PlatteForum was founded in 2002 to provide opportunities for learning through the arts for Denver’s most vulnerable youth and to expand public access to programming high in artistic excellence. PlatteForum was one of the first nonprofits to offer innovative arts-education programming for youth from historically marginalized communities and introduced the first artist residency program in the Denver area. Through these programs, we match our youth with professional artists in intensive and long-term projects where they may explore relevant social issues, safely take creative risks and develop personal, academic and life skills that stay with them forever. Our in-depth, curriculum-based arts education experiences meet state educational standards and are provided over an extended period of time to allow for longer-term relationships between youth, staff and professional artists. These experiences improve academic performance, prepare youth for post-secondary success and inspire them to create positive social change in their communities.

ArtLab is an innovative year-round, out-of-school paid internship program for a cohort of 17 high school youth from historically marginalized populations that integrates the creative process and art-based learning with academic, personal, and professional skill development. ArtLab interns collaborate with both local and resident artists through concentrated workshops, creating bodies of work encompassing social issues relevant in their lives and communities. PlatteForum spends more than 200 hours each year with ArtLab interns – the driving force behind the program’s 11-year, 97% graduation rate. ArtLab also serves approximately 900 low-income K-8 youth through arts-education workshops hosted by PlatteForum and involving ArtLab interns as near-peer mentors.

Our Views, Our Voice, Our Vote brings together artists, teens, mentors and activists in a series of art-making workshops at local high schools. The project will use art to engage and educate teens on the importance of their voices in the political process, civic engagement and registering to vote. The project will run through the next presidential election in 2020, as many of the teen participants will be able to vote in this critical election. We seek to give voice to the next generation of voters. Teens are historically ignored in the political arena because of their age, yet are on the cusp of being eligible to vote and are the future leaders of our country. PlatteForum will be partnering with New Era Colorado, an innovative organization engaging, educating and training younger adults to become active citizens and civic leaders. Through this we hope to instill the importance of voting and civic engagement in this next generation of young voters, encourage constructive discourse, and break down the ideological barriers currently causing political apathy.