The Office of Arts and Culture and Create Boulder launched the Creative Neighborhood: COVID-19 Work Projects to support artists and bolster the “social infrastructure” of our community. In the spirit of the Work Projects Administration of the 1930s, this program quickly delivers funding to artists who have lost gigs, had contracts or events canceled, been laid off, or have otherwise been put in a vulnerable position due to the necessary restrictions to control the COVID-19 Pandemic. At the same time, the projects will leverage the talent of artists to unite and vitalize our neighborhoods with the goal of either a) helping their neighbors stay connected during the restrictions, or b) after restrictions are lifted, helping people to reconnect, recover and adjust to new social conditions.
Sixty-six projects were funded in 2020. Artists whose disciplines range from contemporary dance to visual art developed new work directly in response to the pandemic experience. Watch interviews with each artist to hear more about their creative work – interviews are organized by neighborhood below or you can visit the main map for brief introductions to all projects.
Artist Interviews / Project Details
Select a neighborhood to view nearby projects:
The application deadline for COVID-19 Work Projects has passed. We are working to generate more funding for the program. You may submit an application to be placed on the waitlist should we have an opportunity to fund more projects.
>>Información del programa en español<<
Background
This project is part of the Creative Neighborhoods strategy found in the City of Boulder’s Community Cultural Plan, which includes the shared vision for culture: Together, we will craft Boulder’s social, physical, and cultural environment to include creativity as an essential ingredient for the well-being, prosperity, and joy of everyone in the community.
The Creative Neighborhoods: COVID-19 Work Projects are made possible through matching funds from Create Boulder, a Colorado non-profit arts advocacy organization founded in 2016 with the goal of leveraging support for the arts from the city of Boulder and stimulating both corporate and individual arts philanthropy.
Press
- “A guarantee of sanity” by Caitlin Rockett, Boulder Weekly (5.14.2020)
- Boulder County Community Foundation Trends Diary
- “Boulder project launched to help fund artists, connect community during pandemic” by Hannah Metzger, Boulder Daily Camera (4.15.2020)
- “Experts: Art can be a source of therapy during COVID-19 pandemic” by Dan Grossman, The Denver Channel (5.27.2020)
Resources/Research
- Art Became the Oxygen: An Artistic Response Guide is a resource for understanding social emergencies and developing artistic response
- Americans for the Arts info on disaster preparedness features post-disaster community projects and engagement
- Forecast Public Art’s toolkit on creative alternatives to in-person arts-based activities, for artists and administrators
For further information, please email publicart@bouldercolorado.gov