What Can Denver Learn from Detroit?
Reflections from the 2025 Urban Exploration Program Hosted by the Downtown Denver Partnership
As part of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s annual Urban Exploration Program, our NINE dot ARTS team recently joined more than 150 civic, business, and nonprofit leaders in Detroit, a place whose story of grit, creativity, and reinvention offers lessons for cities everywhere.
Read on for key insights from NINE dot ARTS leaders Molly Casey and Mary Gangel, along with opening reflections from NINE dot ARTS CEO and Urban Exploration Co-chair Martha McGee.
Urban Exploration participants in the alley of the Shinola Hotel
Q: Martha, as Co-Chair of this year’s program, what did you hope Denver leaders would take away from the trip to Detroit?
Martha McGee: Detroit is a city known for its makers, music, and relentless spirit. It’s the first and only U.S. city to be named a UNESCO City of Design, recognized globally for using creativity and design to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.
Like Denver, Detroit is rethinking how infrastructure, housing, mobility, and the creative economy can all intersect to shape a more equitable future. So I was really excited for the group to see firsthand how art and culture aren’t just decorative, but truly catalytic. When we come together across disciplines and see art and culture “at work” – connecting people and places, driving business development, building community – we’re reminded of how essential they are to creating a city that’s entrepreneurial, inclusive, and belonging to all.
Left to Right: Alley of the Shinola Hotel, Lobby of the Guardian Building
Q: Molly and Mary, what stood out most to you about Detroit?
Molly Casey: The pride. From Uber drivers to city officials, everyone we met seemed deeply connected to Detroit’s history and identity. You see it everywhere – in mural portraiture of community trailblazers, in grassroots street art that’s remarkably high-quality (not just tagging for the sake of tagging), and even in the informal architectural tours locals give just by talking about their city. People care how Detroit looks and feels. That pride is powerful.
Mary Gangel: Absolutely. Detroit wears its history and aspirations on its sleeve. The entire trip felt like a testament to how public-private partnerships can turn around a place that was once struggling after bankruptcy. Their downtown is thriving because of big, sometimes risky investments that didn’t always make sense on paper. It’s clear that without the alignment and shared risk-taking between city leaders, private developers, foundations, and community organizations, much of this momentum wouldn’t exist. These partnerships unlocked large-scale projects, filled gaps that pure private capital might have overlooked, and created the kind of catalytic energy needed to rebuild both the physical fabric and the public’s confidence. It’s a powerful reminder of how strategic collaboration can not only revitalize buildings, but truly reinvigorate an entire city’s identity and future.
Mural by Brian “Sintex” Glass at Vault of Midnight comic book store, honoring Detroit comics and creators
Q: What lessons does Detroit offer for Denver’s future – and how can NINE dot ARTS play a role?
Mary Gangel: Detroit’s approach to connectivity was really compelling. They’ve woven sports, entertainment, retail, art, and walkability together to revive their urban core. From The Belt alley packed with murals and installations, to the way their sports arenas are linked to downtown through pedestrian-friendly streets and free light rail – it all encourages people to linger in the “spaces between the buildings.” That’s something we can lean into more in Denver, especially around redevelopment happening across Speer Boulevard, Ball Arena, Union Station, and LoDo.
Molly Casey: And Detroit’s story is also about remembering where you came from. As Denver grows, there can sometimes be tension between the city’s many transplants and its long-time residents. But how do we foster “pride in place” that unites everyone, whether you’ve been here 30 years or 3 months?
That’s a question Denver is facing right now as we rethink 16th Street, turning it from a purely retail corridor into a true destination for cultural programming, social life, and community connection. It’s a chance to capture the voices of both natives and newcomers and build a shared narrative around what it means to love this city.
That’s where I see NINE dot ARTS and other creative leaders playing a major role. Public art is one way to tell a city’s shared story, reflect its cultural fabric, and create landmarks people can rally around. That’s why we’re so committed to making art a foundational part of urban development.
Urban Exploration participants visit the Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions
Q: Any favorite moments from the trip?
Molly Casey: I loved visiting The Shepherd – a 110-year-old Romanesque church transformed into a cultural arts center and outdoor sculpture garden. Seeing The Belt was also incredible. This once-forgotten alley has been transformed into a hub of murals, installations, galleries, and even rotating billboard art. It’s playful, unexpected, and deeply woven into the neighborhood’s identity, meanwhile offering major opportunities for local artists.
Left to Right: Nina Chanel Abney Mural at The Belt, Street Art at The Belt, Sculpture Garden at The Shepherd
Mary Gangel: I loved the dinner at the Detroit Institute of Art Museum. Our group was lucky enough to sit beneath Diego Rivera’s massive fresco murals that capture both the city’s industrial roots and a futuristic optimism, and it was amazing to literally dine inside history. Also, riding the free light rail above the city, passing mosaic-covered stops and public art at every turn – it all underscored how Detroit integrates creativity into daily life.
Diego M. Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals at the Detroit Institute of Art Museum
Q: What’s your main takeaway from the trip to Detroit?
Molly Casey: That art and culture aren’t just nice extras. They’re catalysts for pride, connection, and reinvention. Detroit proves you can honor your past while building a bold future, and that artists are essential partners in that process.
Mary Gangel: And that despite Denver’s impressive growth over the last 30 years, we’re still shaping our story. It’s easy to forget how much we’ve accomplished – Ball Arena, McGregor Square, Union Station, Dairy Block – all of that is recent history in a city that’s really only boomed in the last two decades. Meanwhile Detroit’s been evolving for 300 years. We haven’t even fully felt the impacts of Denver’s growth yet. Trips like this are a reminder to reflect on the past and be intentional about the future: about how we develop, who we include, and the lasting experiences we create in our public realm.
NINE dot ARTS Chief Curator and Co-founder Molly Casey with downtown’s 24-foot landmark sculpture, “Monument to Joe Louis”
From murals and mosaics to reimagined alleys and historic sports corridors, Detroit showed us how cities can transform through creativity, courage, and community pride.
At NINE dot ARTS, we’re excited to apply these lessons in partnership with developers, civic leaders, and artists – transforming spaces into meaningful experiences in Denver and across the country.