Janice Sinden

If all the worlds a stage, Janice Sinden is the first to point out that every player counts.

Starring as the first female to lead the organization, Sinden, President and CEO, Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA), is continuing her mission to inspire and engage through the power of live theatre.

“The word unity is embedded in the word community, and we need to work together and support each other for the betterment and sustainability of future generations,” she said.

And it is under Sindens’ leadership that the show goes on.

Sinden joined the DCPA in 2016 following her tenure as Chief of Staff for Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Upon her arrival, she launched the DCPA’s first-ever capital campaign to renovate the 40-year-old Bonfils Theatre, been a staunch supporter of the growth and expansion of the DCPA’s Education Department. She also hired the organization’s first-ever Executive Director of Equity and Organization Culture to ensure that the DCPA is truly accessible to the entire community and launched Project Teams to ensure the placement of values into action.

She explained that as the five-year strategic planning efforts continue, the organization is, “focused on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, engaging our entire community in all of our programmatic offerings, building a diverse pipeline of theatre and administrative professionals to support and sustain the organization, and identify new, alternative ways to generate resources to support the organization’s mission.”

Also known for her innovation, Sinden said that due to COVID-19, DCPA worked hard to find new ways to reach students through virtual classrooms and programs.

“We turned the state-of-the-art Seawell Ballroom into a High-Definition venue so that partners like TEDx and Denver Metro Economic Development Corporation can continue to connect with their members and partners across the globe,” she said. “We are collectively committed to identifying new, unique ways to engage our community and our audiences, ensuring arts and culture remain a vital part of the fabric of our region.”

In addition to her role with DCPA, Sinden is currently the Board Chair for Visit Denver; serves on the boards of the University of Northern Colorado, Denver Preschool Program, the American Transplant Association, and is CoChair of Mayor Hancock’s Economic Recovery Committee for Restaurants, Entertainment, Arts, Culture and Hospitality. She is also involved with four national performing arts organizations to promote and enhance the organization’s visibility and partnership within the arts and theatre sectors, and works tirelessly to ensure that the DCPA is continually delivering on its nonprofit mission. Dedicated to constantly identifying ways to do better and be better, Sinden is dedicated to the 300 team members she has the privilege of working with every day, alongside of the 23-member Board of Trustees, the 32,000 subscribers, and the entire community who make theatre possible. Sinden deeply loves Colorado and puts her heart and soul into whatever she is working on, giving 110%.

“I lead through change by committing to collaboration and transparency. This applies to all interactions and decision-making with the Board of Trustees, our team members, our patrons and our broader community,” she said. “Listening, engaging and strategically moving forward together is key.”

Measuring her success as a leader by the feedback that she receives from her team members, Board of Trustees, and community, Sinden said that she constantly asks for feedback and input.

“This helps avoid blind spots and overlooking areas for personal and professional growth and adjustment,” she said.

And Sinden is more than happy to share some leadership advice.

“My advice to the next generation of leaders is to explore everything, ask questions, be humble and lean in.”

With her leadership style, dedication, and passion, there is no doubt that the curtain calls for DCPA will continue.

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