Wow. What a year.
Hi 40W friends,

I was speaking to artist Kathy Snead a few weeks ago at one of our First Friday opening receptions and she said to me, "You know, there was a time I almost quit photography altogether. But the attention and encouragement of the folks at 40 West kept me going, you really care about this community and the people in it." Kathy now exhibits her work at multiple juried shows, galleries, and other locations around Denver and Colorado, each year.
 
Did you know that 40 West Arts taught card-making classes to senior centers in the West Colfax corridor this year? Or that Resident Artist Alice Coles hosted over seven workshops throughout our community and that every single course was completely free to participants? Did you make it to Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design's FARMCAD festival, where 40 West Arts led the kids & family tent all summer long, providing interactive art-making to any youngster who arrived? Or to Live at Light Rail, where musicians played to a crowd of commuters and residents, also completely free.
 
What about the sense of pride you get in seeing a piece that you worked so painstakingly on, finally make its way to the wall of a gallery? Or noticing your neighborhood literally transforming around you, from new bright benches and trashcans with the 40W insignia to stunning, colorful, and powerful murals painted on brick buildings?
We host First Friday openings, art walks, and the annual festival MuralFest, sponsor 40 West Studios and work tirelessly to ensure the future of affordable work space for creatives, and put out an annual magazine, West Colfax Lately. These are just some of our many contributions to the neighborhood we call home.
 
And now, we need your help.

Your monetary donations keep us alive, well, and able to continue doing the work of building an artistic community in the West Colfax corridor. We're asking you to give some amount tonight. Join our cause by making a one-time or reoccurring donation   here.   


Thank you to all of our 40W friends for all that you have done and for all that you continue to do for us. We are forever grateful for our volunteers and supporters. We wish you a happy holiday season, the very best for the new year, and look forward to continuing this inspiring journey together in 2017. 

Thank you, sincerely.



Liz Black, 40W Executive Director

Calls For Entry
Colfax Avenue Exhibit: Art of the Streets
Submission Deadline: January 21st.  Details.

2017 MuralFest Call for Muralists
Submission Deadline: January 23rd.  Details.


The Five Senses
Submission Deadline: February 18th.  Details.


The Inner Child
Submission Deadline: April 22nd.  Details.  

40 West News
40W Gallery Holiday Hours
The gallery will be closed December 26th-31st. We will reopen in January with our regular gallery hours. Please note there will be no First Friday opening in January. Our first exhibit of 2017 opens January 27th.  For a list of exhibits and openings coming up, click  here

Studio Space Available Next to 40W Gallery
Artist studio space is now available at 1528 Teller Street, in the same building as 40 West Arts Gallery! This well-lit space is perfect for one or more artists with 431 square feet (34.5' x 12.5'), high ceilings, garage door access, a small shared kitchen, natural light and free parking. Gain access to foot traffic and patronage via First Friday events and Art Walks in the heart of 40 West Arts District! Rent is $750 per month and includes internet, utilities and security. Available immediately. Please email Nell Lindquist for more details or to schedule a showing: nell@hilittleone.com

Display & Sell Artwork Along West Colfax
Get in front of thousands of locals interested in purchasing artwork, hiring commissioned artists and displaying art in their businesses! Simply post your 40W member profile to our site.  Here's how.  Having a portfolio presence on 40WestArts.org allows the 40W community to showcase your talent and capabilities for future opportunities! This applies to musicians and live performers as well! Please note, you must be a 40 West Arts member in order to utilize this feature.

Currently at The Edge Theater
The Edge Theater wraps up 2016 with two more weekends of Arthur Miller's classic " A View From the Bridge " and kicks off 2017 with "Burn This" (show runs January 13th-Feburary 12th). View details and purchase tickets here

40W Gallery's 2017 Exhibition Schedule
Check out 40W Gallery's exciting lineup of  2017 exhibitions coming up in the new year. There's something for almost every artist and art patron. View open calls for entry in the section above and be sure to mark your calendars for our First Friday Opening Receptions (every first Friday in 2017 excluding January) and our District-Wide Art Walks on First Friday March 3rd, June 2nd and October 6th! Our first Opening Reception of 2017 will take place on February 3rd from 5-8pm and will showcase  Athena Project Festival's "Stepping Over the Sight Line" all-female exhibit.
  
40 West Arts Summit 2017 
Make your voice heard at our 2nd annual 40 West Arts Summit on Thursday, February 9th, 6-7:45pm, at Pure Colorado Event Center (7110 W. Colfax Ave., just across Colfax from 40W Gallery)! Share new ideas, planning, and advice about district activities in 2017 and help us shape our programming for the entire year! This event will focus around Art Walk creative experiences, place-making iconography, and 40W outreach. Help shape the future of our arts district through an interactive and playful gathering of minds!  

Amazon Smile
Amazon users: AmazonSmile is a simple way to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. Simply go to smile.amazon.com, select 40 West Arts as your charity of choice and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your purchases to our nonprofit. Thank you in advance!

Happy Holidays from 40 West Arts!