Events at CVA
CVA offers artist talks, tours, lectures, workshops, classes and much more to foster a deeper understanding of the work we have on view. Most programs are free to attend and open to all. Subscribe to CVA Happenings, our monthly newsletter, to stay in the know about our latest offerings.
Art + Action Lab May Market
Art + Action Lab May Market, 2025
Friday, May 1, 5-8pm
CVA is hosting an art market for our Art + Action Lab interns! Swing by CVA during May’s 1st Friday Art Walk to check out the handcrafted art and goods created by our high school interns of past and present. Support these young creatives and buy some cool handmade stuff!
Crafty Action Society
Wednesday, May 20, 5:30-8pm
MAKE ART WHILE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
It’s time to get crafty! Grab your friends for an evening of craftacular fun! Join us in crafting with Juntos Community, who help “undocumented immigrants overcome barriers to workforce access and career mobility, Juntos empowers our community with DACA support, educational workshops, and increased awareness around systemic challenges so that they can confidently thrive in their chosen careers.”
The theme for this session is the monarch butterfly and we’ll explore different lino-cut printmaking and basic jewelry-making techniques. When testifying in front of Colorado’s House Committee on behalf of bill HB26-1143, the Juntos team all wore butterflys to show their support of the bill.
Use your art and craft skills to address social justice issues. Through Crafty Action Society you will:
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Craft in community
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Connect with local orgs activating their efforts toward social justice
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Learn from artists already creating for activism
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Gain access to art + craft materials
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Develop new techniques
Crafty Action Society is a way to bring people together to learn from local organizations working for social change and to do so through “craftivism“- using creative expression to cultivate awareness and spread their message. This monthly series will meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Each session will start with a presentation from a local organization about how your creativity can help their cause. After that, we’ll bring out the craft supplies and get to work creating. We’ll explore techniques from quilting and embroidery to stenciling, collage, and papier-mâché ensuring activities are accessible to beginners and more advanced makers alike. Materials, snacks, and beverages provided.
With this program, we are raising money for the organization that we are hosting and our own teen internship program. But no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $10 – $40 which will also cover supplies, snacks, and the assistance of our teaching staff.
Opening Reception
Sherry Hern, Neo Menagerie (detail), 2026
May 15, 6-8pm
Join CVA for a celebration of our new exhibition Collective Nouns. Featuring the work of 23 MSU Denver staff and faculty whose multi-disciplinary work explores diverse topics related to the environment, culture, memory, and loss. Free and open to everyone.
First Fridays
Art District on Santa Fe First Friday Art Walk
First Friday of every month, 6-8pm
The First Friday Art Walks are the signature event of Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. All year round, rain or shine, the District comes alive on the first Friday of each month as thousands of visitors descend upon Santa Fe Drive to view art from hundreds of artists in galleries, studios, co-ops, upstairs, downstairs, in alleys, on the street—everywhere!
On First Fridays, CVA always has something fun happening, whether it’s vendors and cultural partners in the parking lot, fantastic exhibitions in the galleries, or art-making activities in the classroom, there’s something for everyone!
VASD Lecture
Visiting Artist, Scholar, Designer Lectures
The Visiting Artist, Scholar & Designer Program fosters participation and collaboration with both the institution and the MSU Denver community. An integral part of MSU Denver Department of Art’s mission, the Visiting Artist, Designer & Scholar Program is an invaluable resource for students, faculty, and the community. The program is an interdisciplinary and culturally inclusive initiative, bringing nationally and internationally renowned artists, designers, and scholars to engage with the Department of Art. All lectures are free and open to the public and take place at the Center for Visual Art.
