The Colorado Department of Education

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CDE Events

Arts Call-Out Reception

Feb. 9, 2010


Tonight we celebrated arts educators, art students and the greater arts community of Colorado with a special reception in the lobby at the Colorado Department of Education. The event was held to celebrate CDE’s initiative to promote the arts, which includes a variety of displays of student artwork around the building.

 

 

 

Prior to my appointment as commissioner in the summer of 2007, the hallways of CDE were plain, government-style hallways. Under the leadership of Karol Gates, CDE’s content specialist for the arts, we have begun regular rotations of student paintings, drawings and sculptures in various spots around the building.

In September 2009, we issued the first call-out for student art to display here at the department and today approximately 50 pieces from 17 school districts are helping to create a more stimulating office environment. The items on display will rotate as submissions are received from the upcoming call-out in March 2010.

 

 

 

The reception was held in part to thank the many supporters of the initiative, including University of Denver Chancellor Daniel Ritchie, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation and the Colorado Council on the Arts.

The reception included a string ensemble from Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School, who serenaded attendees from the second-floor balcony above the lobby. Colorado State Board of Education members Randy DeHoff, Elaine Gantz Berman, Jane Goff, Marcia Neal and Angelika Schroeder attended along with a variety of friends from the state legislature and from the Colorado Council on the Arts and the Denver Public Schools arts community.