Creede Arts Council

Formed in 1991 by local artists and performers, the Creede Arts Council serves as a non-profit hub for arts and humanities in Creede and Mineral County. Our all-volunteer team promotes education, exhibition, and performance to foster local artistic talent and sustain the town's unique culture. We present several key events, including the Variety Show at the Ruth Theatre, the Willow Creek Journal featuring local poetry and photography, and the Mountain Shoot Out. Our National Small Print Show draws artists from across the country to this charming, colorful old mining town in the San Juan Mountains. The spectacular cliffs of the Willow Creek canyon provide a beautiful backdrop for our quirky and creative community. We have enriched local life through school art programs, poetry gatherings, concerts, public art, and literary publications. In 2010, we were instrumental in revitalizing the Collins Memorial Art Park and received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. The following year, we created the first public sculpture show in Mineral County. Our efforts contribute to Creede’s economic development, which relies on tourism and its status as one of the 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. We remain dependent on volunteers and community support to continue our mission of creating new works, preserving heritage, and exposing more people to the arts.