Telluride Council For The Arts And Humanities

SEE SERVICES PAGE FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THIS PROGRAM STATEMENT

TELLURIDE ARTS IS A 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT ORG THAT WAS ESTABLISHED ON NOVEMBER 17, 1971 AS THE TELLURIDE COUNCIL OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES (TCAH). THE ORG WAS THE FIRST NON-PROFIT IN THE REGION, AND SERVED TO INCUBATE A CULTURE OF THE ARTS THAT HAS COME TO DEFINE TELLURIDE. SINCE THAT TIME TELLURIDE ARTS ESTABLISHED THE TELLURIDE ARTS DISTRICT. OVER THE YEARS OUR MISSION HAS REMAINED VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED, AND OUR HOLISTIC ETHOS STEADFAST. OUR UNIQUE CONCERN IS TO ELEVATE AND PROMOTE A CULTURE OF THE ARTS IN THE TELLURIDE ARTS DISTRICT, COMPRISED BY NUMEROUS INSTITUTIONS, ACTIVITIES, AND EVENTS THAT ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY WITH EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE REGION AND ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN 2012 WE ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY TO UPDATE THE 1986 TELLURIDE CULTURAL MASTER PLAN, WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THE TOWN OF TELLURIDE, AND PROVIDES THE ROADMAP FOR OUR WORK. THE FOUR MAIN PROGRAM AREAS IN THIS PLAN ARE ARTS MARKETING,RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS, SPACE FOR THE ARTS & STRAGEGY. IN ADDITION TO THE THREE PROGRAMS LISTED, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS IN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TOWN OF TELLURIDE, COLORADO CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFIT PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT VETTED PUBLIC PRIORITIES THAT ENSURE THAT THE ARTS ARE PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. OUR SPACE FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM IS OUR LARGEST INVESTMENT OF TIME, ENERGY AND FUNDS. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THERE ARE SPACES TO SUPPORT DIVERSE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN TELLURIDE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. IN 2019 WE ACCOMPLISHED A MAJOR MILESTONE BY PAYING OFF THE DEBT ON THE TELLURIDE TRANSFER WAREHOUSE AND COMPLETING STABILIZATION OF THE EXISTING HISTORIC STONE THAT HAD BEEN CRUMBLING. IN 2020, THE ROOFLESS SPACE BECAME AN OASIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE TO GATHER FOR IN PERSON ARTS EVENTS DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, AND ONE OF THE ONLY ARTS VENUES TO REMAIN OPEN AND IN BUSINESS THROUGHOUT. WE INVESTED $50,000 TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY AND USABILITY OF THE WAREHOUSE BY REMVOING IMPEDIMENTS, LEVELING THE FLOOR, ADDING COUCHES, HEATERS, BLANKETS, AND A NEW TENT AND BAR AND OPENED IT UP TO IMMEDIATELY AND SAFELY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.WE DEVELOPED A SLIDING SCALE POLICY SO ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY COULD AFFORD TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMMING AT THE WAREHOUSE.WE HAVE HOSTED 107 EVENTS, AND HAVE SERVED 2236 PEOPLE WITH BOOK SIGNINGS, POETRY READINGS, A DANCE RESIDENCY, DANCE PERFORMANCE, CHILDRENS THEATRE, MUSICE AND ART CLASSES, TINY CONCERTS, A FILM SERIES, AND MUCH MUCH MORE. OUR MARKETING PROGRAM ENSURES THAT THE ARTS ARE A CORE PART OF TELLURIDES IDENTITY AND APPEAL, AND THAT VISITORS AND LOCAL ALIKE CAN FIND INFORMATION ABOUT A WIDE VARIETY OF CULTURAL EVENTS, EXHIBITS, ARTISTS, GALLERIES, AND ARTS INSTITUTIONS THAT COMPRISE THE VIBRANT TELLURIDE ARTS DISTRICT. IN 2020, 25 GALLERIES PARTICIPATED IN EACH OF OUR SUMMER AND WINTER GALLERY GUIDES, WE HOSTED TEN FIRST-THURSDAY ART WALKS ACROSS TOWN, ENACTING SAFETY MEASURES AND WINDOW SHOPPING ELEMENTS TO BE OPEN AND SAFE.WE JOINED THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY TEAM, AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE TOWN OF TELLURIDE TO IMAGINE A VIBRANT OUTDOOR MAIN STREET DINING AREA.WE PRODUCED BARRICADE COVERS FEATURING HISTORIC PHOTOS AND LOCAL ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WORK THROUGHOUT TOWN.WE WORKED WITH THE TOWN, COUNTY, AND TOURISM BOARD TO BRING ARTISTS INTO THE DESIGN OF THE COVID SAFETY CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE BEING USED ACROSS THE COUNTY.WE PRODUCED A SERIES OF EIGHT COVID SAFETY CAMPAIGN ASSETS FOR THE TOWN OF TELLURIDE, AND PRODUCED THE MAIN STREET BANNER, DINING MENUES, HUNDREDS (THOUSANDS) OF POSTERS, AND A SERIES OF NINE BURMA SHAVE-INSPIRED SIGNS AT THE ENTRY TO TOWN. OUR RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS PROGRAM PUTS DOLLARS INTO THE HANDS OF ARTISTS THROUGH PAID CONTRACTS, ART SALES AND GRANTS, AND AWARDS. WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE LOW-COST STUDIOS, HIGH QUALITY EXHIBIT SPACES, AND PROMOTION THROUGH OUR WEBSITES AND EVENTS. IN 2020, WE RAISED MORE MONEY FOR ARTISTS THAN EVER BEFORE, ENACTING NEW GRANT PROGRAMS, ERECTING STAGES ON THE STREETS, AND KEEPING OUR LOCAL ARTISTS EMPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.