How to Enjoy Denver Arts Week

With more than 100 events at dozens of museums, galleries and arts districts all over the Mile High City, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of Denver Arts Week. Here’s a handy step-by-step guide to getting the most out of this annual Denver tradition.

Step 1: Plan Your First Weekend

Denver Arts Week’s opening weekend, Nov. 6-8, offers three nights and two days of artsy fun.

The big kickoff is Know Your Arts First Friday, a celebration of local art and artists in the Mile High City’s six thriving neighborhood art districts: ArtDistrict On Santa Fe, Belmar Block 7, Cherry Creek North, Golden Triangle Museum District, Downtown Denver, RiNo (River North Art District), and Tennyson Street Cultural District. Think of this as a super-charged version of the First Friday Art Walks that take place every month, with galleries open late, great food and drink, a festive atmosphere, and amazing art to check out. Pick three or four districts to explore – you’ve got all night! Learn More

Saturday Night at the Museums sees 11 of Denver’s world-class museums opening their doors for FREE – a once-a-year deal that simply cannot be beat. Thanks to free shuttles that run all night between the participating museums, you can experience almost all of these incredible attractions, (including the Denver Art Museum, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and the Children's Museum of Denver), in one night. Learn More

The first weekend comes to a close with Sunday On Stage – if it happens on stage, it’s happening on Sunday. Drama, comedy, modern dance, and music and will all be offered all day long at downtown and neighborhood theatres, often for free or discounted prices. A great place to start is the Denver Performing Arts Complex, which is offering a special “open house” featuring live entertainment, behind-the-scenes tours, costume displays, prizes and one-day-only ticket discounts. Learn More

Step 2: Explore the Neighborhood Art Districts

Know Your Arts First Friday is just the beginning of this week's excitement in Denver’s art districts. Plan to spend at least a few weeknights out on the town hitting galleries, attending workshops and lectures, and mingling with other art-lovers. The ArtDistrict on Santa Fe is planning Know Your Arts 8 Days a Week, with galleries and artists creatively interpreting a different theme each night. On Tennyson Street, don’t miss Lapis Gallery's Inspired exhibition, featuring innovative Denver artists who have created new works based on the inspiration of existing art in the Mile High City.

Step 3: Pick a Family Friendly Event

With hands-on activities galore, Denver Arts Week is the perfect time to introduce your young ones to the arts world. Saturday Night at the Museums is a fun and kid-friendly way to sample some of the city’s best museums. The Children’s Museum of Denver offers kids the chance to create some of their own masterpieces in the Clay Room (set up all day, every day), or to make their very own silent movie. At the Denver Zoo, celebrate the wild side of art, as zoo animals create their own artistic masterpieces regularly throughout the week to be auctioned off in support of animal conservation. The Zoo is also offering special family art classes throughout the week. At the Denver Art Museum, tots (ages 3-5) can enjoy artmaking, story time throughout the museum and scavenger hunts. This is just the tip of the Arts Week iceberg – go to www.DenverArtsWeek.com for a full listing of events for the whole family.

Step 4: Find Unbeatable Deals

Obviously, Saturday Night at the Museums is one of the biggest deals of Denver Arts Week – but don’t think the savings end there. Get 2-for-1 tickets to “On the Spot” at Bovine Metropolis Theatre, an improv comedy show in the style of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" Learn about printmaking processes during FREE printing sessions led by two experienced local printmakers at Dry Creek Art Press. For Sunday On Stage, get a special “mile-high” $52.80 deal on Intersection, Ballet Noveau Colorado’s new collaboration with Lighthouse Writers Workshop. Check out www.DenverArtsWeek.com for many more bargains.

Step 5: Improvise!

Denver Arts Week is all about making art into an adventure. Expand your horizons by trying out some new things: Duck into a gallery you’ve never been to before; chat up a Denver artist; discover the world of modern dance; pick a random lecture or workshop to attend. You’re guaranteed to come away from Denver Arts Week with a new appreciation for the city’s incredible creative community – and you might even be inspired to start creating some art of your own!

www.DenverArtsWeek.com

Denver Arts Week 2009