The Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs acts as an advisory board to Denver Arts & Venues' cultural programs Department. The Commission is comprised of dynamic and accomplished Denver leaders in the areas of the arts, business and education, all of whom are appointed by the Mayor. The Commissioners are strong advocates of the arts and culture, and are committed to the mission and goals of Cultural Programs and Denver Arts & Venues. Meetings of the Commission are open to the public. They are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 4:00 p.m. Call 720-865-4314 for details.

Next Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, May 7, 2013
4PM – 6PM
Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt Street, Parking North Side of Bldg. Enter Front Door - Meeting on Concourse

AGENDA
 

Commission Members
 

Denis Berckefeldt

Denis Berckefeldt is the Director of Communications and Government/Public Relations with the Denver Auditor’s Office. Denis is an artist in his own right, as an actor, musician and photographer. He is a 35-year member of the Screen Actors Guild and serves on the national Board of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Stephanie H. Blake, Ph.D., APR

Stephanie Blake, communication consultant and educator, has over 15 years of experience practicing and teaching strategic communications.  Owner of Blake Communications, Stephanie works with a range of clients to develop strategic communication plans and to implement those plans using a variety of tactics and approaches, all dependent on the target audience. Current and previous clients include the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, The Dixon Collective, Highland Farmers Market, Adams 12 Five Star School District and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Prior to launching her consulting firm, Stephanie was assistant professor of communication at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs where she developed a strategic communication program for the department and taught courses in public relations and mass communication. She currently teaches as an adjunct professor at University of Denver’s University College. Stephanie serves on the board for the Public Relations Society of America, Colorado Chapter and on the Denver Art Museum’s CultureHaus board. She also is a member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation special events committee. Blake received her Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Minnesota, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, an M.S. in public relations from the University of Denver and a B.A. in English from the College of Wooster.

Jayne Buck

Jayne Buck has served as Vice President of Tourism for VISIT DENVER, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, since 1999. She is responsible for all leisure marketing efforts for Metro Denver, including international and consumer marketing, implementing an annual $3 million consumer marketing campaign. In addition, Jayne is responsible for visitor information centers and visitor services, the front line hospitality training (Go the EXTRA Mile), Denver Arts Week, the Cultural Tourism Committee, Denver 365 online event calendar and the DENVER2for1TIX program.  She manages eight full-time staff and 18 part-time staff. She is active in cultural, multicultural and neighborhood tourism initiatives, and also works closely with Denver International Airport, the Colorado Tourism Office and international marketing alliances within the region. She served on the Cherry Creek Arts Festival Board of Directors for six years, and was Chair in 2010.  She currently serves on the the Denver Theater District board and is also a member of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District’s (SCFD) Denver County Cultural Council. Prior to coming to Denver, Jayne served as Director of Tourism for St Paul CVB in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Ann Daley

Rick Griffith

Rick Griffith has sought clarity about art and communication through the broad discipline of design for the last 21 years. He got his first job in the business with FCB/LKP on New York’s Madison Avenue working for ATT&T, Citibank, and The Berlin Board of Tourism, and since 1995 he has been working on design and branding focused projects across the United States for clients such as Columbia University (NY), Virginia Tech, The Rob Roy Kelly American WoodType Collection at The University of Texas, Austin, Hanover College, (IA), and Denver International Airport. His projects & commercial works and projects have been cited in several national and international resources including TDC, AIGA 365, Print, Dwell, and Good Magazine. He has works published by Rotovision in the UK, Lawrence King, and Rockport in the US. His work is included in the AIGA National Design Archives, the Denver Art Museum's Design permanent collection, The Butler Library of Rare Books and Manuscripts at Columbia University, and the Tweed Museum of Art at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Rick’s award winning work for the Democratic National Convention in 2008 was published in the book ‘Art for Obama, Designing Manifest Hope and the Campaign for Change’ published by Ginko Press. Rick’s devotion to letters during the last 20 years has lead him to teach graphic design and typography for the University of Colorado, Denver, The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, and most recently, The University of Denver. He serves as lecturer and panelist for conferences and presents frequently on either his method for teaching and practicing as a designer/typographer or the model of professional practice, leadership, and constant experimentation of the studio and typography laboratory called MATTER. His branding and strategic works are numerous including the data visualizations for the Western States Arts Federation, and his 2010 presentation for TEDx Boulder. is He is a member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

