Ronya Anna and Jeremy Franklin

Beloved local artist Jac Kephart considered art a “wonderful gift.” The Art Center of Western Colorado (TAC) embodies the spirit of these words. To us, art is essential and for everyone. We recognize the arts and artists who make them have an impact on the daily lives of our community. For 68 years, the Art Center has promoted the arts. We’re now embarking on a new, exciting era.

Art is vital in sustaining the richness of life, providing an outlet for meaningful expression and creating purpose in the world. We recognize the arts and artists have an impact on our day-to-day lives. The phones we carry, the cars we drive and the buildings in which we live and work have all been influenced by artists who contribute to their creation and implementation From a local economic perspective, arts and cultural offerings also create better communities. 

The 2017 Arts & Economic Prosperity 5 study found that when we invest in and support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but also invest in economic well-being. The same study concluded that communities that support arts and culture simultaneously invest in an industry that supports jobs, generates local government revenue and is vital to tourism.  Arts and culture matter not only because they enrich lives, but also because they provide economic benefits to the communities they serve. 

The mission of the Art Center of Western Colorado is to enrich lives by promoting the enjoyment and understanding of the arts. Driven by this mission, TAC works diligently to provide experiences in the arts that range from exhibitions featuring regional and national artists from various backgrounds, lifestyles and experiences; live performances of theatre, music and dance; and lectures and hands-on classes for people of all ages.  We strive to provide a range of offerings to the community and ensure access through reasonable tuition and fees, scholarships and no-cost options.

The Art Center’s guiding principle — our “why” — is art is for everyone. This conviction lies at the heart of our three main areas of programming: exhibitions, education and events.

Exhibitions: In a normal operating year, TAC hosts an average of 24 local and national exhibitions. The annual members exhibit is an especially meaningful opportunity for amateur and youth artists in our community to showcase their work. Additional juried exhibitions offer local residents the opportunity to enjoy the work of artists across the region, nation and globe. Our extensive permanent collection boasts more than 500 works representing Western Colorado’s artistic and cultural heritage, including Navajo weavings, historic artifacts and works by Colorado artists. These pieces are exhibited on a rotating basis, incorporated into educational programming and showcased during lectures and other events.  

Education: From kids learning the fundamentals to art-history enthusiasts to retirees fulfilling their creative dreams, all are welcomed and served by educational programs. Youth classes and camps are at capacity, with 3,000 children participating yearly. The Art for All program has given those with unique physical, developmental and social challenges the opportunity to create and be celebrated.

Events: TAC holds 11 First Fridays during the year, regularly attracting 300 plus visitors each evening. Other events include lectures, dramatic performances, private gatherings and an annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff.

As we look to the future of the Art Center, we’re excited for additional opportunities to serve our community. Since its humble beginnings in 1953, the Art Center has grown from a small two-story house on Seventh Street to its current 13,000-square-foot facility. Now in its 68th year of operation, the Art Center is expanding again. We’ve embarked on a $600,000 capital project that will welcome the new Jac Kephart Gallery to our arts campus while installing a much-needed fire mitigation system and upgrading permanent collection preservation. This project will also update our Gould Gallery and provide new space for our evolving education program. The legacy of Jac Kephart will live on through these spaces. 

While TAC has raised more than three-quarters of the necessary funds from generous donors, we need the support of this community to reach our critical goal of $600,000 to fully realize these improvements. 

Now is the time to engage and immerse yourself in the gifts of arts. We invite you to stop by and preview the exciting changes coming soon to our building on the southwest corner of Orchard Avenue and Seventh Street.  

Come down and explore the Arts Center. Maybe you’ve hoped to visit TAC galleries, attend a First Friday, see a live concert or play or take a drawing or pottery class. Perhaps your child would appreciate the range of camps, classes and other offerings. You also could visit our website at www.gjartcenter.org to learn more or donate to support our important expansion. All donations are tax-deductible.

Please consider visiting and supporting not only the Art Center, but also other arts and culture entities throughout our community.  Our lives and communities depend on it. Art is essential. Art is for everyone.  

Ronya Anna is vice president of the Art Center of Western Colorado Board of Trustees and leads the fund-raising campaign to make the Jac Kephart Gallery a reality. Jeremy Franklin serves as president of the board. For more information about the Art Center, visit www.gjartcenter.org.