Inspired by the Artspace Loveland Arts Campus, the State of Colorado spearheaded Space to Create Colorado, a multi-agency, public-private partnership to drive economic development through the arts in rural and mountain communities. Governor Hickenlooper announced the $45 million program, which is the nation’s first state-driven initiative for workforce housing for artists and creatives. Planned to span eight regions across all of Colorado, one town in each will receive an arts facility, with Artspace involved as the lead nonprofit consultant and development partner. Additional partners include Colorado Creative Industries and the Department of Local Affairs. Private funders are also contributing, with the visionary Boettcher Foundation taking the lead by investing $250,000 per project, adding up to a $2 million commitment.
To kickoff Space to Create, Artspace and partners broke ground on a demonstration project in Trinidad in 2019, and celebrated the project's grand opening on September 2022. Ridgway Space to Create was the second town chosen for this initiative, and completed construction and has welcomed new residents in 2022. More forthcoming Space to Create communities include: Carbondale, Grand Junction, Grand Lake, and Salida. The additional Space to Create communities have yet to be formally selected and announced.