Colorado Creative Industries
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
Community Development
These programs work to develop sustainable communities through job creation, creative placemaking, leadership development and arts at the intersection of social issues.
- Call Yourself Creative Program
- Colorado Creative Districts
- Space to Create Colorado
- Colorado Community Revitalization Grant
- Colorado Community Revitalization Tax Credit
Professional Development
Public Art
These programs activate public spaces, address public safety issues, engender civic pride and make art available to all citizens.
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.
Colorado Creative Industries Regional Representatives
CCI is committed to strengthening the arts across every corner of Colorado. This is your guide to staff contacts to connect with CCI resources and regional support. Each CCI Staff member serves as the lead contact for designated regional connections, partnerships, and strategic collaboration.
Your regional CCI representative can support you with:
- Community Outreach: Public presentations and grantee site visits
- Communicating Impact: Sharing stories and data with regional elected officials to highlight CCI’s impact
- Strategic Engagement: Helping Identify regional needs, priorities, and opportunities for program alignment
- Resource Navigation: Connecting you with CCI grant programs, funding opportunities, and technical assistance
Regional Staff Representative
Northern Mountains Region
Counties: Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Park, Pitkin, Routt, and Summit
Josh Blanchard, CCI Director, josh.blanchard@state.co.us
Northwestern Region
Counties: Delta, Gunnison, Garfield, Hinsdale, Mesa, Moffat, and Rio Blanco
Christy Costello, CCI Deputy Director, christy.costello@state.co.us
Southwestern Region
Counties: Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel
Ruth Wilson, CCI Director of Administration & Partnerships, ruth.wilson@state.co.us
South Central Region
Counties: Alamosa, Chafee, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Fremont, Lake, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache
Emma Acheson, CCI Program Manager, emma.acheson@state.co.us
Southeastern Region
Counties: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Pueblo, and Prowers
Libby Barbee, CCI Senior Program Manager, libby.barbee@state.co.us
Central Region
Counties: Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Jefferson, and Teller
Victoria Gonzalez, CCI Marketing & Outreach Manager, victoria.gonzalez@state.co.us
North Central Region
Counties: Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Gilpin, Larimer, and Weld
Katy Zeigler, CCI Grants & Accessibility Manager, kathryn.zeigler@state.co.us
Northeastern Region
Counties: Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, and Yuma
Niko Huebler, CCI Program Manager, nikolas.huebler@state.co.us