Margaret . Hunt
Colorado Creative Industries
Margaret Hunt is the Director of Colorado Creative Industries and Space to Create in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Margaret is responsible for leading and advancing statewide support for arts and cultural policy, creative sector employment,creative economy strategies and investment and program administration. The Office of Creative Industries leads the first state-driven initiative in the nation to provide permanently affordable space for creative sector workers in rural communitiesand investments in mixed use projects that advance growth in the creative sector. The Space to Create and Community Revitalization programs involvescollaboration among multiple state agencies, private foundations, local government, non-profits and private investors. Her Office also administers the Creative District Program, the Creative District Community Loan Fund, Art in Public Places, Military Arts Healing Partnership, Creative Aging, Arts Education programs including Poetry Out Loud, the Colorado Music Strategy, Career Advancement grants for artists and creative business owners, the Change Leader program and Arts in Society grants in partnership with several foundations. In 2020 and 2021, in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Office established the Colorado Artist Relief Fund, the Colorado Music Relief Fund and distributed more than $9 million of federal, state and private donations to artists, musicians, creative industry businesses and arts non-profit organizations. The Arts Relief Fund established in the Legislative Special Session in December of 2020, and reauthorized in the Legislative Session in the spring of 2021, provides $22.5 million in financial assistance to individuals employed in the creative sector, creative industries as well as arts and cultural non-profit organizations. The Community Revitalization Grant, authorized in the 2021 Legislative Session, will provide $65 million to advance mixed use projects that advance the creative sector in creative districts, historic districts, main streets, and commercial centers. A leader in innovation and the creative economy, Margaret has assisted other state leaders in the successful passage of creative district legislation in California, Washington, and Nebraska. She advanced a leadership development program, the Change Leader Program in Utah, Idaho and Colorado, creating a regional network of leaders of change through the arts and community engagement. Margaret is a visual artist with work hanging in the Salt Lake International Airport and in many private collections. Margaret is also a writer and published “Live in the Mystery” in 2020. Prior to her work in Colorado, Margaret served as the Executive Director, Utah Office of Arts and Museums; Vice President, Fundraising Counsel, Inc.; Executive Director, Salt Lake City Office of Community & Economic Development; Director, International Microfinance Training Program, Naropa University; Manager of National Accounts, PacifiCorp Energy Company; Loaned Executive, Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Organizing Committee; Director, Community & Economic Development, PacifiCorp Energy Company and Manager, Community & Economic Development, Utah Power & Light Co. Margaret is committed to community service and currently serves on the boards of Take Note Colorado, and the Downtown Denver Theater District. She has previously served on the Mayor’s Committee for Re-envisioning the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Colorado Scenic By-ways Commission, the Main Street Advisory Board, State of Colorado, the Board of Trustees of the National Assembly of State Arts Agenciesand the Western States Arts Federation. She was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman to Chair the Utah Commemorative Quarter Commission and served as Chair of the Salt Lake County, Cultural Tax Authority (Zoo, Arts & Parks); the Board of Directors, Salt Lake County Arts Commission. She served as Chair, Downtown Alliance Business Improvement District, the Women in Business Committee and the Business to Business Expo for the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. She also served on the Board of Directors, Salt Lake Area United Way, the Salt Lake City Adopt A School Program, the Board of Directors, Ballet West Circle of Friends, the Board of Directors, and on the board of directors of the Repertory Dance Theater. Under her leadership, Colorado Creative Industries received the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies first national award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work with under-served populations and communities in 2020. Margaret was honored to receive the Pathfinder Award from the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for advancing the careers of other women. She was presented with the Utah Governor’s “Small Cities Award” for Community & Economic Development in rural communities, and the Volunteer of the Year Award, from both the United Way and the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Margaret completed undergraduate studies at the University of Utah majoring in business communications. She completed graduate work at Naropa University in Boulder in Interdisciplinary Studies, and earned a certificate of completion from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy program in Public Administration in 2005.
09/21