Mary Louise Lee

Sarah Kurz

Yolanda Ortega

Yolanda Ortega currently serves as Chair of the Commission. She retired from Metropolitan State College of Denver as Vice President for Student Services. Since then, she has been back serving Metro State in interim administrative positions. Currently, Ortega is serving as the Student Judicial Officer for the college. In 2006, she became part owner of Encantada Catering, Inc. with partners Jesse Ogas and Dee Burleson.  Encantada Catering features fresh, homemade New Mexican food and live musical entertainment. Ortega has been a veterana actress and musician for 33 years with Su Teatro, a Denver-based Chicano theatre company. She has been featured in main stage plays such as Las Tamaleras, Doña Rosita's Jalapeño Kitchen, El Sol Que Tu Eres, Westside Oratorio and La Guerra Eterna. Ortega serves on the Board of Trustees of Escuela Tlatelolco and Clinica Tepeyac. In addition to her active community service, she pursues her passion for road trips, photography, poetry and performing.

Chandler Romeo

Maruca Salazar

Maruca Salazar is the current executive director of Museo de las Americas, a 20-year institution that promotes Latino Art from ancient to contemporary. She holds a Master Degree in Education with emphasis in art and culture. For thirty years she served as educator and arts administrator for Denver Public Schools, spending 23 years in the classroom and seven years as the Central Office Arts Coordinator for the district. Advocacy, Arts Education and Culture are her passion and her expertise. She hopes that her knowledge will contribute to the vision of the Denver Commission on Cultural affairs.

Gillian Silverman

Gillian Silverman is an assistant professor of English and co-director of the Women and Gender Studies Program at the University of Colorado Denver.  She also co-directs the series “Feminism & Co.: Art, Sex, Politics” -- a program designed to address issues relating to women and gender at The Laboratory of Art + Ideas at Belmar.  Her research and teaching interests include American literature and culture, critical theory and the history of the reading.  She has published in academic venues and in mainstream venues including The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, The New York Observer and The Los Angeles Times.  She is currently completing a book about reading practices in nineteenth-century America.

Tony Smith

R. Tony Smith has worked for the Cherry Creek Arts Festival since October 2000 and serves as the Marketing and Operations Director. Tony's passion for festivals and events is all about bringing people together through celebration and providing access to culture, and his personal statement is that he considers himself “A Specialist in the Art and Business of Celebration." His event career officially began with the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. His professional, Board of Director, volunteer and consulting services history includes the Colorado Festivals and Events Association, Denver Center for Performing Arts, Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness, Denver GLBT Commission, Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, Colorado AIDS Project, Downtown Denver Parade of Lights, Denver's Pridefest, Denver Gay Bowl 2012 and Team Colorado of the Rockies. Tony also currently serves as the Co-Chair for the 2016 North America Outgames, an effort spearheaded by Tony that will bring thousands of international GLBT sports competitors to Denver. Tony's other life passions include volleyball, yoga, scuba diving, weight training, visual & performing arts, auto design, international culture & travel.

Margie Soo Hoo Lee

Rick Tallman

Rick Tallman is a veteran entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder of Renova Capital Partners – a private equity group that develops renewable power generation assets.  He serves as the Executive Chairman of Main Street Power Company, a leading international solar development firm, sits on a variety of other corporate and nonprofit boards and frequently lectures on the subjects of social entrepreneurship and renewable energy.  Rick has led multiple early-stage companies through hyper-growth to eventual public offering or acquisition.  He was a pioneer of municipal water utility privatization in the U.S. and served as a Company Commander in the U.S. Army during the Persian Gulf War.  He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines.

