Values and Philosophy

What We Value

At the Denver Art Museum, we work together to build a world where art sparks creativity, and connects, inspires, and empowers people and communities. Five important characteristics are at the core of who we are:

  • Creative
  • Curious
  • Dynamic
  • Inclusive
  • Respectful

These values represent the way we strive to interact with each other and with our community every day, inspiring us to create the best workplace possible.

Our Commitment to Racial Equity

During the summer of 2020, amidst a renewed focus on racial justice, we pronounced our stance against racism and our commitment to being an inclusive space where all voices are recognized and heard. Today, we remain deeply committed to standing against violence, hate, racism, and xenophobia in all forms and to fostering inclusion and equity inside and out. In the summer of 2020, the museum promised to actively listen and engage the community in its ongoing work, serve as a platform by collecting and presenting work by artists from historically excluded communities, and elevate a wide range of artist voices by sharing the work of and collaborating with artists of color on programs, online projects, and other engagement opportunities. 

Efforts to put these promises into action over the last year have included the development of a racial equity roadmap, which creates a framework for our intentions to be both a platform for and an amplifier of voices of all people, inside the organization and in the creative community. This roadmap, supported by a racial equity lens used in planning and decision-making, is helping facilitate evaluation of the museum’s systems, procedures, hiring practices and program development. Staff and volunteer training and dialogue is underway with the support of external expertise and new roles have been created to focus on equity and employee experience as well as internal communications. Paid internships and fellowships designed to bring talent from historically excluded communities into the field have been expanded and the exhibition, installation and live program plans are being developed with deeper emphasis on a broad spectrum of perspectives and audiences. We believe that art has the power to promote mutual understanding and highlight our shared humanity and we strive to showcase that in our galleries every day. 

The museum’s board of trustees, volunteers, and staff remain committed to the difficult conversations, deep reflection, and the willingness to grow that are required to make the Denver Art Museum an anti-racist organization.  While we are energized by the progress we’ve made, we understand that there is much to be done and that we have benefited from a system that has disenfranchised many. We will undoubtedly misstep along the way, acknowledge and learn from our mistakes and hold ourselves accountable to the commitments we have made.  Thank you for your continued support as we continue to learn and evolve while we work towards becoming a more equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work and visit. 

Our Commitment to Indigenous Communities

The Denver Art Museum is located on the homeland of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute people, along with many people from other Indigenous nations that call this place home. Museums have benefited from the displacement of Indigenous people and the removal and historical misrepresentation of their arts, often resulting in deep harm to originating communities.

While we cannot change the past, we can change how we move forward. Indigenous people have made substantial impacts to our institution, and our identity is innately tied to the Native histories and contributions of Indigenous people past and present. This inspires and grounds us as we move forward in a better way

We commit to:

  • Building authentic and sustained relationships with Indigenous people at multiple touch points across the museum.
  • Centering, elevating, and supporting Indigenous people in our programs and practices and providing meaningful access to our resources including collections, programs, tools, and spaces
  • Actively listening to and integrating Indigenous voices to grow as an inclusive and accessible space.

SCFD

Our conviction that art and culture connect communities, foster acceptance and understanding, and transform lives is at the center of all we do. Regional residents and DAM members alike benefit from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), which has provided funding for citizen access to arts, science, and cultural experiences for 27 years.

Since the creation of this unique multi-county funding mechanism, regional voters have renewed SCFD twice. And in that time, the metro area has seen its reputation blossom from a western sports mecca to a bona fide cultural destination. There is nothing like SCFD anywhere else in the country. Citizen support of SCFD provides operational funds, created by one penny for every $10 in sales tax, to 275 organizations across Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. Arts and culture generates $1.85 billion in regional annual economic activity, serves nearly 14 million visitors, employs more than 10,000 residents and educates 4.25 million students each year.

We are grateful to the residents who support SCFD. In appreciation for the support, Colorado residents enjoy reduced admission rates every day and the museum offers free general admission days throughout the year.