We believe arts outreach is essential to cultivating
a thriving creative community

For over 50 years, the Crested Butte Arts Festival has supported community driven artistic visions.
To date, more than $90,000 has been dispensed in Artistic Enrichment Grant funding.
By bidding on an auction item, establishing a business sponsorship, or simply making a donation,
you are contributing to uplifting creative communities in the Gunnison Valley.

Our gratitude to the following community members
who’ve contributed to our Grant Fund

Charles Talbott & Carol Sandvick

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Anne Kinder

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Allan & Diane Miller

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Russell Newhouse

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Lila & Robert Sessums

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Eric & Luisa Naughton

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Clifford & Ann Frances Jury

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Lisa Butero

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Ruth Turnquist Carver

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Rebecca & Bruce Nation

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Michael Hersh

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James & Julianne Musselman

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Blaine McAnally

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Daryn & Amy Eudaly

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Rocky & Mary Lou Kimball

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Linda & Rick Davis

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Samantha & Adlai Mcmahon

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Melissa Wozniak

Charles Talbott & Carol Sandvick // Anne Kinder // Allan & Diane Miller // Russell Newhouse // Lila & Robert Sessums // Eric & Luisa Naughton // Clifford & Ann Frances Jury // Lisa Butero // Ruth Turnquist Carver // Rebecca & Bruce Nation // Michael Hersh // James & Julianne Musselman // Blaine McAnally // Daryn & Amy Eudaly // Rocky & Mary Lou Kimball // Linda & Rick Davis // Samantha & Adlai Mcmahon // Melissa Wozniak

2025 Artistic enrichment grant Awardees

Kissidugu Foundation- Youth Cultural Arts Camp

Collaborating with visiting African artists, a week long cultural camp will be presented for youth, ages 7-12. Studying the rich tradition of African storytelling, students will produce a theater show featuring a collectively written fable by participating youth and teachers. Incorporating music, dance and song into the show, students will engage in learning stick drums, various African dance styles, as well as creation of costumes, props, and other visual arts within a range of mediums.

www.kissidugu.org

Six Points - Annual Art Show and Creative Programming

The mission of Six Points is to enhance the lives of their clients so they may reach their highest potential. Six Points arts programming provides supplies and instruction to participating disabled clients, allowing them to explore creation in several different art mediums. Finished pieces are ultimately prepared for group exhibition and offered for sale. Art sales creates supplemental incomes for clients, resources which are a fantastic addition to daily living needs, but also provides them with an increased sense of independence, a connection to the local art community and a greater sense of self-worth.

www.sixpointsgunnison.org

Crested Butte Community School - After school Enrichment

CBCS After School Enrichment programs have provided a consistent, sustained program of high-quality enrichment activities for K-12 students in Crested Butte since 2000. Throughout the school year, the Enrichment Program offers over 30 different after school clubs including - art, drama, authors & creative writing, costumes and creativity, improve, film-making, creative constructions, radio production, fiber arts, video editing, and more!

 
 

Sampling of Previous
Artistic Enrichment Grant recipients

  • Crested Butte Community School art students received instruction from street art muralist - Bimmer Torres, on how to collaboratively paint an iconic and impactful mural from concept to creation. The Crested Butte Center for the Arts coordinated bringing this inspiring project to life, and the mural remains on display at the CBCS campus.

  • The Wheels of Intention community collaboration was envisioned by Caroline McLean who conceived of the project while on a pilgrimage to Bhutan in 2017. Caroline’s vision of giving back to her mountain community became clear – install prayer wheels to Crested Butte! The project brought twenty four separate artists, non-profit organizations & business sponsors together in collaboration to produce eight uniquely crafted prayer wheels, displayed throughout Crested Butte. Tour the Wheels

  • The Trailhead's Art Bar is a place to create, tinker, and play. The Art Bar was a popular attraction at the festival, and it continues to be a huge hit. The Trailhead also worked with the Wheels of Intention project to teach youngsters about the wheels and help them make their own (slightly different) versions- see them in the photo below. These upcycled plastic wheels were decorated and created by kids and actually spin!

  • Artkitect Joe Bob Merritt is a visionary community conspirator, who has been Vinotok Grump Master since 2010, responsible for designing, planning, crafting and executing the ceremonial Grump effigy. In 2021 we funded a grant request from Vinotok to design and fabricate their central alter. The Fire Temple is a nomadic space/place/form wherein meaning making cultural rituals are literally "held together" by way of the place making nature that occurs during the act of fabricating round spaces by the hands of artists.

 

Additional Areas of
Annual Arts Outreach

Community Entertainment Stage

The CBAF exclusively hires local performing artists to perform on the Community Entertainment Stage. Through this locally driven initiative, our goal is to uplift and showcases the broad spectrum of performing arts talent in our community.

Art Alley

The children’s Art Alley tent is a mainstay of the festival. In keeping with tradition, we continue to prioritize funding our experiential art-making activities at the festival , offered free of charge to youth and their families.