Lakewood Arts Council

Background Statement

The Lakewood Arts Council (LAC) is a non-profit arts organization serving the community since 1988. LAC supports and encourages many of the arts: visual arts music, poetry, dance, and literature. We provide numerous events, performances, exhibits, concerts, workshops and special programs at reasonable rates. We assist other arts groups in their formation and in the promotion of their activities. We hire performers from LAC membership, in addition to outside talent, and we underwrite as many visual art exhibits as possible to allow our members to show their talents. We work from a strong volunteer base and depend on large and small donations, fundraisers, memberships, show registrations, and grants to conduct our business.

The Lakewood Arts Council began in 1988 at the request of the Mayor of Lakewood. We obtained our 501(c)(3) non-profit status; wrote our Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws; and organized a small group of about 50 artists, performers, and supporters. For 12 years, we worked in partnership with the City of Lakewood to provide arts programming for Lakewood.

Following a change in City policies in 2000, the Lakewood Arts Council became an independent organization serving many residents in Jefferson County and surrounding counties with programs in the arts. From that time forward, our group has gradually grown in multiple areas: exhibits, performances and concerts, literary programs, special events and projects, co-sponsorships with many other art and community groups, grants received, membership and volunteerism, and marketing. In 2000, we opened our own facility, the South Union Gallery (which became Lakewood Arts Council's Community Art Center and Gallery, and moved to a space next to Casa Bonita in October 2014. When our lease at that space ended in 2021, we were lucky enough to join the 40 West Arts Hub at 6501 West Colfax, in June of 2022.

Now, with the assistance and support of the City of Lakewood, 40 West Arts District, West Colfax Business Improvement District, the West Colfax Community Association, and many volunteers, we look forward to many years of partnership with the other galleries in the 40 West Arts District and the Hub.