The Partnership began its development in 2024, and launched a new chapter in 2026. The Creative Sector Partnership connects regional nonprofits, creative businesses, and entrepreneurs for networking, professional development, resource-sharing, research, and advocacy. Long term, it aims to increase economy vitality, jobs, and sustainability for creative workers and businesses. We are stronger together!
The Partnership is a program of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, in close partnership with Pikes Peak Workforce Center and the Bee Vradenburg Foundation.
Latest News & Events:
The Creative Sector Partnership hosts events each month across 4 categories: professional development workshops, creative industry networking nights, collabs with local chambers of commerce, and the annual Creative Sector Summit. It also releases studies to measure and champion the value and needs of the sector. Here’s the latest!
Creatively Engaged: Arts Policy & Legislative Recap
Monday, July 13th | 10:00 AM- 11:00 AM with optional Q&A talkback session thru 11:30 AM Pikes Peak Library District’s Library 21c | 1175 Chapel
Film Industry Networking Mixer
Mix and mingle with filmmakers, actors, and industry pros on June 11, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Windstar Studios! Join filmmakers, crew, and creatives from across the
Snapshot Study: Impact of Local Arts Tourism
The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region has begun building concrete data to help inform investment and development of our cultural destination. This Snapshot
Find funding guides, trainings, regional groups to join, and cohesive resources to grow!
Bookmark for current job postings, auditions, calls for art, volunteer needs and more!
What is the "Creative Sector"?
The creative sector includes industries that create, produce, and distribute creative goods and services. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development describes these industries as ones that use creativity and ideas (intellectual capital) as key inputs. It’s a diverse sector made up of both businesses and nonprofits (most of them small and hyperlocal) as well as solopreneurs/creative professionals.
The creative sector in Colorado is a significant economic driver, generating approximately $19.7 billion in economic activity—roughly 3.7% of the state’s GDP—and supporting over 121,000 jobs. This sector has seen robust growth in jobs and economic impact, outperforming some traditional industries in Colorado.
Why we use a framework
A framework helps everyone use the same words when we talk about the creative sector. It also makes it easier to compare different parts of the sector to understand their unique challenges and opportunities, and also what they share in common.
The Cultural Office’s Creative Economy program along with the Creative Sector Partnership uses this framework to define and organize the creative sector from broad Industries, to smaller Segments, to specific Disciplines.
The Six Industries of the Creative Sector
These Industries are large. Each encompasses many kinds of businesses and organizations, and different work or products. So each industry is divided into more common parts, called Segments.
The Segments of each Industry
Segments describe the day-to-day activity—how work is made, shared, paid for, and sustained. Looking at segments helps us see what is working and what needs support.
Disciplines and Roles
Within each Segment are Disciplines. Each are specific kinds of work people do and the skills and tools they use. We also separate artist roles (people who create the work) and support roles (people who help produce, manage, fund, and share it). Both are needed for the sector to succeed.
How does the Creative Sector impact our larger local economy?
The creative sector is one of the many sectors that power the Pikes Peak region’s larger economy. It is an eclectic mix of nonprofits, creative small businesses, and solopreneurs who together generate revenue, support jobs, pay taxes, expand tourism & build our region’s reputation. To understand it, the Cultural Office has conducted and participated in research for many years. Explore the research about the economic impact of our creative industries. One of the goals of the Creative Sector Partnership is to strengthen the sector and its workforce so it can contribute more and more to our regional economy!
Contact Information on the Creative Sector Partnership
The Creative Sector Partnership is led by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, in close partnership with Pikes Peak Workforce Center and the Bee Vradenburg Foundation.
Luke Harper Prince
Manager of Creative Economy
Luke@CulturalOffice.org