Visit nationalwesterncenter.com/cultivate
DENVER — The National Western Center is a global destination for agricultural innovation and western heritage that will open its doors in 2024 in Denver. Today, its leadership is seeking to cultivate the mix of experiences and opportunities that will happen at this dynamic campus and online, via an open call now through April 20 at nationalwesterncenter.com/cultivate.
In 2024, the National Western Center will feature more than 2.2 million sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor spaces including state-of-the-art facilities, historic buildings and riverfront open space. In addition to hosting the annual National Western Stock Show, Rodeo All-Star Weekend and the Denver County Fair, the campus will be home to three Colorado State University buildings with research and educational programs focused on water, sustainability, food, and human and animal health. History Colorado and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science will also bring educational programs to the campus.
At nationalwesterncenter.com/cultivate you can share basic information about how your business, nonprofit, event or idea could help bring the campus to life. The National Western Center Authority will take submissions and create a plan for achieving the center’s mission through the right mix of activities, online experiences, partners, office tenants, retail shops and more.
When complete, spaces throughout the campus can host year-round festivals and concerts, farmers’ and local markets, sporting events, lectures, trade shows, conventions, office space, incubators, educational experiences, art shows, family activities, retail shops and more. Prior to 2024, programs may come to life online, offsite and in first-built or historic buildings on the campus.
“Whether you’re a farmer in the San Luis Valley, a farm-to-table chef in downtown Denver, or a nonprofit fighting hunger in Colorado, Canada or Colombia, you could have a home at the National Western Center — on campus or online,” said Brad Buchanan, CEO of the National Western Center Authority. “We invite everyone who’s passionate about the future of food, ag innovation, entertainment or western heritage to learn more and join us.”
A 2015 campus master plan set forth the mission to convene the world at the National Western Center to lead, inspire, create, educate, and entertain in pursuit of global food solutions. Since then, extensive planning has been done and construction is currently underway, led by the City and County of Denver.
“This is a place and an opportunity unlike any other,” said John Ikard, chair of the National Western Center Authority Board of Directors. “It’s an innovative and exciting platform for addressing global food solutions, and this is the chance to be part of it from the beginning.”
The campus will be located in the historic Denver neighborhoods of Globeville, Elyria and Swansea. John Zapien, a longtime Globeville resident, community activist and member of the board of directors, said, “We are looking for ideas that will fulfill the promise of this place and have a positive effect on everyone from local residents to the global community.”
Those who submit ideas can expect that the National Western Center will be reviewing all ideas this spring and summer to design a strategy for campus programming. The team will contact some participants directly to discuss how they can be involved in creating the campus experience. Others will be kept in mind as the team builds longer-term plans. In some cases, the National Western Center will look to match ideas with people and resources that can help make them happen. Everyone who submits an idea will be signed up to receive information on future opportunities for partnerships, matchmaking, funding and campus programming, including a summary report of the Cultivate campaign later in 2019.
About the National Western Center
The National Western Center is a year-round, global destination for agricultural innovation and western heritage that will open in Denver in 2024. We will convene the world at the National Western Center and at nationalwesterncenter.com to lead, inspire, create, educate and entertain in pursuit of global food solutions.
The National Western Center Authority is a nonprofit responsible for ensuring that the day-to-day experience of the campus realizes the mission and vision of the National Western Center. The Authority manages everything from programming, to events, to curating the tenant mix, to operations and maintenance. The Authority is guided by a 13-member board of directors.
About the Project Partners
The National Western Center is the result of a partnership between the City and County of Denver, the National Western Stock Show and Colorado State University.
The Mayor’s Office of the National Western Center is responsible for phases one and two of construction and has a 100-year lease with the National Western Center Authority.
The National Western Stock Show, established in 1906, is the premier livestock, rodeo, and horse show in the nation, serving agricultural producers and consumers throughout the world.
Colorado State University will focus on research and educational programming in the areas of food, water, health, energy and the environment within its three buildings: the CSU Water Building, CSU Animal Health Complex and CSU Food and Agriculture Center.
Learn more at nationalwesterncenter.com.
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