... and the bear

the official blog of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District

Since 1989, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) has distributed funds from a 1/10 of 1% sales and use tax to cultural facilities throughout the seven-county Denver, Colorado metropolitan area. The funds support cultural facilities whose primary purpose is to enlighten and entertain the public through the production, presentation, exhibition, advancement and preservation of art, music, theatre, dance, zoology, botany, natural history and cultural history.

Photobucket Learn about the interworkings of the SCFD and cultural happenings around the seven county metro area with your guide, Erica, Program Assistant for SCFD. Have a suggestion for an event? Are you an SCFD organization that wants to be reviewed? Shoot me an email at erica@scfd.org.

Colorado counties include Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson. Everything written here is personal opinion and not intended to infer official judgment on the part of the SCFD, board members, or other staff.

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“ DID YOU KNOW?
$1.64 billion: the total amount of cultural economic activity generated by SCFD recipients in the Denver metro area in 2009. Economic activity included the direct operating and capital expenditures of nonprofit cultural organizations and their audiences, as well as the indirect economic activity stimulated in our local economy by cultural spending. SCFD 2010 Annual Report

(Source: scfd.org)


“ DID YOU KNOW?
8,718: the number of people employed by SCFD organizations in the Denver metro area in 2009. Compare this to the number of people in Denver employed in the health and personal care industry: 6,649. SCFD 2010 Annual Report

(Source: scfd.org)


DID YOU KNOW?

In 2009 over 42,000 people volunteered nearly 2 million hours of their time to SCFD organizations in the metro Denver area.

-CBCA 2010 Economic Activity Study



“ 9: the number of contacts with arts and cultural events per student in the metro Denver area, a 20% increase from 2007. SCFD 2010 Annual Audit

(Source: scfd.org)


“ DID YOU KNOW?
7.1 million: the number of free or reduced rate visits to arts and cultural activities in 2009. Compare this to the number of paid visits: 4 million. SCFD Annual Report

(Source: scfd.org)

What is Creative Placemaking?

To be honest I didn’t know what it was until today either.  Check out this very informative article, from the National Endowment for the Arts website, that discusses the values arts/culture creates for the economy.  Funny thing is creative placemaking has been happening here in the metro area for a long time, we just didn’t know what to call it!



Less than one week left to see Zoo Lights!  I went last Friday, right after the snow, and it was so wonderful.  This is really a must see around the holidays, its so festive and truly one of the best ways you can enjoy the zoo.  Grab a hot chocolate and get cozy with the animals!

Less than one week left to see Zoo Lights!  I went last Friday, right after the snow, and it was so wonderful.  This is really a must see around the holidays, its so festive and truly one of the best ways you can enjoy the zoo.  Grab a hot chocolate and get cozy with the animals!



Creating High-Impact Nonprofits

Today I dug up this article by Heather McLeod Grant and Leslie R. Crutchfield and it is a definite must read.  Refreshing new thoughts and ideas (back by research or course) about what makes a successful nonprofit.  So put on your creative thinking cap and give it a read!

~Erica



It’s time to get into the holiday spirit and there is so much excellent cultural events happening around town.  Check out these two websites to see what’s going on!   Visit Denver http://www.denver.org/what-to-do Scen3 http://www.thescen3.org/ Pssst… SCFD’s Facebook page is also a great place to learn about cultural events in the metro area!  https://www.facebook.com/ScientificandCulturalFacilityDistrict Happy Holidays,Erica 

It’s time to get into the holiday spirit and there is so much excellent cultural events happening around town.  Check out these two websites to see what’s going on!  

Visit Denver http://www.denver.org/what-to-do

Scen3 http://www.thescen3.org/

Pssst… SCFD’s Facebook page is also a great place to learn about cultural events in the metro area!  https://www.facebook.com/ScientificandCulturalFacilityDistrict

Happy Holidays,
Erica 



Colorado Nonprofit Associations Principles and Practices

Fuelled by last weeks Stakeholders meeting at the Denver Botanic Gardens I have decided to add an educational component to this blog.  Think of it as your new nonprofit resource, you can expect to see many links to different organizations, and documents to help make your nonprofit the best it can be!

So, for today we’ll keep it really simple.  Here is a link to the Colorado Nonprofit Associations Principles and Practices Manuel.  This is a great resource for the basics of operating a non profit.  Even if you are farmilar with Principles and Practices, its good to keep in a convenient spot for referencing, or maybe its time for a refresher!    

Colorado Nonprofit Associations Principles and Practices