“Happy City: Art for the People” Launches May 18
Produced by The Denver Theatre District, with artistic direction by Black Cube, “Happy City: Art for the People” is a six-week (May 18-June 30) citywide art intervention with the purpose of breaking down personal, emotional and social barriers, while nurturing individual and collective well-being. Inspired by British artist Stuart Semple, the project brings together more than 10 artists’ perspectives that address ideas of happiness and community wellness, in an effort to imagine a more connected society.
Art installation sites are located throughout Denver and include streets, alleyways, billboards, video screens and Union Station, among other locations. Additionally, “Happy City” offers the opportunity for conversation through “Happy Talks” and a panel discussion, as well as engaging citywide programming made possible by community partners such as Colorado Symphony, Mental Health Center of Denver, Access Gallery, Museo de las Americas and several others. For a full list of artworks, discussions and programming, visit http://bit.ly/2I3G3DP.
“‘Happy City: Art for the People’ strives to reflect the complexity of the concept of happiness, asking the question ‘can a city be happy?’,” said David Ehrlich, executive director, The Denver Theatre District. “We recognize conversations about community wellness do not begin or end with this project; instead, we hope to initiate dialogue that will continue when the art interventions and programming conclude.”
“‘Happy City’ is a series of installations and programming where artists, the public and local residents gather together to interact with ideas around happiness and well-being. The art interventions are inquisitive in tone and offer many perspectives on the topic of happiness, from practical to playful,” said Cortney Lane Stell, artistic director, Black Cube. “Through the artists’ diverse lenses, the ‘Happy City’ experience will focus on creating stronger communal ties and ask important questions about what it means to be happy.”
“Happy City: Art for the People” is a result of collaboration among a number of funding partners, including Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Community First Foundation, Denver Arts & Venues, Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, Downtown Denver Partnership, McWHINNEY, P.S. You Are Here, Sage Hospitality and VISIT DENVER.
“The ‘Happy City’ project is poised to bring people together in a unique way, while creating a powerful community bond,” says Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “This inclusive and eye-opening project will help to provoke happiness in our center city.”
“Happy City” is the culmination of The Denver Theatre District’s three-year Terra Firma arts initiative, which included Konstantin Dimopoulos’ “The Blue Trees,” Shantell Martin’s mural project and Understudy, a first-of-its-kind arts and culture experimental space.
For more information and updates, visit happycitydenver.com; follow The Denver Theatre District on Facebook and Instagram (@DenverTheatreDistrict). Engage in the conversation using the hashtag #HappyCityDenver.
About The Denver Theatre District
The Denver Theatre District (DTD) enlivens a 16-block area of downtown Denver through interactive, immersive and experimental art and culture events and experiences. It provides creatives with a downtown platform and financial support for sharing their work. The DTD is a private non-profit funded through a revenue share collected from advertising on static and LED screens located throughout the District. The Denver Theatre District invests its outdoor media revenues in cultural and art-based experiences, most of which are free to the public. This model is the first of its kind, setting an example for cities nationwide in how to leverage private revenue streams to fund public art and activity. For more information about The Denver Theatre District, visit the website or follow the DTD on Facebook and Instagram (@DenverTheatreDistrict).
About Black Cube
Black Cube is a nonprofit, experimental art museum that operates nomadically. Without the traditional boundaries of a physical building, Black Cube exists primarily through partnering with artist fellows to commission popup art experiences. Black Cube describes itself as an unconventional museum pursuing the most effective ways to engage audiences while supporting individual artists with critical professional guidance. For more information, visit http://blackcube.art/.
About the Downtown Denver Partnership
The Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. partners with public, private and non-profit entities to implement high-impact strategies, outlined in the organization’s long-term strategy the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, to support its vision for an economically healthy, growing and economically powerful Downtown Denver.