About DITA
Getting Started
In early 2016, a collection of leaders in Denver's arts and cultural organizations came together to form the Arts & Culture DEI Task Force (now Arts & Diversity Leadership Council). Committed to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our community's cultural organizations, the Task Force facilitated discussions on active steps to take toward this goal. One such step was the creation of an internship program as a way to help create a pipeline of diverse arts and culture professionals that is representative of the Denver metro community while also increasing the cultural competency and organizational capacity of participating arts and culture nonprofits.
Launched in the fall of 2018, DITA's pilot year was a definitive success. Our intern cohort of 10 (pictured right) brought innovation, fresh perspectives, and a drive to grow as leaders to each of their host sites. Participating host sites varied in size from staffs of 3 to 45 and ranged from art galleries to cultural institutions.
Vision
The staff and leadership of all Colorado arts and culture organizations will be representative of the wide, vibrant, and diverse array of our community members.
The Mission
To create a pipeline of leaders in the arts who will represent communities of color and other populations generally underrepresented in Colorado’s arts organizations and to normalize equity and diversity within these organizations.
The Diversity in the Arts Internship will achieve our mission by:
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Recruiting and placing exceptional college students of traditionally underrepresented populations in internships throughout the Denver region's artistic and cultural community.
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Cultivating impactful and mindful relationships between interns and leaders within the arts community.
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Fostering brave conversations around equity and diversity within host organizations.
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Encouraging further engagement in the program’s vision throughout the host organizations beyond the end of the internship program.
Meet Our Team
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Program Administrator
Kirsten Lang
Diversity in the Arts
Advisory Board
Tessa Crisman
Communications Specialist, Art Students League of Denver
Advisory Board
Hannah Lim
2020 DITA Alumna
Fiscal Host, Advisory Board
Rachel Basye
Executive Director, Art Students League of Denver
Advisory Board
Chrissy Deal
Director of Arts & Social Change Grantmaking, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Advisory Board
Mae Mohr
2019 DITA Alumna