What’s New
2026 Colorado Book Awards
Join Colorado Humanities and the 2026 Colorado Book Awards finalists on Saturday, September 26 at the Tivoli Turnhalle, 900 Auraria Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204, for a celebration of Colorado’s best literature published in 2025. Tickets will be available for purchase soon.
Colorado’s 11th Poet Laureate: Crisosto Apache
Colorado Humanities is thrilled to share the news that Crisosto Apache is the new Colorado Poet Laureate, appointed by Governor Polis on January 28, 2026. Crisosto Apache is from Mescalero, New Mexico, on the Mescalero Apache reservation. Crisosto is Mescalero Apache, Chiricahua Apache, and Diné (Navajo). Apache’s clanships are the Salt Clan, born for the Towering House Clan.
Begin Where You Are: The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology
We are excited to announce the release of Begin Where You Are: The Colorado Poets Laureate Anthology, featuring works by all ten of Colorado’s Poets Laureate, including some new poems from the late Andrea Gibson! This book is a movement with a mission – a portion of the proceeds will fund poetry programming in underserved Colorado schools, libraries, and rural areas, making each purchase an investment in expanding access to this essential art form. Preorder now.
Champion the Humanities in Colorado
We’ve built a strong plan for what comes next—and with your continued support, we can bring this vision to life and secure the future of the humanities in Colorado. Help us write this next chapter together by becoming a humanities champion and protecting access to books, histories, cultural traditions, freedom of thought, literacy, and artistic expression—things we can never take for granted. These are the stories and ideas that define us, and they are worth defending.
Together, we can #ChampionCH.
EVENTS
PROGRAMS
Inspiring conversation and exploration of our shared cultural heritage
CHAMPION THE HUMANITIES IN COLORADO
Resources to participate in the Save Colorado's Stories campaign.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS
Community Conversations WHAT WE OFFER Colorado Humanities’ Community Conversations are research-informed facilitation, training, and consulting programs designed to help communities and organizations build trust, strengthen relationships, and engage in reflective dialogue. The model anchors conversation in a shared text,
FACILITATOR TRAINING
Learn How to Facilitate Community Conversations The Facilitator Training for Reflective Conversations prepares people to plan and facilitate conversations about vital issues and questions across different beliefs and backgrounds. Training participants will
THE FIVE STATES OF COLORADO
Revealing the historic development of a population as diverse as the land itself. In 1861, the U.S. Congress carved Colorado’s boundaries representing no river, mountain range, tribe, or language group to enclose
COLORADO BOOK AWARDS
Celebrating the accomplishments of Colorado’s outstanding authors, editors, illustrators, and photographers.
CHANGING THE LEGACY OF RACE & ETHNICITY
These community conversations are designed to dive deeply into how we might change the legacy of race.
COSHARP
Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (COSHARP) grants
HISTORY LIVE DURANGO
A community round-table of organizations work together to plan this annual month-long series of events.
AUTHOR TALKS
These experienced, engaging local authors are available to come to your cultural center or school.
HIGH PLAINS CHAUTAUQUA
Enjoy education and entertainment presented through a unique combination of theatre and history.
COLORADO POET LAUREATE
Award-winning poet Andrea Gibson uses words to empower and forge connections.
MOTHEREAD/FATHEREAD COLORADO
Help your children be better communicators by implementing these family reading practices.
BLACK HISTORY LIVE
A prominent African American scholar portrays an important historical figure during this February tour.
GET INVOLVED TODAY
Colorado Humanities forges program partnerships statewide to improve education, strengthen cultural institutions and enrich community life. Your contribution makes you an important part of it.
