About The Creative District

The Downtown Fort Collins Creative District strives to connect people to Downtown’s culture, artists, history and creative business by providing arts information, creative industry connectivity, and meaningful storytelling.  It is a walkable area of historic Fort Collins certified by the State of Colorado as a creative district because of its large number of cultural assets and creative industry activity.  Today Downtown Fort Collins is a robust, inspired place where creators, artists, innovators and fans shape their everyday lives into spectacular experiences. Explore Downtown’s music, galleries, public art, architecture, history and get to know the stories of our artists and creators, our songs and passions. Make your life a work of art!

Our Mission

To advance Downtown Fort Collins as an arts and creative hub.

Our Vision

The Downtown Fort Collins Creative District will be a robust, inspired place where creators, innovators and fans shape their everyday lives into spectacular experiences.

“Creative energy is one of Downtown Fort Collins’ most abundant natural resources!”

Peggy Lyle, Creative District Director

HOME TO CREATIVITY

Proudly one of the most recognized downtowns in the nation, Downtown Fort Collins is home to a successful creative and innovative culture. Set in the picturesque Fort Collins Old Town historic area, the Creative District contains a bustling pedestrian center and historic buildings housing hundreds of shops, boutiques, restaurants, theatres, music venues, museums, performance centers, and art galleries.

The nationally acclaimed revitalized business area is surrounded by historic residential areas, award-winning breweries, a vibrant music scene and colorful public art. This urban district is interconnected with picturesque pedestrian alleys and flower-lined sidewalks and is easily accessible by comprehensive bicycle paths.

HOME TO MUSIC

Events and festivals are a regular occurrence in the Creative District, including the largest music festival celebrating Colorado music: Fort Collins Music eXperiment (FoCoMX), Odell Small Batch Festival, celebrates craft brewing and New Belgium Brewing’s original Tour De Fat bicycle-powered parade and festival also take place downtown.

HOME TO ART

Visual Art is everywhere in the district in galleries, integrated into the restaurants and along every street. From Art Walk to makers markets and art exhibitions, there is something for everyone. Art in Public Places art can be seen and experienced at every corner with Pianos About Town, the vibrant city’s transformer box and paver art programs along the renovated alleyways. The Fort Collins Mural Project also helps bring color and thoughtful art murals to the walls of Downtown. All of this, plus hundreds of creative businesses and entrepreneurs make the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District a wildly attractive destination for visitors, residents, collectors and artists!

Thanks to Our Supporters: