OUR HISTORY

From humble beginnings in 1966 organized as the Crested Butte Society, the organizations founding members were committed to preserving the history of the Crested Butte community and the artistic vigor of the town. In line with this philosophy, the Society launched the first Crested Butte Arts Fair in 1971. This event was a way for local artisans to display their work, create financial stability, and ensure a quality of life offered by a small community. What began as an informal gathering of mostly local artisans selling their handcrafted wares, has evolved into one of the most competitive juried fine art shows in the West.

- Mission -

The Crested Butte Society awakens and nurtures artistic enrichment throughout the Gunnison Valley.
We present the annual Crested Butte Arts Festival to sustain cultural vibrancy, advocate for a thriving creative community, and financially support local artistic programs.

- Vision -

The Crested Butte Society unites the Gunnison Valley through the transformative power of the arts.

BOARD & STAFF

The Crested Butte Arts Festival’s Board of Directors is comprised of Gunnison Valley members with a strong commitment to furthering arts and culture in our community. With individuals representing industries from non-profit management, education, the creative arts, tourism and much more, we value diverse backgrounds that bring a wide range of expertise.

Our board is a working board with a strong hand in the planning and execution of our yearly festival. You will see each of them at the event doing any task from greeting patrons, selling merchandise, hosting our VIP House, running the Children’s Art Alley and much more. We are a team that believes in working hard, always with good humor, with our eyes on our mission to bring arts outreach to the Gunnison Valley.