Arts & Culture

Vision: A community that supports all forms of cultural expression.

Mission: Engage and celebrate the heritage, culture and creativity of our community.

Origin: Arts & Culture is a division of the Thornton Parks, Recreation and Community Programs Department. The division was established in 2006 to offer community-based programs and year-round events in partnership with other city departments and nonprofit organizations.

Programs: With funding provided by the city, Adams County Cultural Council, and the Scientific Cultural and Facilities District (SCFD), Arts Thornton creates, publicizes, and presents year-round Thornton Arts Academy education programs, seasonal performing arts series, community cultural events, quarterly art exhibits, history initiatives, and public art projects.

• Arts Thornton works with other city departments and the community to support the Thornton Archive and history initiatives including development of the Ken Freiberg Fire Museum, Lambertson Farm, Eastlake, Aylor, and related collection and conservation of city artifacts and archival property.
• Arts Thornton also provides year-round administrative support for the Council-appointed Thornton Arts Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO) including the board's annual budget, monthly meetings, SCFD grant-funded programs, fundraising events, and subcommittees.
• Visit the Arts & Culture Events Calendar to see what’s happening at each of our facilities and at other city locations used to host year-round free and low-cost activities enriching Thornton residents and visitors.

Facilities: Arts & Culture is located at the Thornton Arts & Culture Center (TACC) at 9209 Dorothy Boulevard and opened in 2011 as the city hub for performing and visual arts with a gallery and theater space plus city archival storage and offices. The division's adjacent building, the Annex at 9211 Dorothy Boulevard, opened in 2021 and houses division staff plus additional meeting, gallery and classroom/studio space.

TACC is open to the public, Tuesday-Friday from 12-5 p.m. and on Second Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for OZ Gallery exhibits. Admission is free. The Annex is open to the public, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Both facilities are closed on federal and city holidays.

Land Acknowledgement Statement: We, the city of Thornton, recognize that the land we occupy was cared for and called home by the Sioux, Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho people. This land holds historical, spiritual, and personal significance to indigenous nations of this region in addition to numerous others who use this land as a site for gathering and healing. We acknowledge that our public art projects are built on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of indigenous peoples. By offering this Land Acknowledgment, we recognize, support, and honor the sovereignty of the contemporary tribal nations in Colorado and beyond. We affirm our commitment to: a) be good stewards of this land, b) build relationships that unite our communities, and c) respect the contributions, innovations, and perspective of Indigenous peoples.

Designing Local (DL) is providing consulting services to develop a comprehensive Arts and Culture Master Plan for 2026-2030. This plan will build upon the city's existing 2017 Arts and Culture Master Plan, as well as other city plans, to support Thornton’s current and future arts and culture programs, services, and related resources for the community. For more information on this project, please email Alisa.Zimmerman@ThorntonCO.gov.

Thanks to everyone who completed to this year's survey. Your feedback helps guide our annual program planning and budget. To request a copy of the results, please email Alisa.Zimmerman@ThorntonCO.gov.