June 2, 2010

Colorado: Council on Creative Industries

The 2010 legislative session in Colorado was focused largely on economic development, work-force development and supporting the small businesses of the state. As a result of this focus, creative industries legislation was introduced and passed. The Colorado Council on the Arts (CCA) will be known as the Council on Creative Industries and will merge with the Office of Film, Television, and Media, and the Art in Public Places Program. The state arts agency will be the policy-making authority for this new entity. In addition to the Creative Industries Division legislation, Governor Ritter signed bills altering the requirements for film incentives to make them more attractive to film productions and clarifying that the Art in Public Places Program applies to all capital construction projects funded with state dollars. New legislation also strongly encourages all Colorado public schools to provide arts education and directs the state board of education to recognize the importance of the arts in development of graduation guidelines. Additionally, a creative economy advisory panel was convened recently to establish a vision for the state’s creative economy. For more information, contact CCA Executive Director Elaine Mariner.