Bobbi Walker

Bobbi Walker founded Walker Fine Art in 1999, and opened the gallery space in June of 2002.  She has been actively involved in the arts community in Denver for the last 11 years.   Bobbi Walker  is a Young Associates level member of the Denver Art Museum (DAM), and on the Board of the DAM Contemporaries.  She is a member of the DAM Culture Haus and Asian Art Association.  She is a Heart Club member of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA).  She is a 1944 Society level member of the Clyfford Still Museum.  She was President of the Denver Art Dealers Association (DADA) for 3 years, and is currently an active member.  She has served on the boards of the Golden Triangle Museum District (GTMD) and the Golden Triangle Neighborhood Association (GTA), and is currently a member of both organizations.  She is a member of the Colorado Business Community for the Arts (CBCA), Arts for Colorado, Visit Denver, and Redline, and the Downtown Denver Partnership.

She has been a speaker at the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (now Denver Arts & Venues) Arts Business Expo for 5 consecutive years.  She was a speaker for the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC ) NxLevel premier training program  for small business planning.  She has had speaking engagements with arts and humanities classes at Colorado University (Boulder and Denver), Metropolitan State Denver (MSCD) , Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) , and Arapaho Community College.  She was one of 4 participants in The  Business of Art  panel at Redline.  She has participated in steering committee discussions for Colorado Community for the Arts, Denver Arts Week, Denver Biennial, Denver Theatre District, and CuriousTheatre.  

She has been a juror for Open Studios Boulder, Core Gallery Denver, Art For Ransom, Art 342 artist residency in Ft Collins 2010, Metropolitan State College of Denver annual juried student exhibition,  “Metro Now” 2011,  Art Institute Annual student exhibition 2011.  She was juror for the DOCA Public Art Program’s selection for the Denver Justice Center’s Forensic Science Center 2010,  and  Curator of  2011 Project Angel Heart’s  Art for Life auction.

Nancy Walsh
 
Nancy Walsh is Director of Museum Programs for Strategic Partnerships & Programs at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.  As the education lead for Expedition Health, she was a key team member in the development of the award-winning exhibition.  Currently, she is on the development team for the new Education & Collection Facilities expansion.  Nancy graduated with a B.S. from Earlham College and has a Master’s Degree in evolutionary biology from The University of Chicago.  She has worked at The Field Museum in Chicago, the Bell Museum in Minnesota and the Virginia Aquarium.  While in Virginia she was on the Board of Directors of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads.  In 2005, Nancy was thrilled to be able to move back home to the Denver area and put her passion for science education toward creating outstanding educational and cultural experiences for Denver’s diverse audiences.

James Wallace

James Wallace is a regionally and nationally acclaimed choreographer, originally from Hutchinson, Kansas and began his training at Friends University. He continued at Arizona State University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in dance performance and choreography. He has danced professionally for the San Diego Opera, Kim Robards Dance, David Taylor Dance Theatre, City Ballet of San Diego, and Company C Contemporary Ballet of San Francisco and has danced in works by Twyla Tharp, Lynn Taylor-Corbet, Tom Ruud, Charles Moulton, Patrick Corbin, Paul Taylor, and George Balanchine. While apprenticing at Colorado Ballet, he choreographed two major works, Carmina Burana and Inversion, which received excellent reviews. He was Choreographer in Residence and Artistic Director for David Taylor Dance Theatre, and has created works for American National Ballet, Boulder Ballet, Ballet Nouveau Colorado, and Dawson|Wallace Dance Project where he is currently Artistic Director. The Ballet Builders award for new choreography was given to James by New Choreographers on Point and his piece, Suspect Lines, was given a New York City premiere. Mr. Wallace has been lauded as a “daring and original dancemaker” (Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News) and his choreography has been described as “vibrant, innovative and richly diverse – one of the brightest new choreographers on the horizon” (Glenn Giffen, The Denver Post).