DENVER, CO.-In the historic tradition of Venice and Sao Paolo, the world's newest international contemporary art biennial is coming to Denver, Colorado.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper announced the city has received a $2 million grant from the Colorado-based Boettcher Foundation to help launch the Mile High City's inaugural Biennial of the Americas. Scheduled for the summer of 2010, the two-month-long curated event will be a celebration of contemporary art and ideas from throughout the Americas. The Biennial will feature two major cultural exhibitions, one focusing on the contemporary arts of the Americas and a secondary program, an "ideas pavilion," that will explore themes ranging from science to urban planning. Each program will be led by a respected curator.

"From the tip of the Tierra del Fuego to the Northern Hudson Bay, we will bring together and showcase the best contemporary artists of all the Americas in what will become one of the major art celebrations in this part of the world," Hickenlooper said.

With three new art museums, a restored opera house and a fresh symphony hall on the way, Denver is already experiencing a cultural renaissance. Hickenlooper noted, "Add the ninth busiest airport in the world and our central geographic location, and Denver is a natural place to bring the Americas together for an exhibition of arts and ideas."

Starting in 2010, the Biennial of the Americas will be repeated every two years and is expected to grow into a major tourism attraction for Denver, attracting international scholars, art appreciators and collectors, journalists and travelers. Cultural projects and events will take place throughout the Denver metro area, integrating this festival of the arts into the civic life of the Mile High City and the Rocky Mountain region.

"Denver has experienced unprecedented growth in cultural programs and infrastructure, while continuing to raise the level of community engagement," said Tim Schultz, president and executive director of the Boettcher Foundation. "The Boettcher Foundation is excited to be the lead contributor to the Biennial of the Americas. The Boettcher Foundation's mission is to serve Colorado residents and institutions, and we are confident that this event will solidify Denver's position as a leading city for culture in North and South America."

Mayor Hickenlooper continued, "Denver is a young city that captures the vitality and energy of the Americas through our heritage our diverse contemporary culture. We look forward to focusing the world's attention on the art and ideas important to our hemisphere every two years."