artistry celebrates the important roles of Colorado’s artists as creators and teachers. This exhibition features 18 professional artists elevating their exceptional talents in a variety of art media. These artists work with Think 360 Arts for Learning as teaching artists, inspiring students of all ages while continuing their own creative practices. They show that teaching art is more than just a job—it’s a meaningful and rewarding calling. Working with students, from young children to older adults, creates a dynamic exchange that often inspires the artists’ own creative work.
Being an artist can be challenging, with obstacles like finding funding, materials, and balancing the need for workspace and daily living costs. Think 360 Arts for Learning supports artists by creating paid opportunities for them to teach, providing stability while promoting arts education in Title I and low-income public schools, libraries, and older adult communities in underserved urban and rural areas across Colorado.
Partnering with teachers, older adult community directors, librarians and more, these teaching artists make innovative and impactful arts experiences a reality for those who would not typically have access for reasons of economics, geography and beyond. Research shows that arts education can improve mental health, build social connections, and reduce feelings of isolation. The Art of Teaching Artistry celebrates these important partnerships, ultimately creating stronger, more connected communities across the state.
Curated by Daisy Fodness-McGowan, Executive Director, Think 360 Arts for Learning, with special thanks to Ruth Wilson and Colorado Creative Industries.
Featured Artists
Gwylym Cano, Eric Robert Dallimore, Sandy Dolak, Helen Eberhardie Dunn, Chelsea Gilmore, Jennifer Ghormley, Rex Halterman, Brenda Jones, dona laurita, Kristina Maldonado Badhand, Nora McBride, Lauri Lynnxe Murphy, Kia Neill, Tony Ortega, Cindy Cervantez Perrin, Eileen Roscina, Lisa Cameron Russell, and Elizabeth Stanbro
Overview
Type: Call for entry
For: Artists
Application deadline: Rolling
OEDIT division: Colorado Creative Industries
Eligible exhibitors
Solo exhibitions are not accepted. If an individual artist submits a proposal, it needs to be on behalf of a group of artists or with a plan to select work from multiple artists. Organizations can apply with an exhibition proposal for a group show.
You will be responsible for:
- providing a list of the artwork for display including title, year, media and insurance value prior to installation
- having all artwork be framed with D-rings on reverse when delivered
- having all artwork remain on exhibit for the show’s duration
- picking up all artwork from the Capitol upon exhibition’s completion
Eligible artwork
The exhibition spaces in the Capitol can accommodate approximately 48 to 52 works, depending on artwork size. The Capitol has some rules on content of artwork including:
- no nudity
- no overtly political statements
- no offensive material
Prices for artworks will not be included, however purchase requests will be relayed to the artists.
The exhibition spaces are nontraditional because several of the spaces are not open to the public.
The ground level of the Capitol’s rotunda is open to the public and the most formal exhibition space.
The Governor's office and reception area is an exhibition space. The Governor’s office reception area is public. The Governor's staff office, Lieutenant Governor’s office, and the Legislative Council’s staff office are also exhibition spaces.
The Lieutenant Governor’s offices are not open to the public, however, the works will be seen by state legislators and staff.
The Creative Capitol Exhibition Program application is open year-round on a rolling deadline, meaning we will review applications as we receive them. Submit all application materials to the program manager below by email.
Application materials
Exhibition proposals can be submitted in either a Word or PDF format. Your proposals need to include:
- exhibition title and description, including theme/concept
- list of artists included in the exhibition
- select images of artworks to be included in the exhibition (please include a sample artwork from each of the artists to be included)
- preferred time frame for exhibition
- optional: Images can be included in the proposal or sent as separate attachments (please label each image with the artist name and title of the work)
If the exhibition is approved and selected, you will need to submit a full inventory of artworks at least four weeks prior to installation. For each art piece, you will need to include:
- Photo
- Size
- Title
- Medium
- Value
We will review the artwork list/images to make sure all artworks meet the space’s criteria.
Past Exhibitions
- 8Aug2019
Program Manager
