Summary
Organization name
Creede Arts Council
other names
CAC
1991
Tax id (EIN)
84-1167512
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
103 N Main Street PO Box 392Creede, CO 81130
Mineral County, CO, US
Join the Creede Arts Council as we Cultivate the Arts in our Community!
You will help us provide artistic opportunities in our community with your gift through Colorado Gives.
Creede Arts Council board members, Jody Stroh and Eloise Hooper, holding up a freshly pressed print of Colleen DeSanto's 'Moonlight Conversation' during 2022's Steamroller Printmaking Event.
Testimonials
"The Creede Arts Council broadens the scope of art available and multiplies the potential for full community participation in a town that survives by its art and lives in the joy of it."
"As a writer I wholeheartedly believe in the power of local anthologies that celebrate diversity and present creative work from artists of all ages. "
"It is indeed an honor and a privilege to have juried the 20th Anniversary of the Creede National Small Print Exhibition. This show is extremely important as it honors printmaker Larry Basky whose vision created this event… I enjoyed viewing the variety, versatility and very expressive work in the show! I thank the Creede Arts Council for the fine and difficult work that went into making this digital show possible." Stephen Quiller (2021 NSPS Catalog)
Giving Activity
Mission
The Creede Arts Council's mission is to cultivate the arts and humanities in our community through education, exhibition and performance, and to foster local artistic talent. We are dedicated to providing dynamic programs year-round for residents and visitors. Programs such as the National Small Print Show, Mountain Shoot Out photography show, Steamroller Printmaking Event, Willow Creek Journal, Creede Sculpture Show, Variety Show and Jamboree enhance our community. The Creede Arts Council has commissioned and purchased seven public sculptures that are installed in our community. We are focused on providing affordable access to the arts for our community members and visitors. We are using various methods to increase access: virtual shows, outdoor performances and free exhibits.
Background Statement
The Creede Arts Council is a nonprofit organization formed in 1991 by a group of artists, musicians and patrons of the arts. Creede, located in the San Juan Mountains, began its life as a booming silver-mining town. However, when the mines closed in the 1980's, the town was left with high unemployment and poverty.
Over the past 30 years, the community has reinvented itself as an arts town with tourism as an economic driver. In 2010, Creede received the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts because of the efforts of the arts organizations here, including the CAC. The Creede Repertory Theatre was a well-established organization at the time that CAC was formed. Because CRT's mission is primarily production of plays, the founding members felt there was an unmet need and created an organization focused on artists and musicians.
Over the years the programs have changed in response to community and patrons' needs while remaining true to our mission. For example, at different times during CAC's history, the council has been very involved in presenting performances by touring musicians. This activity has fluctuated inversely by the interest that the Creede Repertory Theatre has in presenting performers. At one time, CAC took over the theatre's entire concert series. At other times, CRT was sponsoring concerts themselves. Additionally, in the early 1990's the school cut its arts programs because of reduced budgets due to declining enrollment. CAC worked with the school and created an "Arts in the School" program with local artists and musicians bringing painters, weavers, potters and composers to work with the students. The school helped fund the program which continued for a few years until the district hired music and art teachers.
Today, CAC works in the following areas: exhibiting national and local artists; encouraging young and new performers through the Variety Show; producing the Willow Creek Journal; providing the marketing and administrative support for the Silver Thread Studio Tour; and maintaining our public art (murals and sculptures) and the Seaborn Collins Memorial Art Park for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Since 2022, CAC has collaborated with a new non-profit, the Creede Musical Arts Collective to present concerts featuring world class performers with local and regional musicians. CAC is providing volunteers and grants to support these performances.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Creede, CO 81130