The Estes Arts District was named as one of seven new Colorado Creative Districts by Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Creative Industries on Wednesday.
“After two years of dedication, collaboration, and my deep love for the arts, I’m thrilled to share that Estes Park has officially been recognized as a Colorado Creative District. This achievement reflects the incredible talent, passion, and hard work of our creative community and marks a major step forward in celebrating and supporting the arts in Estes Park,” said Victoria Endsley, director of programming for Whimsadoodle, the art foundation established by the late Barb Marshall and the former executive director of the Estes Arts District.
The Colorado Creative Districts program certifies communities that contribute to our state’s economy through creativity, culture, and the arts. The program aims to help communities increase job opportunities, incomes, and investments in creative places.
According to the organization’s mission statement, the Estes Arts District is a nonprofit umbrella arts organization “committed to economic growth through arts and business partnerships, forging a creative community of collaboration, creativity, education, inclusion, and strengthening the cultural vitality of the Estes Valley art community.”
The Estes Arts District joins six other creative districts recognized by Colorado Creative Industries and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade for their arts-driven local economies: Evergreen Creative District, Ignacio Creative District, Lyons Creative District, Silverthorne Creative District, Silverton Creative District, and the NoBo Art District in Boulder.
Lars Sage, the gallery manager for the Art Center of Estes Park, who has been working on getting the designation for several years said the Estes Arts District Board was able to impress the office of Colorado Creative Industries during a site visit with things that are happening in the Estes arts community including the development of Cleave Street into an artist’s colony, an active theater group, plans for a performance arts center, a variety of public art instalations including statutes and murals.
Creative Districts boost jobs, incomes, and investment through arts and culture, helping communities strengthen identity and economic resilience. The creative industries contribute $19.7 billion—or 3.7 percent of Colorado’s economy—and support 121,000 jobs statewide. With these additions, Colorado now has 37 certified Creative Districts.
“Investing in creative hubs supports artists, entrepreneurs, and local economies,” said Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of OEDIT. “These districts reflect the heart of Colorado’s communities.”
“Each new district shows a strong local commitment to arts and culture,” said Josh Blanchard, CCI Director. “They embody Colorado’s vibrant spirit and make the arts more accessible to all.”
Benefits of receiving the designation include a cash award of up to $10,000 for newly certified districts, which must be matched with local funds, and technical and professional assistance funding available to districts that have been certified for one or more years.
Additionally, districts receive a marketing strategy developed in partnership with the Colorado Tourism Office to support tourism and bring Colorado’s Creative Districts to a national audience. They are also provided access to statewide economic data on the impact of creative districts and access to the Western States Arts Federation Creative Vitality Suite, an online platform for creative economy data.
Districts are also given two signs placed on state highways near the district.
The announcement builds on the state’s ongoing support for the arts, including the Colorado Community Revitalization Tax Credit, launched in June 2025, which supports creative capital projects that integrate housing, childcare, and community spaces.
Members of the Estes Arts District Board include co-chairs Lars Sage and Dana Paiement; Greg Miles, director; Amber Lausted, digital marketing; and David Hernandez, director.