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Creative Industries

Creative Industries

Where Creativity Meets Commodity

There’s a creative revolution coming to life in Colorado. It can be seen on our streets, felt in our mountains, tasted in our restaurants, and heard in our amphitheaters.

Thanks in part to the state’s natural surroundings and diverse and booming creative industries, Colorado has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of creative occupations and continues to attract people and companies focused on design, film and media, heritage, literary and publishing, performing arts, and visual arts and crafts.

Just look to Craftsy in Denver for inspiration. Since launching in May 2011, Craftsy, an online-education company that produces video tutorials on a variety of arts projects, has grown to more than 200 employees. This thriving startup is revolutionizing the U.S. crafts market and attracting top tech and creative talent from all over the United States.

But it’s not just companies that we’re inspiring, we’re finding ways to cultivate and grow talented individuals to spur economic growth. We have one of the only programs in place to develop affordable housing and work space, including commercial space, for artists and arts organizations in rural communities. We’re also providing access to grant funding and mentorship opportunities, and ensuring that more art finds its way into public spaces.

While our scenery is often touted as our main muse, our creative class gets a jolt of inspiration from attending productions at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, hearing their favorite band at Red Rocks Amphitheater, or visiting one of the state’s many art galleries throughout the week.

With such a vibrant foundation, Colorado’s creative industry is poised for even greater growth as it continues to attract workers and companies that are dreaming up tomorrow’s inspired creations.

Download Industry Profile

Margaret Hunt Director of Colorado Creative Industries & Space to Create margaret.hunt@state.co.us
Links & Resources
Creative Industries Incentives & Financing
Colorado Creative Industries
Arts for Colorado
Colorado Film School
College of Music at the University of Colorado Boulder
University of Northern Colorado College of Performing and Visual Arts
Denver Performing Arts Complex

Key Facts & Figures

9,000

Creative Industry firms

164,500

Employees

#6

State for percentage of its workforce in creative class occupations

#5

State for concentration of artists

18

State-designated Creative Districts

Major Employers

Comcast Corporation | Denver, Fort Collins
Craftsy | Denver
Denver Art Museum | Denver
The Denver Post | Denver
DISH Network | Denver
Fentress Architects | Denver
High Noon Entertainment | Denver
Rocky Mountain PBS | Denver

Major Employers

Margaret Hunt Director of Colorado Creative Industries & Space to Create margaret.hunt@state.co.us
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