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: a lecture series highlighting regional & national presenters on a wide variety of topics; regular cinematic presentations; stand-up comedy; a monthly literary series that features a selected writer followed by an open mic; live music presentations that feature local to national touring acts; 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 our own theater productions as well as our array of storytelling programs; and a stage for touring regional theatrical productions. We also partner with organizations in the area and provide a space for partnered programming.
Year to date (9.25.23), there have been over 200 “use days'' at our venues; Over 10,474 people passed through our doors at programs and events; Well over 385 volunteer positions were filled; 596 artists have been featured; 91 programs have been produced for our community’s residents and visitors to enjoy. Notably, a growing number of regular users now come from outside of the town including Ouray, Montrose, Telluride, Paonia and Norwood.
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 January of this year, we acquired a shared property in partnership with WCA at 145 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.
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. Though the building has been acquired, it has not been paid-off. In the coming year, it will be referred to as our "key to the future" project.