Pop Culture Classroom Promises Imaginative Fun and Learning
[DENVER, May 19, 2023] – With roughly six weeks until this year’s FAN EXPO Denver, Pop Culture Classroom today announced its planned panels, programs, and activities for the event.
“Our programming at FAN EXPO Denver highlights the power releases when you combine education and pop culture. Our team can’t wait to engage with learners of all ages, inspire creativity, and foster a love for learning in a fun and accessible way.”
Matt Hess, the Executive Director for Pop Culture Classroom
The full schedule is now available at: PopCultureClassroom.org/fanexpo
FAN EXPO Denver takes place Friday, June 30th through Sunday, July 2, at the Colorado Convention Center. It is the largest pop culture fan gathering in the Rocky Mountain West — and one of the biggest in the U.S.
Pop Culture Classroom — which helped establish Denver’s fan gathering more than a decade ago — is FAN EXPO Denver’s featured charity. The local arts and education nonprofit receives a portion of ticket sales to support its year-round workshops, resources for educators and their students, and other community events and engagement.
Photos from previous Pop Culture Classroom programs at FAN EXPO Denver and other sample media are available upon request.
Attractions for Kids, Teens, Families, and Fans
Educational Panels and Programs (June 30 – July 2)
More than 50 hours of educational programming and panels covering comics, science (and science fiction), toys, games, teaching, writing, and more, including:
- Making Narrative-Adventure Games with Deck Nine;
- Discovering the Metallurgical Secrets of Beskar with Suveen Mathaudhu, Colorado School of Mines; and
- The Monomythic Madness of Moon Knight with Stephanie Train, Colorado State University.
View the 2023 schedule for educational panels and programming at:
https://popcultureclassroom.org/fanexpo/educational-panels-programming/
The Kids Lab and All Ages Stage (Friday, June 30 – Sunday, July 2)
This 9,000 square foot space on the FAN EXPO Denver show floor is dedicated to kids, teens, and families. Here, attendees can embark on a fantastical expedition, visit the Explorers’ Guild, meet surprise celebrity guests, and participate in engaging arts and learning activities with our community partners.
The All Ages Stage will feature family-friendly programming all weekend, including:
- A live video game motion capture demonstration with the award-winning game design studio Deck Nine (Life is Strange, The Expanse: A Telltale Series)
- Interactive workshops, performances, and interviews
- Surprise celebrity guests.
View the Kids’ Lab and All Ages Stage Schedule:
https://popcultureclassroom.org/fanexpo/the-kids-lab/
Stop by any time during the weekend for a free sticker from our friends at Sticker Mule.
Exclusive Programs for Educators and Student Groups
Almost 400 students and educators are scheduled to participate in Pop Cultures Classroom’s special programming and early access to FAN EXPO Denver following an application process that closed at the end of Teacher Appreciation Week earlier this month.
Educators’ Day (Friday, June 30)
Nearly 150 educators from across Colorado have signed up for this special, free day of professional development and fun sponsored by Meininger Art Supply. They will learn practical ways to engage and inspire students using comics, games, and other pop culture mediums.
View the Educators’ Day Schedule:
https://popcultureclassroom.org/fanexpo/educators-day/
Experience the Comics (Friday, June 30)
This year Pop Culture Classroom’s Experience the Comics program is scheduled to welcome more than 240 local students to a special morning of career exploration, conversations with pop culture creators, and more.
Students — many of whom may not otherwise be able to attend FAN EXPO Denver — can then take in attractions on the show floor alongside VIP ticket holders.
In 2022, students heard from professional comics creators and celebrity guests, such as voice actors Rob Wiethoff and Roger Clark from Red Dead Redemption.
View the Experience the Comic Schedule:
https://popcultureclassroom.org/fanexpo/experience-the-comics/
Community Connections
“This is a community effort. Our partners are bringing their expertise in the arts, culture, history, education, science, technology, and outdoor exploration.”
Matt Hess, Executive Director, Pop Culture Classroom
Pop Culture Classroom’s 32 community Kids’ Lab, All Ages Stage, and programming partners — more than 20 in the Kids’ Lab and all Ages Stage area alone — include Colorado School of Mines, the School of Rock Boulder, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society of Children Writers and Illustrators, Level 7 Games, Tomorrow Makers Studio, History Colorado, Project Helping, the City of Aurora Open Space & Natural Resources Division, the Butterfly Pavilion, the Denver Botanic Gardens, Trackers Earth, and many more.
Each day of the event will feature a rotating series of community partners, offering a diverse range of activities and experiences, such as writing comic strips, getting hands-on with the components that make personal computers run, learning about marine life, and even practicing the Brazilian dance-infused martial art of capoeira.
“FAN EXPO Denver is more than an incredible event for fans of celebrities and pop culture. It’s also an exceptional educational platform that showcases amazing things to learn and experience in our community and ways Pop Culture Classroom inspires, educates, and connects using the power of popular culture and creative self-expression year-round.”
Matt Hess, Executive Director, Pop Culture Classroom
Contact: Chris Burley Director of Development and Communications Pop Culture Classroom, c.burley@popcultureclassroom.org, (720) 319-8988
About Pop Culture Classroom: Pop Culture Classroom is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of pop culture to inspire learning, literacy, and community engagement. Through their educational programs, including workshops, comic conventions, and year-round initiatives, Pop Culture Classroom aims to empower learners of all ages and backgrounds. For more information visit PopCultureClassroom.org
Support Our Work!
To fund this year’s efforts, Pop Culture Classroom must raise around $30,000 from caring individuals like you. You can help!
Support arts and education for students in Colorado and beyond with your tax-deductible donation.