Colorado’s arts are altered yet open for business

The Thirst Colorado Team

As talk of novel coronavirus overtakes our everyday lives, some folks are working hard to make sure we have ways to help ourselves and others during these strange and difficult times.

The Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, which connects the arts with the business community through advocacy and research, has compiled two lists: One to support the arts and one to support ourselves with positive experiences.

So, stay calm and engage in a positive activity (you’ll feel better for it).

The CBCA provided the following information:

How can you support the creative sector?

If you had tickets to an upcoming cultural event (i.e., performance, concert, exhibition, lecture), consider donating that ticket back to the organization.

Purchase a gift certificate now for a future arts event or experience. Invest in your own cultural future by supporting arts organizations today.

Make a financial donation directly to a cultural organization. You can find a list of SCFD organizations in the Denver metro or search statewide through ColoradoGives.org

Donate to one of the local crowd-funded Artist Relief Funds: Denver Metro Area Artist Relief Fund and the Colorado Artist Relief Fund

Donate to one of the national artist relief funds: Actors Fund, Musicians Foundation

Did you know that you can donate your Colorado state refund to a nonprofit? Use this opportunity to support the arts through ReFund CO.

If you’re an organization that typically hires artists, please consider continuing to support those professionals (For example, check out Youth on Record’s response).

Hire an artist! Do you need some web design done? Social media? Tutoring? Translation? Babysitting? Career coaching?

We need the arts in our lives more than ever! What else can you do to feed your soul and benefit from the power of creativity?

Tune your Spotify playlist to a Colorado band or musician. Listen to a Colorado podcast, like Headroom Sessions or through House of Pod.

Photo: Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Explore a museum virtually! Many museums, including the Denver Art Museum and Clyfford Still Museum, have collections online

The Social Distancing Festival is an online artist’s community to celebrate and showcase the work of the many artists around the world who have been affected by the need for social distancing due to the spread of coronavirus.

Digital Theatre is providing temporary free access to their archive of theatre performances, interviews and rehearsals due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Here are 450 Ivy League education courses you can take online right now for free.

Engage in a Creative Sprint.

Keep an eye out for opportunities to support local arts virtually, such as live-streamed concerts or performances.