When you think about the type of community you want to live in and the kind of person you want to be, what comes to mind for you?
Do you want a City that is pedestrian-friendly and beautiful, with thriving local businesses and public art? Do you see yourself with purposeful hobbies like playing the guitar or knitting, and surrounded by meaningful connections with close friends and neighbors? And, did you realize, the arts contribute to all of this and more?
The arts improve our physical health, provide greater social connection, social cohesion, and community well-being. For older adults, arts participation and engagement are linked to positive health outcomes.
And from early childhood through adolescence, arts education boosts the social and emotional health of students, helping them to better cope with their feelings and bounce back from adversity (taken from scientific studies and research through the National Endowment for the Arts).
40 West Arts District has served in the role of fostering engagement and connection through the arts for nearly 15 years. We are proud of the work we have accomplished in the City of Lakewood, from executing on large-scale murals and sculptural installations, to hosting or supporting 200+ arts events per year, to serving tens of thousands of visitors annually completely free-of-charge.
Embedded in our mission is increasing accessibility to the arts for all. We think everyone should have access to creative experiences, and that’s why our public programming is free and open to all.
Additionally, we know that thriving local economies help residents, visitors, and neighborhoods alike. That’s why we’ve worked alongside the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District and West Colfax Community Association to help multiple local artistic businesses either open or relocate to the area. Lakewood Arts, Pirate: Contemporary Art, Next Gallery, Edge Gallery, the Chicano Humanities Arts Council (CHAC), The Three Leaches Theatre, The Painted Pixel, and Memento Mori Gallery are all examples of entities in Lakewood, along the West Colfax corridor, as a direct result of 40 West Arts.
In fact, 40 West Arts is a driver of local economic activity overall. In a single given year, we are awarded over $150,000 in grants alone (individual years vary).
This money gets poured right back into the local economy through artist stipends, free events, placemaking and public art projects, and more, which means that in a decade and a half, we have reinvested approximately $2.2 million in the City of Lakewood and the West Colfax corridor.
“The creation of the Arts District was more than a celebration of arts and culture in an underserved area,” says 40 West Arts Board Chair Bill Marino. “It was also a deliberate economic development strategy aimed at driving revitalization.
Beyond the direct impact of our programming,” Marino continues, “each visitor, according to a study by Americans for the Arts, contributes an average of $31 in additional local spending. Over the past decade, our more than 100,000 visitors represent an estimated $3.1 million in added economic activity for our local economy.”
40 West Arts, along with our partners, is committed to community in everything we do. Through our Artist in Residence and Poet Laureate programs, we deploy creative individuals at local affordable housing complexes, senior living centers, public parks, and more, to reduce barriers to accessing these programs.
Materials are always provided free-of-charge, and classes are beginner and family-friendly. Our Youth Summer Camp program is totally free to participants, including all materials, snacks, and meals.
And our gallery, 40 West Gallery, is fundamentally an inclusive space that prioritizes accessibility. We accept work from every single artist who submits. We waive submission fees for students at any level in their educational journey, and within any program (even if it does not apply to the arts).
And, we turn over the gallery entirely to 3–5 groups per year for exhibition space, free of charge. In just two years, groups have included Think 360 Arts, the Colorado Scholastic Art Exhibit, and the Colorado Women’s Caucus for the Arts.
Additionally, diversity is at the heart of everything we do. Every yea,r we host a women-focused exhibit, an LGBTQ+ exhibit and variety show, and a Latina/o/x and Indigenous show. These exhibitions are curated by members of their communities, and those individuals are paid to do this work to bring these special experiences to our district.
40 West Arts believes that in-person connection, human collaboration, and civic engagement are important now more than ever. In an increasingly disconnected society, we provide a place to land, stay, and take part in something creative. We are proud to have served the City of Lakewood since 2011, and we look forward to many more decades to come!
