Safe Creative Space Fund
General Information
Denver Arts & Venues (A&V), along with Denver Fire Department (DFD) and Community Planning and Development (CPD), are committed to exploring short- and long-term opportunities for safe, creative spaces that support creative production, artistic growth, and better protect these critical contributors to our city. We value the creative community and will continue to provide a space for collaborative problem solving.
Safe Creative Space Fund
Denver Arts & Venues (A&V) is committed to exploring short- and long-term opportunities for safe, creative spaces that support creative production, artistic growth, and better protect these critical contributors to our city. As an additional tool to the Safe Occupancy Program, Denver Arts & Venues is providing $300,000 over the 3-year term of the Safe Occupancy Program for building and tenant safety improvements. Please apply through the Safe Creative Space Inquiry Form.
Who administers the fund?
Arts & Venues has partnered with RedLine to administer the funds and facilitate support between artists and arts businesses with creative spaces that would qualify for the Safe Occupancy Fund.
Who can apply for the fund?
A tenant or landowner that qualify for the Safe Occupancy Program and own or run a creative space in the City and County of Denver. Creative spaces can include:
● Creative Assembly space
● Creative Live/work collectives
● Creative businesses
Safe Occupancy Program
Denver Community Planning and Development (CPD) and the Denver Fire Department (DFD) have launched a new, conditional building occupancy program for unpermitted spaces that will ensure life safety, limit displacement, and allow extended deadlines and collaborative solutions to achieve code compliance. The Safe Occupancy Program was designed with creative spaces in mind but is applicable to many other uses of existing buildings.
The program would make Denver the first city in the country with a law explicitly granting legal occupancy of un-permitted spaces while a building is being brought up to code voluntarily. While first and foremost ensuring public safety, the program offers three key benefits to users:
• Allows people to remain in place
• Offers an extended deadline for compliance
• Encourages collaboration for creative and potentially cheaper solutions
To learn more visit denvergov.org/safeoccupancy
The Safe Occupancy Program is currently not accepting applications, please use the Safe Creative Space Inquiry Form for funding opportunities.
The Safe Creative Space Fund and the Safe Occupancy Program are generously supported by:
