Creating Denver

Although sports stars get all the attention, Denver’s artists are the real hometown heroes. So in 2005, Westword started the MasterMind Awards as a way to not just recognize the aesthetic adventurers who are changing the cultural landscape of this town — who are literally creating Denver — but reward...

By Patricia Calhoun

April 15, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Although sports stars get all the attention, Denver’s artists are the real hometown heroes. So in 2005, Westword started the MasterMind Awards as a way to not just recognize the aesthetic adventurers who are changing the cultural landscape of this town — who are literally creating Denver — but reward them financially with no-strings-attached grants. To date, Westword has given more than $100,000 to thirty artists and arts groups — who, more often than not, have used their cash prizes to help others. “Winning the MasterMind meant that I didn’t have to bus tables and I could completely focus,” says Brandi Shigley, part of the creative class of 2005. “It allowed me to get my first world headquarters outside of my bedroom. It allowed me to take the time I needed to develop my business of helping others grow their businesses.”

You’ll hear more from Shigley, as well as many other winners, at Meet the MasterMinds, a Create Denver event that officially runs from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at the Flower Garage, 1430 Delgany Street, with an unofficial party to follow. I’ll be moderating the meet with Deborah Jordy, head of the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts and co-chair of Create Denver. The event is free (and alcoholic beverages will be served!), but registration is required; for more info on this and all of the other Create Denver activities, go to www.denvergov.org/createdenver.
Thu., April 15, 7-9 p.m., 2010

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

Follow:

Facebook: patricia.calhoun.927