Downtown Denver faces a severe shortage of licensed child care, particularly for infants and toddlers, with only 11% of infants and 17% of toddlers able to be served.

Costs are prohibitive—often exceeding $28,000 annually downtown—which is unsustainable for artists and staff earning modest wages, leading to lost opportunities, retention issues and inequities in the performing arts workforce.

DCPA partnered with EPIC to explore integrating child care into its campus redevelopment, assessing two feasible models: a 5,000 sq. ft. center for approximately 50 children or a 7,500 sq. ft. center for 80 children. Both models are designed for long-term financial viability with facility support, while also integrating arts-focused programming such as weekend classes, drop-in care and theater camps to align with DCPA’s mission.

The analysis confirmed that both facility options are operationally and financially feasible, with the larger model offering stronger sustainability and margin potential.

While DCPA did not move forward with an immediate grant application, the feasibility findings provide a solid foundation for future implementation, positioning DCPA to become a national leader in arts-integrated child care and a family-forward cultural institution.