Immersing itself in an international festival of ideas, art and culture for the 2013 edition of the Biennial of the Americas, Colorado once again demonstrated its commitment to inspiring thought-provoking solutions. From July 16-19, 2013 thousands of Colorado residents and international guests participated in more than 23 events throughout Denver. With the support of more than 80 sponsors, 19 thought partners and 21 cultural partner organizations, visitors had the opportunity to explore provocative art and architectural exhibits, attend stimulating parties and engage in incredible symposia and peer-to-peer workshops capturing the richness of the Americas.
Draft Urbanism transformed downtown Denver with four large-scale architectural installations and eye-catching urban signage. The First Draft exhibition at the McNichols Civic Center Building featured the work of 22 Colorado artists and drew more than 500 local and international guests on its opening night. The Biennial’s cultural partner organizations, including its lead partner the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, presented film and documentary screenings, public events, parties, performances and exhibitions showcasing Denver’s vibrant and thriving cultural scene.
Beyond the art and cultural programming, the Biennial’s symposia and peer-to-peer workshops convened leaders in business, government, philanthropy and the arts to examine critical issues around the theme Unleashing Human Potential: Reinventing Communities, Business, and Education. Four evenings of thought-provoking discussions between 256 renowned experts led by media icons including Tina Brown, Arianna Huffington, Don Tapscott and Patricia Janiot provided a platform for innovative ideas to be sparked, discussed and acted upon with the aim of enhancing the quality of life in the Americas and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who made this incredible celebration a success. We look forward to building on this year’s discussions in the 2015 Biennial of the Americas and hope you’ll join us.
Sincerely,
John W. Hickenlooper
Governor