Colorado Creative Industries Summit

An event for Colorado creatives to connect, learn, and be inspired.

June 4, 2026 – June 5, 2026

CAST will be participating in the 2026 Colorado Creative Industries Summit—an annual, gathering of more than 350 creative stakeholders from across Colorado, convened this year in the CREATE Trinidad Creative District. The two-day summit brings together artists, cultural workers, community leaders, and policymakers for a robust program of panels, workshops, performances, and site-based learning experiences focused on strengthening Colorado’s creative ecosystem.

As part of this year’s summit programming, we will contribute to sessions exploring collective approaches to affordability, cultural infrastructure, and community-led development in the arts sector. CAST team members will participate in the following sessions:

“It’s Not Out of Reach – Leveraging Collectivism Towards Affordability and Wealth Building in Real Estate for Artists and Communities”
Friday, June 5 | 8:30–10:00 a.m.
📍 Space to Create
Our Managing Director of National Programs Louise Martorano and Director of Special Projects, Denver Metro Jevon Taylor will join this session focused on how collective models and shared ownership strategies can expand access to real estate, build long-term wealth, and strengthen cultural communities.

“Way Out West: Drop City, Counterculture, and Beyond”
Friday, June 5 | 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
📍 Space to Create
Louise Martorano will contribute to a conversation exploring countercultural legacies in the American West and their continued influence on contemporary creative practice and place-based experimentation.

East Street School Tours + Studio Visits

As part of the summit’s site-based learning experiences, CAST will also host guided tours of the East Street School, including artist studio visits:

Thursday, June 4 | 2:45–4:15 p.m. (includes artist studio visits)
Friday, June 5 | 3:00–4:30 p.m.

These tours will offer attendees an inside look at CAST’s work supporting cultural space development and the activation of historic properties for long-term creative use.

The 2026 CCI Summit is hosted by Colorado Creative Industries, a division of OEDIT, and takes place throughout the CREATE Trinidad Creative District, with Space to Create serving as a central hub for sessions and convenings. Through participation in panels and site visits, CAST is proud to contribute to statewide dialogue on sustaining and scaling cultural infrastructure for artists and communities.

*Please Note: Registration for this year’s summit is closed.