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Celebrating Excellence in Denver’s Arts Scene
Photo by Bear Gutierrez
Since 1986 under the Federico Peña administration, the Mayor of Denver has recognized some of the city’s most outstanding artists and cultural organizations with the annual Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Arts & Culture.
In December 2024, current Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced the five recipients of this year’s honors, which included the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ own Courtney Ozaki for her focus on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Ozaki, who joined DCPA Off-Center in September 2023, founded the Japanese Arts Network (JA-NE) and co-founded the Western Arts Alliance “hyphen+Asian” committee. JA-NE provides resources, programs, and a platform that support, advance, and strengthen visibility for Japanese artists and culture in America. The Western Arts Alliance “hyphen+Asian” committee advances engagement, opportunities, intersectionality, equity, and programming for Denver’s Asian Pacific Islander community
As an immersive artist, Ozaki joined DCPA Off-Center as Creative Producer where she oversees the creative execution of upcoming projects; collaborates with producers, directors and designers, and brings creative ideas to fruition. For Off-Center, she is working on the current run of MONOPOLY LIFESIZED: Travel Edition from the UK plus two original Off-Center productions that are in development.
“I created the Japanese Arts Network because I had many artists who identified as Japanese coming to me to ask advice about how I can meaningfully reach people with my work and where are the resources for me to be able to do that? … They came to be because I had an existing knowledge of the performing arts and through producing of how to work with institutions and what they were looking for.” Courtney Ozaki, Founder of JA-N
Other Mayor’s Award recipients include:
Colorado Dragon Boat, which received the Impact Award. This 23-year-old festival has grown to be the largest festival of its kind in the nation, attracting more than 200,000 visitors each year to appreciate and participate in the ancient Asian competition. The event features nearly 50 teams who race a large, decorated boat across Sloan’s Lake to the beat of a drum. Additionally, the event features food, retail, children’s activities and more than 60 cultural performances all of which celebrate Denver’s diverse and growing Asian community.
“I see us having an impact on people just like me who are coming here, who are new or even people that have lived here and watched the diversity grow to build that community and help people not feel alone. But on top of that, really teaching people and showing them that diversity exists here and there’s all these wonderful cultural experiences.” — Ludi Cayas, Board Chair
In Lak’ech Denver was recognized with the Youth Award for its programs that encourage students to delve into their ancestry through traditional art forms and performances. This non-profit organization offers arts education for BIPOC youth who are in 5th through 12th grade. Free weekly classes in topics ranging from dance and music to photography and ceramics are offered for participants in underserved neighborhoods in Southwest Denver.
“In Lak’ech is the ancestral belief that we are all extensions of one another and if we spend more time learning how to love and respect each other then we show the world that we love and respect ourselves.” — Marianna Lucero, Executive Director
The Museum for Black Girls was honored with the Innovation Award for its groundbreaking work to curate exhibits, tell stories, and engage the community to elevate and celebrate the voices of Black girls. The Museum offers more than 20 immersive installations — ranging from historical to cultural icons — that celebrate the dynamic contributions of Black women.
“We want Black women to know, we do see you and we see you beautiful. We see you talented. We see you amazing. We see you able to do anything that your heart can dream or desire to do. And why? Because it’s been done and you can do it too.” — Von Ross, Co-Creator
Museo de las Americas was presented with the Global Award for its national and international recognition. Since 1991, Museo de las Americas has sought to educate the community through its collection, preservation, and exhibition of ancient to contemporary art with a special focus on Latin American culture. Its main gallery is a canvas for three to five visiting exhibitions a year while its two smaller galleries display items from its own collection or curation efforts.
“We’re very intentional about how we go about the process of choosing the curators and the artists. There’s a history in Denver and in Colorado with the Latin American community, and the Chicano movement as well, so when we look for artists and exhibitions, the concepts of the artwork and the artist is representing in some way to that history.” — Juan Carlos Baños, Exhibitions and Project Manager
To learn more about the Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Arts & Culture, please visit artsandvenues.com.
