Artist in Residence Programs

In late October 2025, the City and County of Broomfield, in partnership with the City of Northglenn, welcomed Navajo (Diné) trumpet artist, composer, and educator Delbert Anderson to Colorado. Anderson led multiple school workshops exploring the history of the Navajo people and his music, which is deeply rooted in his Diné heritage. His "Build A Band" educational program introduces students to jazz improvisation through a Diné and family-centered curriculum, wellness programs and community outreach initiatives that promote well-being and positive change. 

Public Workshop with Delbert Anderson

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Broomfield Library Eisenhower Room

Community members are invited to meet and engage with the Fall Artist in Residence at this workshop. Open to all ages, the workshop led by Delbert Anderson, will focus on improvisation as a life skill and how improv can be applied not just in music, but in any unforeseen circumstances.

In Partnership with Northglenn Arts

Broomfield Out Loud Mural - Brent Learned

The City and County of Broomfield’s Arts and History division is concluding the Broomfield Out Loud program with a special mural by award-winning Native American (Arapaho) artist Brent Learned. The mural, set for installation in Spring 2025 at 120th and 287 near the current mental health focused murals, will honor the Cheyenne and Arapaho people, who were part of the Broomfield Out Loud program. The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes also share a sister city relationship with the City and County of Broomfield, deepening this cultural connection.

In April, Brent Learned will visit Broomfield to lead Artist in Residency workshops for students and the public. Through these sessions, he will share his artistic process and approach while engaging students in the history and cultural significance of the Cheyenne and Arapaho people in Colorado. Students will also have the opportunity to experiment with art techniques inspired by his work. 

Activities and Dates for this Residency may include:

Brent Learned Artist Talk Workshop
Broomfield Library Eisenhower Room
April 16, 6:30 p.m.
No cost, no registration required 

Experience an evening with Brent Learned, a talented muralist and painter and an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. Learned will share insights into his creative process and artistic vision for the forthcoming mural at 120th and Hwy 287 while participants will have the opportunity make an artistic creation of their own.

Alcoléa & Cie's Right in the Eye

The 2024 Artist in Residency with Alcoléa & Cie was an astonishing success. Acclaimed French composer and musician Jean-François Alcoléa, along with his trio, journeyed from France to Broomfield to host multiple workshops and to perform their amazing Right in the Eye Movie Concert. 

Alcoléa & Cie kicked off their residency at Broomfield Heights Middle School where Jean-François Alcoléa led two workshops for students about Georges Méliès, the “father of cinema special effects” and how his work influenced modern special effects. 

Jean-Francois and Alcoléa & Cie then went to the Broomfield Community Center to perform for over 80 seniors at the Senior Luncheon event. The band gave a preview performance of the movie concert to the seniors eating lunch. 

On Friday, March 8, Jean-Francois spent all day with students at Westlake Middle School. Jean-Francois led six different workshops, tailored for each class and their experience and knowledge of cinema, music, special effects, and George Méliès. 

On Saturday morning, Alcoléa & Cie hosted two public workshops at the Broomfield Auditorium, where participants of all ages were treated to insights into George Méliès and cinematic special effects, a sneak peek of the performance, and an interactive session featuring an instrument petting zoo.

Alcoléa & Cie wrapped up their residency with two full house shows of the Right in the Eye movie concert, one on Saturday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both shows ended with a standing ovation for the performers! 

This program reached over 1,200 Broomfield Residents, leaving a lasting impact on the community!

Artist in Residency schedule

In 2023, the Arts and History division of the City and County of Broomfield commissioned LITVAKdance to create a contemporary dance performance aligning with performance vision for “Our Man-Made Waterways” exploring themes of movement, water, relationship to the land and within ourselves. Local dance company, Wild Heart Dance was showcased as well with a performance that was intricately woven around themes of water.

LITVAKDance began its Residency program by hosting a workshop for seniors at the Broomfield Community Center. Attendees got the opportunity to get a sneak peek of the performance and got to participate in breathing and dancing exercises. 

On their second day in Broomfield, LITVAKDance visited Emerald Elementary fourth-grade students and taught them dancing exercises and how to create movement in a special workshop. Dancers from LITVAKDance created an interactive space where each student and their teachers got to create their own dance moves imitating the movement of water. 

LITVAKDance wrapped up their Residency with their newly commissioned dance performance and film at the Broomfield Auditorium. The program started with a special video produced by the City and County Water Department, exploring the history of Broomfield's water sources and the meticulous process of delivering clean water to residents. Following this, the audience was treated to a special dance video by LITVAKDance, filmed within the old Broomfield Wastewater Treatment facility, followed by their live dance performance. The event came to a delightful close with a performance by the local dance company, Wild Heart Dance.

