The Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region is thrilled to announce the newest addition to its talented staff. Luke Harper Prince of Manitou Springs, CO is the new Program Manager for Creative Economy, starting Feb. 2.
Luke Harper Prince is an accomplished operational leader and community advocate with skills in community engagement, management, events, and cross-sector partnership. During his tenure with regional attractions, Luke was instrumental in the re-opening of the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway and later became the first manager entrusted with concurrent leadership at Broadmoor Seven Falls. He has been honored as Manager of the Year by the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Young Professional of the Year by the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Luke has served as an instructor with Road Scholar, leading educational programs focused on Colorado history, culture, and the state’s historic railroads. As a community advocate, he has supported the Durango Independent Film Festival, served on the Mobility and Parking Board in Manitou Springs, and is widely respected as a skating official for women’s flat track roller derby leagues across Colorado, where he’s fondly known as “Happy Bones.”
The Program Manager of Creative Economy supports the economic vitality of the Pikes Peak region’s creative sector as a program manager, liaison, and local advocate. The Manager strengthens the Cultural Office’s collaboration with business agencies and initiatives, builds capacity for the creative sector through programs and resources, coordinates research, and leads the Arts Month campaign each October. The position was created in 2023, as a direct response to the findings of the Arts Vision 2030 cultural plan.
“This position stands at a unique intersection in our region, bridging the creative industries with our lively business partners, with research, and with advocacy.” explains Angela Seals, Executive Director of the Cultural Office. “COPPR really believed that Arts Vision 2030 called us to take economic development more seriously, so we launched this program to make creative workers and organizations stronger together and more impactful for the Pikes Peak region.”
The position was first held by Dylan Craddock, who built the first two years of the program before departing for London School of Economics last September. The hiring process this past November – January was highly competitive.
“We received 40 applications from some of the most qualified candidates we’ve ever received, which says so much about how our creative sector is strengthening. We know Luke’s magnetic personality will quickly make him a recognizable voice for the creative economy, backed up by his versatile skills in operations, programs, events, marketing and community advocacy.”
Luke joins a staff of 3 full-time and 2 part-time professionals at the Cultural Office, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026. Learn more about the staff and Board of Directors here: Culturaloffice.org/About/Board-Staff and about the work of the Cultural Office across El Paso and Teller counties at Culturaloffice.org/Programs.
Email Luke a warm welcome!
