The Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) is metro Denver’s unique commitment to its arts, cultural, and scientific organizations. First approved by voters in 1989 and renewed three times since then, SCFD collects a one penny sales tax on every $10 purchase within the seven-county metro area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties). These taxpayer dollars provide a stable source of supplemental funding to about 300 unique organizations, supporting access and programming for millions of people each year.
SCFD distributes more than $60 million annually, providing critical operational support for small, medium, and large organizations across the front range urban corridor. In addition, SCFD-funded organizations serve every school district within SCFD’s boundaries with educational programs.
Every year, SCFD organizations serve millions of adults and children, provide thousands of creative sector jobs, and generate more than a billion dollars in economic activity.
The DAM and SCFD
SCFD dollars provide support for free days, access programming, and operations, as well as enabling the museum to present world-class exhibitions, programs, and community engagement. This support from regional voters also funds the preservation and conservation of the museum’s collection of more than 70,000 art objects from cultures around the world, enabling them to be enjoyed now and in the future.
For a list of upcoming Free Days at the DAM, made possible in part by SCFD funding, visit our Free Days page.
Thank you to the residents of the seven-county metro area for more than 30 years of support of the SCFD.
* Service statistics provided by SCFD.org and the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts Economic Activity Study.