As the only art museum in NW Colorado, SAM's reputation is built on presenting exceptional exhibits of living master artists relevant to Western heritage. Annually, SAM hosts two major exhibits and a Plein Air event, vibrant outreach and education programs for all ages, and a Museum Store.
"Steamboat Springs is home to several gems that quietly sparkle - places that add dimension and culture to our mountain community - and the Steamboat Art Museum is one of those…"
The museum is truly one of Steamboat's jewels, and thanks to the visionary leaders and financial contributions from many in this community, it will continue to serve as Steamboat's cultural center for the visual arts. Its exhibits are free, making fine art accessible to the general public. -Steamboat Today Editorial Board
"We are so thankful that the Steamboat Art Museum partners with us, bringing the gift of fine and visual arts into the lives of the children we serve. It is vitally important to teach our young people about the role the arts play in our everyday lives." -Boys and Girls Club
[Museums] tell our stories, preserve our heritage, interpret the past, and explore the future. In this way, museums enrich our lives daily-feeding a hunger for knowledge and igniting our imaginations. - American Association of Museums
The Mission of the Steamboat Art Museum (SAM) is "to promote and present the visual arts to the community of Northwest Colorado, reflecting and enhancing our culture and heritage."
In 2004, assessing the burgeoning arts sector of NW Colorado, a group of artists, gallery owners and supporters envisioned an art museum in Steamboat. Concurrently, the historic Rehder Building was bequeathed to the City with the stipulation that the building be used as a museum. The Steamboat Art Museum incorporated in 2005 and opened its first exhibit in December 2006. From 2009 - 2017, phased projects to the original 1905 building created distinctive exhibition space, administrative areas, a museum store. Then the major rehabilitation of the 1920 addition created substantial space for exhibits, events, meetings, performance, and instruction in new galleries, a workshop room, and library.
SAM’s first decade was focused on the development of exhibits of the highest quality, the stewardship of the largest historic building in the heart of Steamboat and creating an important cultural draw for our community. Into our second decade, our expanded facility enables us to create exhibits beyond the many retrospectives of individual master artists, to important themed exhibitions that include the artists and other organizations in planning. Multi-faceted educational and enrichment programs with other organizations are developing to utilize our exhibits to further their missions and ours.
Now fully utilizing its entire building, SAM is a spacious creative and historical asset for NW Colorado. Annually, SAM presents two major exhibits, an annual Plein Air Event, and related educational outreach to youth and seniors, workshops, artists’ presentations, and collaborative special events shaped by our exhibits. Admission to exhibits and outreach is always free.
Organization name
Steamboat Art Museum
other names
SAM
2005
Tax id (EIN)
20-3867662
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
807 Lincoln AveMailing
PO Box 775301Routt County, CO, US