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Using art to increase voter participation

Denver, CO, October 13, 2020  –  With the election just weeks away and so much at stake, we have to come together to do all we can to get out the vote.  Enter:  #ArtFindsVoters 

On Saturday, October 17th from 12pm – 4pm #ArtFindsVoters will be providing lively entertainment in the heart of Five Points along Welton Street near Coffee At The Point as Be Woke.Vote is registering voters while they are in their cars. Census staff will also be there to help anyone who needs to fill out their 2020 Census, NAACP and New Era Colorado will be answering questions about the election process. Get free food, swag, prizes and more by simply driving down Welton Street!  #ArtFindsVoters has also commissioned a mobile, digital billboard truck to travel throughout the city promoting the registration and census drive. As with all our events, safety is our number one priority and all COVID guidelines will be adhered to.  

Sponsored in part by Womxn’s March Denver, the second part of our event is getting those #ballotstothebox. Using a text platform, we’re connecting artists who wish to volunteer to patrons who need assistance in getting their ballots to the polls to do just that–get their ballots to the polls. Even at a time when artists and independent contractors are struggling, they want to be engaged with this effort. According to Colorado statute, each person can collect up to 9 ballots plus their own (so 10 total) and deliver them to the ballot box without penalty. We’re working closely with Denver County Clerk & Recorders Office on this process.  And patrons can keep an eye on their ballots, by signing up at BallotTrace, a City of Denver sponsored site designed to let people track their ballots. Text ballottothebox to (877) 329-2304 and sign up for an artist to pick up your ballot.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Endowment for the Arts reported Colorado led the nation in arts performances and exhibition attendance.  The attendance rate for metro Denver was 76.8% compared to the national average of 48.5%. More people residing in Denver attended plays, concerts and dance performances than any other place in the country.

“As artists and audiences grapple with an overwhelming number of cancellations and lost opportunities we’ve been looking for ways to bring artists and audiences together,” states Angela Astle, Executive Producer of Athena Project. “#ArtFindsVoters is an extension of our summer series #ArtFindsUs and allows us to creatively bring income to artists while also bringing art directly to communities during a time when many of us are looking for constructive ways to participate in the democratic process and be the positive change our city, state and country deserve .”

WHAT #ArtFindsVoters

WHERE Denver’s Five Points neighborhood

WHEN    Saturday, October 17 from 12-4 pm.

Website www.ArtFindsVoters.org

If you would like to sponsor or if you are an artist and would like to participate in upcoming #ArtFindsVoters events please contact info@athenaprojectarts.org.

About Athena Project Athena Project empowers women through the arts and creates a world with gender equity where women’s voices are amplified. Programs include our Plays In Progress Series showcasing the contributions of women playwrights from the earliest stages of new play development; Curating Art for Impact authentically connecting brand or mission to stakeholders in a thoughtful and engaging way; Artists’ Night Out connecting our community in an open mic type forum allowing artists to give and receive feedback on projects as well as hold space for conversations around the unique challenges of being an artist; Girls Create summer intensive week-long camps exploring various art forms, which culminates in final performances shared with friends, family, and the public. This program empowers girls to lead and affect change in themselves and others through creative learning.

 

Website: www.AthenaProjectArts.org 

Facebook: AthenaProjectArts

Twitter: @AthenaProjArts 

Instagram: @athenaprojectarts 

Hashtag: #AthenaInAction #AthenaProjectArts

*At Athena Project, we believe that “women” means many things and can be a complicated term. We recognize that the term “women” does not automatically include all aspects of the gender spectrum.  We want to create a safer space for the expression and growth for all women, trans and gender-nonconforming individuals.

 

About Handsome Little Devils:

Handsome Little Devils is an all-inclusive entertainment, design and performance company that specializes in original, experiential works for festivals, events and theater. They combine visual art, world-class performance and storytelling to create interactive experiences.