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DENVER – What is now referred to as Denver’s RiNo Art District was once simply known as North Denver.
It’s an area that incorporates four historical neighborhoods, including Globeville, Elyria-Swansea, Five Points and Cole.
For many, new development has made this corner of the city unrecognizable.
RiNo leaders say it isn’t just new development attracting visitors either. The publicly painted murals have also made RiNo a destination.
In 2005, the RiNo Art District was formed by a small group of artists who were focused on starting a creative community. In the process, they’ve also helped businesses market their work.
Today, RiNo is a state-certified Colorado Creative District and has grown to more than 320 members, hundreds of studios and dozens of galleries.
An annual CRUSH event was first founded in 2010. The project invites graffiti and street artists who, according to project leaders, “bring life to walls, while maintaining the unique identity of this rapidly evolving community.”
CRUSH ultimately transforms the outside of buildings, streets, and alleys into galleries of expression.
According to Art District leaders, the week-long CRUSH event attracts 20,000 visitors to the Art District.
CRUSH organizers invite visitors to take photographs of and with the murals, only asking that credit is provided to the artists whenever artwork is posted.