Ryan Conarro 

Ryan Conarro is a media producer and community-based interdisciplinary artist. He creates and facilitates experiences that are focused on story sharing and creative placemaking, from audio installations and narratives, to live theatrical events, to story websites. Ryan is Co-Director of Colorado Radio for Justice (CRJ), a 24/7 broadcasting organization that empowers and amplifies the voices of those impacted by the criminal-legal system in Colorado and beyond. CRJ's work has been recognized by the Colorado Society of Professional Journalists 'Top of the Rockies' Awards; the Solutions Journalism Network; NY Festivals Radio Awards; and the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences Anthem Awards and Signal Awards.

Ryan’s past leadership in the arts includes 6 years as Creative Producer and Community Projects Associate at Ping Chong + Company in New York. He’s worked as a teaching artist and Arts Content Coach for the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Department of Education, and the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program.

Ryan’s work in broadcasting began in 2001, when he was Public Affairs Director for KNOM Radio in Nome, Alaska; that work continued through various collaborations with KTOO Public Media in Juneau.

Ryan creates original performance works, including "Bad Husband//\\Bad Homo" and "Saints of Failure," both of which premiered at the Dixon Place HOT! Festival of Queer Culture in New York. “Saints of Failure” was recognized with an NBC OUT Queer Performer Spotlight in 2019, and Ryan most recently performed it in a site-specific production at Denver's Grant Avenue Community Church in 2021, in collaboration with Denver PFLAG, The Center on Colfax, and the University of Denver Department of Religious Studies. 

Ryan earned a BFA in drama and English at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. For his MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts at Goddard College, Ryan's focus of practice included documentary work and critical pedagogy. Ryan’s parents are Pat and Ginny Conarro. He grew up as an Army brat, including four years in Aurora in the 1980s while his dad was in medical residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (now CU Anschutz Hospital). He remembers  spending those four years constantly longing to go to Elitch Gardens.

To check out Ryan’s portfolio, please visit www.ryanconarro.com. To learn more about Colorado Radio for Justice, check out www.radioforjustice.org.