PlatteForum announces big growth this spring, with a new gallery and studio space at 3575 Ringsby Ct. #103 Denver, CO 80216 and a large grant award from Caring For Denver Foundation to fund mental health support for the youth involved in ArtLab.

PlatteForum has landed a second space in FLIGHT at TAXI. This light-filled gallery and studio space is allowing PlatteForum’s arts community further reach and will fill resident artists' needs. PlatteForum's ANNEX GALLERY will provide PlatteForum’s resident artists more studio space and exhibition opportunities. Plus, with its ever expanding ArtLab, it gives a flexible learning space to tie exhibitions in with the surrounding community. Located on the campus at TAXI in the Five Points neighborhood near Globeville Elyria/Swansea, this also gives Resident Artists and ArtLab Interns a community of supporters nearby while reaching beyond. The first exhibition opening in the ANNEX GALLERY was our feature resident Artist, Annette Isham, on May 27th, 2022.

Fox 31’s Dan Daru (left) with PlatteForum Resident Artist Annette Isham (center) and Executive Director Michael Gadlin (right) doing a morning interview about PlatteForum’s new Annex Gallery and Annette’s show.

Furthering its growth, reach, and mission, PlatteForum has also been awarded a large two-year grant from Caring for Denver Foundation which will allow the organization to expand access to mental health and wellness supports for ArtLab’s Interns through ArtLab's trauma-informed, social-emotion arts education programming. Interns will have access to trusted youth-adult partnerships, case management, physical wellness and clinical services during their time at ArtLab. The grant totalling $274,000 over two years will give the organization funds to train staff on mental health first aid, to hire a therapist to lead workshops with ArtLab, and to double the number of high school students in ArtLab. Caring for Denver Foundation was founded and funded with overwhelming voter support to address Denver’s mental health and substance misuse needs by growing community-informed solutions, dismantling stigma, and turning the community’s desire to help into action.

A recent photo of PlatteForum’s ArtLab. With support from Caring for Denver, ArtLab will be doubling in the fall and adding mental health support for all students.

Michael Gadlin, Executive Director of PlatteForum says: Our passion to serve our community and provide areas of opportunity for our ArtLab youth is growing outward as we expand our reach beyond our walls. Connecting to other communities that share the same mission and vision is crucial in a time when we’ve been isolated and unexpected changes seem inevitable. We are poised to create a lasting program that feeds back into the community, giving opportunities to thrive. Our position right now is to help open doors that may otherwise be closed.