Athena Project Arts
We change the world, one paid artist at a time. At Athena Project, we believe that “women” means many things and can be a complicated term. The creative process.
Athena Project amplifies the voices of all women & underrepresented genders through the arts by providing paid work opportunities while also ensuring audiences get to see and hear their artistic work. We recognize that the term “women” does not automatically include all aspects of the gender spectrum. We want to create a safer space for the expression and growth for all women, non-binary, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Athena Project was established in 2012 by Angela Astle to close a critical gap in the creative life of the Denver community. Athena began with a playwright program called Plays in Progress – an annual event that highlights the work of women playwrights across the U.S. and brings their work to life by collaborating with directors, dramaturgs and actors. Since that time, Athena Project has gone on to produce an array of fabulous events that celebrate amazing women artists from all creative disciplines as well as empower women and girls toward artistic leadership. WE VALUE: (in order)
The inherent power in the artistic voices of women. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Equality in opportunities, representation, and pay. The power of art to connect communities. Why We Need Athena
In the US, and around the world, women have a vibrant and vital presence in the arts – but did you know that right now the huge majority of women working in arts industries are in the least influential roles, with low pay and poor representation? Overwhelmingly, leadership positions like Stage Directors, Museum Chiefs, Movie Directors, Cinematographers, Choreographers, Music Producers, Head Designers, Featured Artists … are still dominated by men. This means women’s voices, influences and ideas are being systematically muffled. That’s why Athena Project celebrates and nurtures women’s artistic expression – and works actively for equality of opportunity, recognition, and pay based on artistic merit. Because enabling women’s artistic voices to be powerfully expressed alongside men’s is not just good for women – it builds a healthy society for everyone. The richer the weave of ideas around us, the stronger the fabric of our communities. Which means a more connected, less polarized, safer, and happier world for us all.
“Dance allowed me to truly feel my body again without overthinking every little movement, while comedy helped me not take myself too seriously. Both invite me into communities that make me feel I belong. The journey doesn’t have to be perfect. There can be victories and setbacks and you can still keep going.”
Much gratitude to Gabby Gutierrez-Reed for sharing her experience so frankly. She is frankly funny on the mic actually, and we hope you'll experience her live or bump into her while doing your dance moves. Or you might just follow her on Instagram at shishgabab!
Tell us where art has helped your community heal, connect, resist, or reclaim joy. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐛𝐢𝐭.𝐥𝐲/𝟒𝐢𝐕𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐮
10/04/2026
🎤⚡𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐒: Sign up for this Open Mic 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟐:𝟑𝟎 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘!!!
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞—𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧. Moms Who Rock is an open mic built for moms, with 15 minutes all yours, onsite childcare while you play, plus drinks, nibbles, and laughs. 🎸🍼🍹
📅 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭. 𝟒 | 𝟏–𝟒:𝟑𝟎 𝐏𝐌
📍 Lot 46, Edgewater
⏰ 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧-𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟏𝟐:𝟑𝟎 𝐏𝐌—first come, first served!
🎟️ $10 cover per adult—includes one free drink
𝐖𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫:
- Solo acts, duos, and everything in between
- 3 band slots — bands can include men, as long as they’re mom-fronted
- Comedians keeping the afternoon moving between sets
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 to make further Open Mics happen: bit.ly/4xxRNGK
So much gratitude to June Rey for manifesting it all. Let’s rock—and laugh—together!
10/03/2026
We love to entertain you! Check on YouTube! See past performances from our events, get to know our favorite artists, get a behind the scenes look, and more!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFppvye0yWjBDs_-HEacWCg
Athena Project is the Colorado nonprofit that celebrates and nurtures women’s artistic expression, working actively for equality of opportunity, recognition, and pay based on artistic merit alone.
10/02/2026
✒️✨ 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬!
This October, two deliciously dark plays take on power, identity, tradition, and the monsters we make at Athena Project’s 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 & 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩.
Join us on 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗 | 𝟔:𝟑𝟎 𝐏𝐌 𝐌𝐃𝐓 | 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥
👉 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐭.𝐥𝐲/𝟑𝐓𝐣𝐗𝐇𝐰𝐂
✨ This month’s featured playwrights:
𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐧 (𝐬𝐡𝐞/𝐡𝐞𝐫): 𝐇𝐘𝐃𝐄 (𝐎𝐫 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬)
A fierce feminist reimagining of Jekyll & Hyde, packed with heightened language, poetic theatricality, danger—and a vengeful goat goddess named Bernice Hyde.
Patricia Lynn is a NYC-based gothic feminist playwright creating provocative, socially relevant work inspired by Victorian literature. Her plays have been developed and performed at Triad Stage, New Perspectives Theatre Company, A.R.T./New York Theatres, Rogue Theater Festival, and more. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University. patriciamlynn.com
𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐨 (𝐬𝐡𝐞/𝐡𝐞𝐫): 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐬!
