Colorado Creative Industries Summit
Program Summary
The Creative Industries Summit is the annual event for Colorado creatives to connect, learn, and be inspired. More than 400 creative stakeholders from over 60 Colorado cities and towns attend the summit.
The two-day event offers exhibits, performances, networking opportunities, speakers, classes, and workshops.
The event is ideal for both early to late-career creative leaders including artists, board members, community leaders, creative entrepreneurs, creative industries advocates from all sectors, elected officials, emerging creatives, executive directors, municipal and nonprofit cultural workers, and program staff.
Save-the-date for the 2026 CCI Summit in Trinidad, June 4-5, 2026!
Overview
Type: Summit
For: Cultural workers, creatives, artists, and industry leaders
Date: June 4-5, 2026
Location: Trinidad
OEDIT division: Colorado Creative Industries
The call for session proposals is now open using the 2026 session proposal form on Whova. The call will close on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 4 p.m. MT.
The call for session proposals for the 2026 CCI Summit is now open! The 2026 event will take place June 4-5, 2026 in Trinidad, CO. Please submit your session idea using the 2026 session proposal form on Whova. You are required to create a Whova account, which is the app used for the entire event. Account set up instructions can be found at the bottom of the proposal form page.
Before submitting your session proposal, please review the following important information:
- Sessions will be between 75-90 minutes long.
- All presenters are required to attend in person. We will not have any virtual content for the 2026 summit.
- All presenters are compensated with free admission to the full summit.
- We welcome engaging and creative presentation formats.
- We seek presentations that represent diverse perspectives, geographies, abilities, and cultures.
- We ask that presenters are intentional about addressing a diverse audience that may include all abilities, ethnicities, genders, geographies, nations, races, sexualities, and socio-economic statuses.
- As the session coordinator, we will ask that you convey information about your proposed session, as well as communications from CCI, with any additional individuals included in your proposal.
The deadline to submit a session proposal is Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4 p.m. MT.
Checkout the full 2025 CCI Summit: Way Out West event program (PDF).
Check out the amazing photos of the summit! You might just spot yourself or a new friend! A special thank you to Ryan Sanchez, a local Grand Junction photographer, for the amazing archive!
Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date for the 2026 CCI Summit.
The summit is an annual opportunity for experienced creatives and emerging leaders to sit side-by-side, learn from each other, and improve Colorado’s statewide creative community.
All sponsors have the opportunity to include one giveaway in conference bags at their own expense. For the full sponsorship packet or to learn more, email Libby Barbee at libby.barbee@state.co.us.
Platinum Sponsor 1: Governor's Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon $5,500
This sponsorship supports the performers and keynote speakers for the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon on Thursday, June 4, 2026. As a platinum sponsor, you will receive:
- Special sponsorship recognition during the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards luncheon on Thursday, June 4th.
- Speaking opportunity to briefly address all summit attendees during luncheon program.
- Five conference registrations.
- One vendor table.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Platinum sponsor in event program, website, on-site signage and individually with selected sponsorship option.
- Reserved seating at head table during large group events, meals and Governor’s Awards.
Platinum Sponsor 2: Friday Plenary $4,500
This sponsorship supports performers and creative activations throughout the summit and will be recognized during the plenary session focused on Colorado’s film industry and the Sundance Film Festival. As a platinum sponsor, you will receive:
- Special sponsorship recognition during the morning plenary session on Thursday, June 4th.
- Speaking opportunity to briefly address all summit attendees during the plenary session.
- Five conference registrations.
- One vendor table.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Platinum sponsor in event program, website, on-site signage and individually with selected sponsorship option.
- Reserved seating at head table during the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon.
Gold Sponsor 1: Opening Reception $3,000
This sponsorship supports local pop up performances and arts programming during the evening pop up events and welcome reception. As a gold sponsor, you will receive:
- Three conference registrations.
- One vendor table.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Gold sponsor in event program, website, on-site signage and individually with selected sponsorship option.
- Reserved seating during the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon.
Gold Sponsor 2: Arts Engagement $3,000
This sponsorship supports up to 3 regional artists in providing engaging hands-on arts experiences during the summit. As a gold sponsor, you will receive:
- Three conference registrations.
- One vendor table.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Gold sponsor in event program, website, on-site signage and individually with selected sponsorship option.
- Reserved seating during the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon.
Gold Sponsor 3: Arts Immersion $3,000
This sponsorship supports up to 2 art installations showcasing the innovative work of Colorado creatives. As a gold sponsor, you will receive:
- Three conference registrations.
- One vendor table.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Gold sponsor in event program, website, on-site signage and individually with selected sponsorship option.
- Reserved seating during the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon.
Silver Sponsor 1: Sponsorship of a selected session $1,500
There are ten of these sponsorships available. The sponsoring organization selects a session from the summit program line up and has the opportunity to briefly address attendees of this session. Sessions are identified by a call for proposals and selected by a review committee. Sessions available for sponsorship will be available in March 2026. As a silver sponsor, you will receive:
- Two conference registrations.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Silver sponsor in event program, website, on-site signage and individually with selected sponsorship option.
- Reserved seating during the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon.
Silver Sponsor 2: Scholarship Sponsorship $1,500
This sponsorship provides six need-based scholarships for conference attendees. There are five of these sponsorships available. As a silver sponsor, you will receive:
- Two conference registrations.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Silver sponsor in event program, website, on-site signage and individually with selected sponsorship option.
- Reserved seating during the Governor’s Creative Leadership Awards Luncheon.
Contributing Sponsor $750
As a contributing sponsor, you will receive:
- One conference registration.
- Name and linked logo recognition as a Contributing sponsor in event program, website and on-site signage.
Exhibitor $500
As an exhibitor, you will receive:
- One conference registration.
- One vendor table.
- Company name on website as exhibitor.
2025 - Grand Junction
2024 - Pueblo
2023 – Crested Butte
2021 – Steamboat Springs
2019 – Salida
2018 – Greeley
2017 – Breckenridge
2016 – Carbondale
2015 – Fort Collins
2014 – Salida
Program Manager