THIRD ANNUAL DENVER ARTS WEEK WELCOMES ART ENTHUSIASTS OF EVERY LEVEL

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Blockbuster First Friday, Free Access During Night at the Museums and Backstage Tours at Sunday on Stage Events Kick Off the Week

DENVER (Sept. 24, 2009) – The Third Annual Denver Arts Week, November 6-14, 2009, will offer a celebration of the Mile High City’s vibrant arts and culture scene with more than 100 events and a kickoff weekend featuring “First Friday” art walks in six neighborhoods; 11 free museums hosting extended hours on a Saturday night; and an “open house” at the nation’s second largest performing arts complex, among many other events.

Presented by VISIT DENVER, the arts week also includes films, theater performances, backstage tours and artist demonstrations.  Events are added every day – check out www.DenverArtsWeek.com for the most up-to-date information.

“Denver is building a national reputation as an arts center, and Denver Arts Week is a chance for residents and visitors to explore the city’s vast cultural resources for free and see what the buzz is all about,” said Jayne Buck, vice president of tourism for VISIT DENVER.

Denver Arts Week also celebrates the 20^th Anniversary of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), which supports cultural facilities throughout the seven-county Denver metropolitan area.  Additionally, Starz Denver Film Festival, which begins during Arts Week, offers more than 200 independent films from around the world from November 12-22. 

New this year – numerous restaurants will lend their take on art with specially designed cuisine and local art on display, while several Denver hotels help visitors make a night of it with rates starting at $52.80*.

Denver Arts Week kicks off with an all “arts” weekend of activities:

Friday, November 6:  First Friday Festivities 

The traditional “First Friday” arts walks at six Denver neighborhoods will be “ratcheted up” with more than 100 art galleries participating, offering live music performances, artist demonstrations and culinary treats.  Stroll from gallery to gallery to uncover some of the city’s hidden gems. 

Participating districts include:

·         ArtDistrict On Santa Fe

·         Cherry Creek North

·         Golden Triangle Museum District

·         Downtown Denver

·         RiNo (River North Art District)

·          Tennyson Street Cultural District

·         Belmar Block 7  

Saturday, November 7:  Night at the Museums   

Based on the popular event from Paris, Denver’s second “Night at the Museums” will see 11 top museums open their doors for free from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Free shuttle buses will begin at both the Denver Art Museum and Cherry Creek Shopping Center, which also offers free parking, making it possible to hop from museum to museum.  In addition to being free, many of the museums are offering music, dance and special performances. 

Participating museums include:

·         Black American West Museum

• Byers-Evans House Museum
• Children's Museum of Denver
• Colorado History Museum
• Denver Art Museum

• Denver Museum of Nature & Science

• Forney Museum of Transportation

• Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
• Molly Brown House Museum
• Museo de Las Americas
• Museum of Contemporary Art | Denver

Sunday, November 8:  Sunday on Stage 

Denver’s performing arts organizations are teaming up to offer extra special entertainment and value for Denver Arts Week.

·         Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC) Open House featuring Opera Colorado, Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. 

·         PHAMALY at the Mizel Center 

·         Colorado Homegrown Tales at the Byers-Evans House Museum

·         Ballet Nouveau Colorado and Lighthouse Writers Workshop

More Special Events Throughout the Week

• Bovine Metropolis Theatre
• Creole Celebration at Mercury Cafe
• Curious Theatre

·         Denver Botanic Gardens

·         Denver Civic Center Public Art Tour

·         Denver Classical Guitar Society

• Denver Zoo
• East End Arts District in Aurora
• Miner’s Alley Playhouse Theatre

·         Mizel Arts and Culture Center

• Sandra Phillip’s Gallery
• Walker Fine Art

Denver Arts Week is presented by VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau. Sponsors include:  City and County of Denver, Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, Wells Fargo, CBS4, The Denver Post, King Soopers, 5280 Magazine, Kroenke Sports, Downtown Denver Partnership , ETA – Event Transportation Associates, Inc., Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Cherry Creek North.

For information and a complete list of events, visit:  www.DenverArtsWeek.com.

*Hotel Rates subject to availability and restrictions may apply.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating 100 years of promoting the Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes.  Tourism is the second largest industry in Denver, generating $3.1 billion in annual spending in 2008, while supporting 65,000 jobs. For more information on Denver call 800-2-DENVER or visit Denver’s official Web site at VISITDENVER.com.     

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With press or photo inquiries, please contact:

Rich Grant: (303) 571-9450 or rgrant@visitdenver.com