Colin Richard Ferguson Ward Fund
Learn more about this annual Colorado artist grant, in honor of Colin Richard Ferguson Ward.
About the Colin Richard Ferguson Ward (CRFW) Fund
Colin Richard Ferguson Ward (CRFW) (1990-2018) was a visionary musician and artist dedicated to the Denver DIY arts community. Colin saw radical expression in all art forms as a way to inspire, communicate, heal and seek justice.
He sought to make the world a better place through art and activism. In the process he built authentic community, inspiring and supporting countless others in realizing their artistic visions.
The CRFW Fund seeks to provide resources to artists who experience financial barriers or other hardships while simultaneously standing out as unique, prolific and engaged members of the creative communities of Denver.
CRFW Fund’s Mission
Provide grant support and work space to artists who work for positive change using radical expression as a means of healing the world’s pain and speaking truth to unjust power structures with passion and joy.
Support innovative ways in which art and activism can work in harmony and in support of nature and the environment.
Preserve the legacy of Colin's vast body of music, videos and visual art via exhibitions, releases, and events that continue his legacy of community building in the Denver arts community.
CRFW Fund Nomination Form
CRFW FUND is open for nominations for artists/musicians/creatives seeking funding for basic needs, crisis support or project funding. Please fill out the form below with your nominee.
Suppurt the CRFW Fund
Donate to support the CRFW Fund! Make a Gift Today to support artists, creatives and musicians in the Denver Metro Area.
2024 Grantees
Denise Zubizarreta
Denise "The Vamp DeVille" Zubizarreta is a neurodivergent cultural operations specialist and artist of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent, with over a decade of experience in various creative fields. She is currently an arts and culture writer for multiple leading publications that offer curated and critical perspectives on contemporary arts and culture.
Denise holds a B.F.A. in Fine Art from the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, and is pursuing her Masters in Arts Leadership and Cultural Management at Colorado State University. Her passion for arts and culture drives her to explore and challenge the intersections of post-colonial theory, identity, technology and traditions in her writing and mixed media works.
2023 Grantees
Marcos Garibay
Marcos Garibay has his hands in everything: film, music, illustration, education, and a literary series. Marcos traces his creative roots to a Mexican dance group originally led by his mother during his childhood. In 2015, Marcos started a film program called Tomorrow Maker Studios, where his students acted out a story he originally wrote as a comic book. Marcos and his Tomorrow Makers are preparing to release a 250 page graphic novel and a full length film, while preparing to shoot their third project in the fall of 2023.
2020 Grantees
Jimmy V
Jimmy V (James Wilson) is a conceptual and multimedia artist and musician originally from upstate New York. For nearly a decade Jimmy has been creating and producing experimental hip-hop/sneakergaze music under their own name. As a visual artist Jimmy works in a myriad of mediums and genres including fashion design, graphic design, sculpture, and 3D animation. V's work explores themes surrounding the commodification of Black culture, altered/future states of consciousness and much more.
Trish Bryant
Trish Bryant is an artist and scholar currently based in Denver, Colorado. In 2018, Trish received their Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and a minor in English, and they are currently seeking their Masters of Arts from the Division of Counseling and Family Therapy at Regis University. As an artist and performer, Trish was an active member of Rhinoceropolis Art and Music Collective. They use an array of mediums including drawing, painting, and music to deconstruct popular culture and the commodification of existence. Bryant’s work has been featured at Alto Gallery, RedLine Contemporary Art Center, and Rhinoceropoilis.
2019 CRFW Fund Grantees
Luke Thinnes
Luke Thinnes is a multimedia artist born and raised in Colorado. He strives to subvert the status quo for all expressive means through a dedication to the avant-garde and overwhelming sincerity. As an enthusiastic percussionist, Thinnes has made rhythm his weapon of choice, and values its unifying qualities as a vehicle for transcending the puzzles of life.
Tom Murphy
Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He has been a prolific music writer and documenter of the Denver music scene since 1999. Tom is currently working on books and other media exploring the extensive history of Denver's DIY and underground scene and its place in the national and international context. Tom is the creator and author of the blog Queen City Sounds and Art. He has written music for and performed in several projects including experimental rock bands Dark Orchid and Ghost Light and currently in ambient group Pythian Whispers.