At an elite Laredo debutante ball, race, class, colonial tradition, and ambition collide as two young women form an unlikely friendship—and a dress literally begins devouring the competition.
Paloma Monfiletto is a Brooklyn-based trans Chicana playwright and party promoter. Her work has been developed with Parity Productions, Premiere Stages, PlayPenn, Athena Project, and others. Her play My Mother the Sun won the Parity Productions Development Award, and her work with Brooklyn’s Dollyamory has raised thousands for q***r refugees.
“I have been touring with a play of mine which illustrates the historical precedent for scapegoating le****ns. I draw parallels between my play and the killing of Renée Good by an ICE agent in 2025 in Minneapolis, and the subsequent scapegoating of her by the current administration. I made a 3-minute video about this and I invite you to view it.”
Watch the complete video at: bit.ly/4e9GjBE
𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐠𝐞’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 when tackling taboo subjects in her plays and harnessing art to make social injustice visible, especially when it affects our most vulnerable communities.
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐭 www.carolyngage.com and for a copy of the script of 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘐𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩, reach out to the playwright at [email protected].
How does art heal your community? 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐛𝐢𝐭.𝐥𝐲/𝟒𝐢𝐕𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐮
Yours could be the next one we amplify. 💚
🎤⚡ 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐒:
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞—𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧. Moms Who Rock is an open mic built for moms, with 15 minutes all yours, onsite childcare while you play, plus drinks, nibbles, and laughs. 🎸🍼🍹
📅 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭. 𝟒 | 𝟏–𝟒:𝟑𝟎 𝐏𝐌
📍 Lot 46, Edgewater
⏰ Sign-ups at 12:30 PM—first come, first served!
🎟️ $10 cover per adult—includes one free drink
𝐖𝐞’𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫:
- Solo acts, duos, and everything in between
- 3 band slots — bands can include men, as long as they’re mom-fronted
- Comedians keeping the afternoon moving between sets
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 to make further Open Mics happen: bit.ly/4xxRNGK
So much gratitude to June Rey (in this vid!) for manifesting it all. Let’s rock—and laugh—together!
09/30/2026
💜 WCW: Andrea Marie 🎤
Andrea Marie (Andrea Marie Comedy) is what happens when motherhood meets a mic—and nobody is safe. 😂🎤
An international speaker and comedian, Andrea has performed at Comedy Works, The Denver Improv, Women in Comedy Festival, Women’s Funny Fest, and the World Series of Comedy. ✨
As creator of Moms Unhinged, Andrea brings together mom comedians for a hilarious, “clean-ish” night of stand-up about motherhood, marriage, midlife, dating, divorce, and everything in between. 😂
Andrea joined us as a guest speaker for Athena’s Comics Sound Off online meetup, and her work is one of the inspirations behind our Moms Who Rock Open Mic, launching October 4! 🎉
Here’s to us women turning life’s lemons into golden comedy juice. 🍋
If you have a crush on women who create, support them with a donation to Athena: https://bit.ly/3yYWrVx - Donate.
09/29/2026
Reproductive justice means bodily autonomy for everyone.
For this week’s Artist Shoutout, we’re featuring 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐈𝐬 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐬 by John Elliot, a fiber art piece that invites us to think about gender, identity, and belonging.
Trans people are part of the reproductive justice movement because reproductive freedom is not only about whether someone can become pregnant or have children. It is also about having the freedom to make decisions about your own body, access the healthcare you need, and build a future that reflects who you are.
Trans people can face barriers to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare, including discrimination, stigma, cost, and limited access to knowledgeable providers. Fighting for reproductive justice means challenging those barriers and recognizing that bodily autonomy must include trans bodies, too.
What does trans art bring to your understanding of reproductive justice?
“𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲” 𝐛𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐍𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨
“I 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞. This includes women I’ve only read about, as well as the women next to me in line, in protests, in loving friendships, and especially in the arts community where long-silenced voices are shared. This poem (and photo) honors and thanks all of them. And thank you, Athena Project, for amplifying healing voices again and again. We’re listening.”
We are delighted to open our 2026 campaign with this video by poet Pamela Nocerino. 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐍𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨.𝐜𝐨𝐦 and follow the poet on Instagram at pamela_nocerino. Thank you for nourishing the Athena community every single year, Pamela!
How does art heal your community? 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: bit.ly/46LGfE6
We can’t wait to share what you’ve made, witnessed, and lived. 💜
09/28/2026
Art refuses to let us disappear.
Today, September 28, Athena Project officially kicks off our 2026 campaign. Through the end of October, we’ll be amplifying stories and offerings that show the wildly different ways art helps communities heal, connect, resist, and feel seen.
You can still submit YOUR story of art healing community—or YOUR offering of arts-related therapy or another healing practice created for communities: bit.ly/46LGfE6
We hope you’ll follow along as artists show us how art can gather us where systems have failed us and turn isolation into recognition.
We can’t wait to share what you’ve made, witnessed, and lived. 💜
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