Project Overview
Boulder’s Cultural Asset Map is an ongoing project that documents the places and organizations that shape our creative and cultural life including theaters, museums, galleries, artist studios, music venues, arts nonprofits, public art, murals, historic sites, maker spaces, and more. Because Boulder’s cultural landscape is always evolving, the map will be updated regularly to reflect new activity, partnerships and spaces as they emerge.
By visualizing where arts and cultural resources are located across the city, the map helps deepen our understanding of how these assets contribute to economic vitality, community connection, well-being, and resilience. Cultural asset mapping is also a way of recognizing the role of arts and culture as part of Boulder’s “social infrastructure”: the networks and gathering places that help communities thrive and respond to challenges such as climate change, housing pressure, and public safety. This work is closely linked to the 2025 Venue Study, which examines the state of arts and cultural spaces in Boulder and can be viewed here (link to new page).
The Cultural Asset Map will continue to expand as new spaces and activities are added. The next phase of the project will focus on working with City of Boulder departments, artists, cultural organizations, and community leaders to deepen and refine the map as a community-informed directory of meaningful cultural experiences at the neighborhood level. The
The Cultural Asset Map will inform the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, future zoning updates, and the city’s 15-minute neighborhood goals by showing where cultural spaces exist and where gaps remain. By visualizing cultural assets alongside land use, equity, and neighborhood data, the map can help us make more informed decisions about zoning, investment, and protection and growth of creative spaces. It also helps the city plan for disaster response and climate resilience by identifying trusted cultural gathering places that support communication and recovery.
The Cultural Asset Map will continue to evolve alongside Boulder’s creative community. For more information, contact culturalplan@bouldercolorado.gov.
Photo: Grupo Folklórico Sabor Latino performing at the Boulder Bandshell as part of BMoCA’s Día del Niño program, 2022.