Denver’s River North Art District launches RiNo Made Pop-Up program

The RiNo Art District has launched its RiNo Made Pop-Up Program, a new initiative offering $5,000 stipends and temporary access to empty commercial spaces to area artists as part of a larger effort to revive vacant properties and address rising costs in the area.

By helping to subsidize short-term leases, the program pairs artists with unoccupied retail or office spaces for public exhibitions, installations and on-site creation, while also allowing property owners a new way to bring visibility into their spaces.

“(Artists and developers) told us the same thing: retail and gallery spaces are too expensive and it’s hard to keep them full,” said Kiah Butcher, programs manager for RiNo Art District.

“RiNo Made is our response. It connects people who have vacant square footage – often beautiful, brand-new space – with creatives who are looking for opportunities to create and market their work, and it does it in the most RiNo way possible: through creativity, collaboration and responsiveness.”

National real estate company EDENS, which has a major presence in the art district, is the first to join the program by opening its storefront at 2601 Walnut St., Unit 210.

The space will feature work from five local artists: Sam Grabowska, Matt McCall, Navya Mallepeddi, Shadae Hunt and Chris Bristow.

“RiNo is one of the country’s most creatively driven neighborhoods; we see our role here as stewards of that energy,” said Thomas Picarsic, managing director of EDENS Western region.

“From restoring historic buildings to creating space for public art, food, and culture, our focus has always been on supporting what makes this area of Denver so distinct. Partnering with RiNo on this program is one more way we’re supporting street-level vibrancy in the district.”

Additional pop-ups are already in development, with more property owners working with RiNo to finalize future sites.

In a July interview, the nonprofit told The Post that Mortenson, a Minneapolis-based construction company, will also participate in the program.

As part of the pilot launch, the RiNo Made Pop-Up will host open studio hours from 4-8 p.m. every Friday and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays, inviting the public to engage directly with the artists and their work.

In addition, a special Artist Talk will take place from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, offering an informal, moderated discussion where participating artists will share more about their individual practices and creative goals for the residency.

The RiNo Business Improvement District approved $25,000 in funding for the pilot year of RiNo Made Pop-Ups, supporting at least two iterations in 2025. If successful, the art district hopes to expand the program to additional sites next year.