Background Statement
The Ridgway Chautauqua/Sherbino has actively been developing programs since it opened in early 2012. Starting primarily with the presentation of live music, the programming has evolved to follow the Chautauqua mission and has broadened considerably.
Regular programs include: live music presentations that feature local to national touring acts; a lecture series highlighting regional & national presenters on a wide variety of topics; regular cinematic presentations; stand-up comedy; a regular literary series that features a selected writer followed by an open mic; a monthly veteran’s coffee; an outdoor adventure series where famous mountaineers speak to their adventures or where outdoor adventure films are presented; a space for performing & creative arts education in partnership with Weehawken; an Ignite! (speaker) series; a space for community art exhibitions and another for retail sales of area artists; a space for community and touring theater productions as well as community storytelling programs; and a stage for touring regional theatrical productions and more! We also partner with organizations in the area and provide a space for partnered programming.
Year to date (12.1.24), there have been over 163 “use days'' at our venues; Over 11,788 people passed through our doors at programs and events; Well over 611 volunteer positions were filled; over 500 artists have been featured and 137 public programs have been produced for our community’s residents and visitors to enjoy. We put-on three major events in the community - two of which are in partnership with our sister organization, Weehawken Creative Arts. Our special community events are Ridgway Fete de la Musique (a free music festival in Ridgway) and The Ridgway 1k (the most-fun fun run) and our long-time fundraising event, The San Juan Barrel Fest. Thousands of people turn-out each year to enjoy these great events.
Perhaps what’s most-unique about RCS is the fact that we are not a rental house. We thoughtfully & actively cultivate programs for our community in-house. We own our property at 604 Clinton (Sherbino) as well as our property at 610 Clinton (610 Arts). In 2023, we acquired a shared property in partnership with WCA at 145 & 147 N. Cora for the purpose of long-term use and development for both organizations. Properties are all located in the heart of downtown and will evolve as an arts campus in the coming years. We are currently running a capital campaign to pay-down our portion of debt (50%) on that building.
BUILDINGS & SPACES:
By early 2016, we achieved a major goal of fully owning the Sherbino building at 604 Clinton Street.
In late 2017, we acquired the neighboring property at 610 Clinton Street in order to better fulfill our programmatic needs and accommodate our long-term vision. That space now houses staff offices, event storage, and offers the community a gallery space to enjoy and support local artists.
In fall of 2019, we finished and landscaped the outdoor space behind The 610 Arts Collective. When covid hit in 2020, we immediately broadened the scope of that outdoor project, added an upper level and opened what's now known as "The Courtyard at 610."
By early 2019 the 610 building was fully purchased and owned by RCS. In late 2019, we underwent a facility/campus master plan process with an architect in an effort to examine our projected long-term needs in conjunction with our facility-related challenges. This process resulted in the identification of a key property for our anticipated future programmatic and facility needs at 145 N. Cora. In 2022, we were offered the opportunity to acquire the "key" property and we did so in partnership with our sister organization, Weehawken Creative Arts. We closed on 145 N. Cora in a 50/50 partnership with WCA in 2023. Though the building has been acquired, it has not been paid-off. The building pay-down and project is currently referred to as our "key to the future" project.