City of Boulder · office
Office of Arts and Culture
“We are responsible for the oversight of cultural grants, creative sector programs and research, public art, support for cultural nonprofits, creative neighborhoods programs, support for individual artists and creative professionals, and support for the cultural infrastructure and venues that make creative life possible in Boulder.” source as of 2026-10-30
Who runs it
AI-read · unreviewed read by a model from the city's pages, the Charter, the code and the budget books; every quote checked against its saved source; not reviewed by a person. Hover a source for its words.Researcher's note: Before January 2026 the office was the Arts + Culture program of the Community Vitality Department (2025 budget book: 'The Office of Arts + Culture supports the Community Vitality pillar of Cultural Vibrancy'); the October 2025 reorganization moved it into the new Office of Cultural and Economic Development. The city prints the name both as 'Office of Arts and Culture' and 'Office of Arts + Culture'. The About page lists program managers' direct phones and emails; none are copied here.
- Head
- Lauren Click, Manager, Office of Arts and Culture as of 2026-10-30 source source
- Part of
- Office of Cultural and Economic Development
- Answers to
- Office of Cultural and Economic Development. A division of the Office of Cultural and Economic Development (itself hosted by the City Manager's Office since January 2026); before that, a program of the Community Vitality Department. Its staff are appointed by the city manager (Charter Sec. 64(b)). Head appointed by City Manager. source source source as of 2026-10-22
- Legal basis
- City Manager reorganization announced October 6, 2025, effective January 2026 (2025-10-06) · transfers · City Revamps Organizational Structure To Bolster Cultural and Economic Development source
- Ordinance No. 8591 (2023) (2023-11-07) · authorizes · Extending the 0.15 cent sales and use tax to 2044, half for arts, culture and heritage purposes source source
- City of Boulder Public Art Policy (percent for public art) · governs source
- Contact
- 7205642355 · culturalplan@bouldercolorado.gov · 1101 Arapahoe Avenue Boulder , CO 80302 · contact page source as of 2026-10-30
Boards and commissions it staffs
- Arts Commission · staff liaison (the office's manager) source source
- Cultural Grants Panel · staff (grants program); all correspondence with the panel goes through the office source
- Standing Public Art Panel · staff (public art program); recommends the panel to the Arts Commission source source
Budget
from the city's approved budget books; each figure printed, to the dollar, in its source (hover a source for its words). A year may come from a different book or table than the next: the table says what each covers| Year | Basis | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | approved | $1,497,122 | All funds: the Arts + Culture program of the Community Vitality Department (the office's budget line before the 2026 reorganization), FY2024 budget column of the 2026 book's 'Department Budget by Program and Expense Type (FY2024-2026)' table; operating plus personnel. source |
| 2025 | approved | $2,601,535 | All funds: the Arts + Culture program of the Community Vitality Department, FY2025 budget column of the 2026 book's 'Department Budget by Program and Expense Type (FY2024-2026)' table; operating plus personnel. source |
| 2026 | approved | $2,956,601 | All funds: the Arts + Culture program of the Community Vitality Department as budgeted for 2026, the 2026 book's 'Department Budget by Program (FY2026)' chart (the same figure is the FY2026 column of its program table). source source |
Divisions
in the city's own words; heads only where an official source names them- Grants Program
“Through grants to organizations and individuals we support the resiliency and sustainability of cultural organizations to enhance their ability to benefit the community.” source page - Public Art Program
“Boulder’s public art program is guided by the community’s priority to “focus on the expression of culture and creativity in the public realm through public art, the urban landscape, culture in the neighborhoods, and serendipitous encounters with the arts.”” source page - Professional Artists
“Through programs and resources we strive to create a supportive environment for artists and creative professionals, while fostering innovative thinking and leadership among them.” source page - Research
“Understanding the current state of culture in Boulder is critical to accomplishing the goals of the Community Cultural Plan.” source
What a resident can do here
services and programs, linked to the city's pages- General Operating Support Grants “To bolster the sustainability of the community’s cultural organizations, a series of operating grants is a priority for the cultural grants program.” source
- Professional Development Grants source
- Arts Education Project Grants source
- Artist Hiring Incentive Grants source
- Rental Assistance (Boulder Venues) Fund source
- Creative Neighborhoods Program “The Creative Neighborhoods Program provides funding for community members to bring creative projects to life in their residential neighborhoods through resident-led, artist-collaborated efforts.” source
- Paint the Pavement Program “Paint the Pavement is a city program that allows mural painting on public streets to encourage community building and public art as a means to transform roadway public space into neighborhood assets.” source
- Boulder Arts Business Cohort “The Arts Business Cohort is a free, cohort-based program from the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture and the Small Business Development Center” source source
- Public Art Walking Tours source
- Cultural Field Trip Fund source
- Boulder Poet Laureate Program source
- Resources and Opportunities for Creatives source