CENTRAL CITY, CO – Central City Opera proudly announced its latest milestone with the jubilant headline: “We have exciting news to share!” That excitement centers around their receipt of the prestigious 2025–2026 Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth grant, a transformative gift that will expand the Opera’s acclaimed Chiaroscuro: Light in Darkness program.
A Bold Step Forward for Mental Health and Arts Education
The grant, administered by Think 360 Arts for Learning, will allow Central City Opera to implement a full-semester residency of Chiaroscuro at a school in Aurora, Colorado. This expansion marks a significant leap for the initiative, which uses the power of opera to address mental health awareness and suicide prevention among Colorado youth.
Chiaroscuro: Light in Darkness reimagines emotionally charged operatic arias—historically rooted in themes of tragedy and despair—into modern educational tools. These reworked performances offer students powerful means of exploring and understanding complex emotional issues such as anxiety, depression, and self-worth.
Equity in Arts Grant: Backing Inclusion and Well-being
The Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth program funds projects designed to dismantle systemic inequities and support mental health, identity, and academic achievement through inclusive, arts-integrated learning. The program highlights the critical role the arts play in shaping holistic educational experiences and fostering personal growth.
The 2025–2026 grant is supported by a coalition of forward-thinking organizations including the:
- Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
- Colorado Creative Industries
- Denver Arts & Venues
- Gates Family Foundation
In a statement regarding the importance of this initiative, Gina Ferrari, Director of Grant Programs at the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, emphasized:
“These grants support programs that help empower young people across Colorado to develop their creativity and express their unique identities through arts and culture, while building confidence and empathy.”
A Deep Commitment to Empowering Youth Through Opera
Central City Opera expressed deep gratitude to the grant funders, recognizing the partnership as a critical step in elevating their mission to connect opera with youth mental health in meaningful, accessible ways.
This funding will allow more students to experience opera not just as an art form, but as a mirror of their inner emotional journeys—a rare and potent intersection of cultural enrichment and emotional healing.
