KeyBank has become the official bank sponsor and first major presenting sponsor of the RiNo Art District in Denver, Colorado.
The sponsorship is described as the biggest partnership in the district’s 20-year history, with the multi-year deal funding free First Friday Festivals, a summer solstice celebration, and the annual Art RiNo festival.
The annual Art RiNo festival, scheduled for October 2-4, is among the headline events KeyBank will support as presenting sponsor.
Chris Picardi, Colorado Market President at KeyBank, said RiNo “represents the energy, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that makes this community so special.”
Rather than leading with its financial products, KeyBank is using the partnership to embed itself in the local creative economy through arts programming and community events.
KeyBank is one of the largest financial services companies in the US, with assets running into the hundreds of billions.
US banks are increasingly turning to local arts and cultural sponsorship to build community ties and differentiate on values rather than financial products.