For this Artist in Residency program, the Arts and History team partnered with the Broomfield Water Facilities department to host very popular public tours through Broomfield’s most state-of-the-art facilities, the Water Treatment Facilities (4395 W 144th Ave, Broomfield, CO 80023). These interactive tours were free and allowed people to get a behind the scenes look at the amazing water treatment plant and see how the dedicated staff provide safe, clean water to our community!

The Arts and History team also collaborated with Broomfield's Open Space and Trails department and Water team to delve into the intriguing history of water in Broomfield. Through a guided walking tour, participants had the chance to inquire about and gain insights into Broomfield's water history. The tour provided a unique perspective by incorporating historical context from Broomfield's Open Space and Trails department, as well as knowledge from the Water treatment and management team.

This program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) through the Arts Projects grant program, the Rose Community Foundation and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD)

In partnership with the Broomfield Library, Arts, History and Cultural Council and Denver Botanic Gardens, Creative Broomfield brought in Broomfield's first Art in Public Places Artist in Residency. The Alebrijes Iluminados exhibit displayed three magnificent Alebrijes puppets from Mexico for members of the community to enjoy at the Broomfield Library.

To kick off the month-long exhibit, there were two workshops at Broomfield schools and a public workshop at the Broomfield Library Eisenhower room on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Children and adults got the opportunity to hear from the Alebrije artists and create their own mini versions of the Alebrijes. 

On Sunday, March 5, 2023,  the illuminated puppet pieces came alive as the puppets were showcased for a free dance performance to start the One Book Jr event at the Broomfield Auditorium. 

The project was intended to highlight the beauty and fantasy of the Alebrijes, as well as celebrate Hispanic Culture. The Alebrije is one of the many manifestations of popular Mexican art. Alebrijes are fantastical figures that are a hybrid of various animals, whether real or imaginary and are characterized by their vibrant colors and elaborate details. Alebrijes Iluminados are inspired by the traditional cardboard Alebrije and are a modern way of presenting them, constructed from recycled materials, decorated in brilliant colors, and illuminated from within by LED lights. These sculptures were made by Mexican artists Rubén Mica and Óscar Becerra.

This program is supported by the Arts History Cultural Council Arts in Public Places Program and through a partnership with
Denver Botanic Gardens. 

Quarteto Nuevo - May 2022

The 2022 Guest Residence in Artistry group was Quarteto Nuevo. Quarteto Nuevo is a jazz ensemble that melds the music of ancient worlds and faraway places with a contemporary groove that enchants audiences of all ages!

Quarteto Nuevo started their Residence in Artistry by working with music students from Academy of Charter School and Intermezzo Broomfield Youth Symphony. Students were taught tips and techniques to improve their musical skills and worked interactively with the band to learn pieces that they would perform alongside Quarteto Nuevo during their public concert at the Broomfield Auditorium. 

Quarteto Nuevo also recorded a music video at various Broomfield locations of their rendition of “Blue Columbines”, a music piece written in Broomfield and found in the Broomfield History Collections. Blue Columbines was written by Mary Lake Ross in 1939.

On their third and final day, Quarteto Nuevo performed for seniors at the Broomfield Community Center Senior Services Luncheon and wrapped up their residence in artistry with a concert performance at the Broomfield Auditorium. They performed with students from both Academy of Charter School and Intermezzo Academy of Music.

Jarabe Mexicano - November 2021

Creative Broomfield launched the Residence in Artistry program in November 2021. Jarabe Mexicano was Broomfield's first Residence in Artistry. As a part of the Residence in Artistry program, Jarabe Mexicano performed multiple mini-concerts and music workshops for students at Centennial Elementary, Westlake Middle school, The Salvation Army After School program, Front Range Community College music students, and seniors at the Broomfield Community Center.

Jarabe Mexicano brings their audience on a joyride through a versatile songbook of Mexican Folk as well as Rock & Roll, Tex-Mex, Latin Rock, and Reggae-Cumbia with the eclectic border spirit of Jarabe Mexicano. 

Performing on stringed folk instruments accompanied by lively percussion, Jarabe’s dramatic, harmonized vocals in Spanish and English have gained them the admiration of audiences across the country.

This Guest Artist in Residence received support from Colorado Creative Industries, WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation), and the National Endowment for the Arts.