Connect
To Top

Meet Liz Black of 40 West Arts District in Lakewood

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Black.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Liz. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve lived in metro Denver for over twenty years, originally working in education, managing teams and creating both in-person and online programming. I was looking to do something different right around the time that my husband and I were also looking for a new house. We’d lived in Denver proper for about five years but were looking to buy something bigger (our house at that time was 795 square feet) because we wanted to start a family. We were looking along West Colfax and close to the new light rail line that was being built, the West Line. I was pretty reticent to move to Lakewood, I think in my head I felt like living in ‘Denver’ was the only option for someone who likes urban living, but then, while doing some online research, I located something called the ‘Vision 2040 Plan’ (link at the bottom).

I discovered that the City of Lakewood and many of the local neighborhood organizations in the area were looking to start an arts district in the neighborhoods close to West Colfax and light rail, right in the area we were potentially looking at. I was overjoyed and intrigued, imaging having an arts district within walking distance of your house! We did end up buying a house right in the area and I started volunteering for 40 West Arts District almost immediately. I like to be active in my community and this felt like a perfect fit. The district grew substantially in the next few years and needed to hire someone to develop and manage programming. I took a position as Program Manager with the district and then, a few years later, Executive Director. Vision 2040 Plan: https://bid.westcolfax.org/west-colfax-news/2019/1/25/west-colfax-2040-vision-plan.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think working for a small non-profit organization always has its challenges, but I can say fully and honestly that this is the best organization I have ever been a part of. I get to work with creatives and artists every day and I’m doing work that genuinely benefits the community, everything from hosting events free-of-charge to the public and being a part of major public art installations that transform the physical landscape of the community. I do remember that when I first started with 40 West Arts District, people I would talk to would say, “What is that?” Now, just a few years later, it seems like most people recognize and have been to the district and in 2019, we won Westword Magazine’s ‘Best Arts District’.

Please tell us about 40 West Arts District.
The 40 West Arts mission is pretty simple, we support events, experiences and spaces that enrich the Lakewood West Colfax corridor through arts, creativity and economy. We’re working to make Lakewood West Colfax a vibrant and active destination for community members and visitors alike. And our values are that of inclusivity in the arts, access for all, and support of both the novice and professional artist equally. In one phrase, we like to refer to ourselves as the ‘accessible’ arts district. We put a strong emphasis on events that are kid & family and senior-friendly, open to the public and totally free of charge. Never been to an arts district or gallery before? Want to bring your two-year-old with you? 40 West Arts District is a place where you can feel at home.

The vision for an arts district along Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado, goes back over a decade, to community meetings held from 2004-2006 about revitalization efforts along the corridor and including broad input from over 200 community members, neighborhood organizations, local businesses, City representatives and more. The West Colfax Action Plan was adopted by Lakewood City Council in January 2006. Plenty went on behind the scenes, but we’ll jump forward to 2011, where the district name, a tribute to historic Route 40, also called Colfax Avenue, was unveiled. 2011 also marked the district’s first Board of Directors and the first strategic plan. In 2012 40 West Arts opened its own community gallery space, 40 West Gallery and officially received its status as a 501(c)3 non-profit.

Two years later, in 2014, 40 West Arts District earned its state certification from Colorado Creative Industries, becoming at the time one of only 11 certified creative districts in Colorado. New galleries were starting to take root in the area and in 2015, 40 West Arts opened its own artist studio space, 40 West Studios, which provides a low-cost professional workspace for 14 artists, right in the heart of the district. The next few years saw exponential growth with 40 West Arts hiring its first executive director, galleries either relocating or opening in the district core, the addition of a number of new events and experiences, and awards including Best Suburban Arts District and Best Arts District from Westword Magazine in two consecutive years. One of the biggest projects to date, the 40 West ArtLine, was implemented in 2018. This four-mile walkable, bikeable free outdoor art route has transformed the physical landscape with art and installations and continues to be a major initiative of 40 West Arts District and its partners. To date, 40 West Arts only continues to expand its scope and ability to deliver arts programming to the surrounding community. The future is bright.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite series of memories involves my grandmother, my dad’s mom. She was your quintessential Texas grandmother, big hair, tons of jewelry, shoes and handbags for every occasion and a lot of sass and vinegar in everything she did. My grandmother was pivotal in my life, she introduced me to every type of art act out there. She used to dress my brother and I up and take us out to the theater, to museums and the Houston Ballet. I definitely developed my love of the arts through her. When she was alive we traveled together as well. I took a solo trip with her to New York City for a week, attending Broadway shows and just walking around the city. She never made you feel like a child, but treated you like a full person and wanted you to experience everything life has to offer.

Pricing:

  • Virtually every single event that 40 West Arts hosts is free-of-charge and open to the public.

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
For the large public art piece photos, Will Strathmann is the photographer, all other photos are courtesy of 40 West Arts

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in