Big change for Colorado's historic Five Points Jazz Festivals

The one-day jazz festival in Denver's historic Five Points neighborhood is going away. Instead, Denver Arts & Venues is setting up a fund to provide year-round programming.

The city is working with the Five Points Business Improvement District and Councilman Darrell Watson to hand out $225,000 to pay for jazz and jazz-related programs at businesses and nonprofits all year.

"The Five Points Jazz Activation Fund is a commitment by the City to continue building this historic neighborhood's cultural treasure," said Gretchen Hollrah, executive director of Denver Arts & Venues, in a news release. "A year-round emphasis on arts and culture represented by jazz in Five Points is a way to invest more significantly in jazz artists and enliven the neighborhood in a more consistent manner.  It's a one-of-a-kind program that complements existing festivals and events in Denver."

"Our neighborhood was once known as the 'Harlem of the West' and our history continues to be written," commented Norman Harris, executive director of the Five Points Business Improvement District, in the same release. "The fund will help support businesses that truly appreciate the art form and what it has done in our community."

Councilman Watson said the city recognizes that arts, culture and history of jazz converge in Five Points and the year-round program will recognize the past while looking to the future.

Denver Arts & Venues said the change takes into the changing neighborhood while addressing the increasing costs related to the festival when it comes to producing and paying artists for a single-day festival.

The Five Points Jazz Activation will open grant applications early next year.