The Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced this week that 25 artists and arts organizations across Colorado have been awarded Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grants.
From Archuleta to Larimer counties and Huerfano to Denver counties, these grants will help preserve, celebrate and document the local artistic traditions and heritage of unique Colorado communities.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the culture and heritage of communities across our state and help ensure these traditions continue into the future,” said OEDIT Director Eve Lieberman on Dec. 2. “The recipients announced today embrace the values and traditions from past generations through their preservation of folk and traditional arts, offering all of us the opportunity to realize the rich history our state holds.”
The Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grants seek to enhance community well-being, cultural identity, economic vitality and sense of place, especially in areas that are often underrepresented in the contemporary art space.
Funds will support the creation, presentation, or teaching of folk and traditional arts, and/or the documentation of folk or traditional arts and cultural heritage through community archiving, oral histories, photojournalism, video or other creative works.
Among the recipients, the Grand Lake Creative District will film a documentary about the craftsmanship behind cowboy artisans’ traditional cowboy gear, which includes leatherworking and silversmithing. Another project from Banda La Patrona will introduce Mexican Banda music to Colorado State University and the Fort Collins community to increase visibility of the genre in academic and cultural institutions.
In Bent County, artist Douglas Crow Wolf will lead Native American moccasin making workshops for residents of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community and will share completed projects with the local community.
As part of the grant’s preservation efforts, all funded projects will be archived in the state archives and made accessible to the public through History Colorado.
“Folk and traditional art holds a deep connection to the cultural identity and history of a community. We are grateful to these artists and organizations for serving as a living record of their community’s traditions, and sharing their talents to celebrate Colorado’s unique background,” said CCI Director Josh Blanchard.
To help make the Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grant more accessible and equitable for individual artists and organizations with limited grant-writing capacity, CCI developed a Grant Navigator program to assist applicants. Prospective applicants are able to meet one-on-one with consultants to get their questions answered, receive feedback on their draft application materials and get assistance in navigating the application process. This does not guarantee the applicant will receive funding through the grant they are applying for.
The Folk and Traditional Arts Project Grant was developed in response to a two-year planning process with a stakeholder group engaged in Colorado’s folk arts.
A total of $75,000 is being awarded to 25 artists and art organizations, funded in part by a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
In Archuleta County, the Town of Pagosa Springs received $3,000 for an arborglyphs project preserving and highlighting the rich tradition of sheepherding in Pagosa Springs, with a particular focus on the unique cultural practice of creating arborglyphs — carvings made by sheepherders on aspen trees.
“This exciting opportunity allows us to honor and preserve the rich history of sheep herding in our community, with a special focus on arborglyphs—an art form capturing the stories and traditions of sheep herders through their tree carvings, which is at risk of being lost to time,” Pagosa Springs Recreation Supervisor Amanda Gadomski wrote in a statement to The SUN.
The town’s public arts committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 11th at the Ross Aragon Community Center “to discuss goals, future projects, and the direction of Public Arts in our town. We look forward to incorporating this cultural legacy into our creative vision,” according to Gadomski.
About CCI
CCI is a division of OEDIT. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of CCI is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.
For more information, visit oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-creative-industries.
About OEDIT
OEDIT works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions.
It promotes economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth.
Its goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire — and make it accessible to everyone.
Learn more about OEDIT at https://oedit.colorado.gov/.
