Want More? FIND OTHER WAYS TO EXPERIENCE COLORADO’S DIVERSE ART SCENE. Creative Colorado | COME TO LIFE DURANGO Buy a locally crafted souvenir at a downtown shop. Visit for the monthly gallery walk or grab a seat for the latest theater production at the Durango Arts Center. LOVELAND Loveland is home to bronze foundries and nine museums and galleries. Visit for Sculpture in the Park, the Loveland Museum/Gallery and the Chapungu Sculpture Park’s contemporary art from Africa. WESTWOOD A Hispanic-centric culture pervades this west Denver district. Murals display generations of heritage, and galleries and arts affairs sprout up each year. Chile Fest showcases the neighborhood at its best. STERLING In this farming community with a love of art, you’ll find Sacred Matter Glassblowing Studio and creatives at work at the Sterling Creatives Artists Co-Op. Spot the intricate tree sculptures by Bradford Rhea around town. CHEESMAN PARK ART FEST IN DENVER GRAND JUNCTION Find a wealth of treasures, including the Avalon Theater and the beloved Art on the Corner outdoor sculpture program. Snag a seat at sidewalk cafes to soak it all in. This Just In: THERE ARE FOUR NEWLY NAMED CREATIVE DISTRICTS TO EXPLORE IN AURORA, GUNNISON, LA VETA AND LA JUNTA. OTHER ARTS EXPERIENCES SMALL-TOWN PERFORMING ARTS VENUES Colorado’s mountain towns might be small, but several pack a big punch when it comes to fine arts. Operas, musicals and first-run shows are all artfully enacted on many small-town stages, including the Creede Repertory, Central City Opera, Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Rocky Mountain Repertory in Grand Lake, Butte Theater in Cripple Creek and the Southern Colorado Repertory in Trinidad. Colorado’s cities are also home to a delightful mix of local theaters presenting original works, dozens of intimate places to hear local and touring bands, and pop-up and permanent immersive arts experiences (Denver’s Meow Wolf and Boulder’s Wonder Wonder, to name two). GRAND LAKE This national park gateway town harbors a creative community anchored by the Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre and a boardwalk lined with shops and galleries. MUST-SEE ART MUSEUMS Boulder, Aspen, Colorado Springs, Loveland and Fort Collins all have stellar museums to block off at least half a day to see. The Denver Art Museum is a world-class institution featuring blockbuster exhibitions and a renowned permanent collection. BIG-CITY VENUES The Denver Performing Arts Complex is one of the nation’s biggest arts campuses, ensuring there’s always something on stage when you’re in town, including performances by the Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado, The Colorado Ballet and the Denver Center Theatre Company. There aren’t many places where you’ll find a nationally accredited art museum, Broadway-worthy theater, gourmet dining and an art school all under one roof, but the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center encompasses just that. The city also boasts the Ent Center for the Arts, home to four performing-arts venues and a visual-arts gallery. 40 WEST ARTS DISTRICT DESTINATION FESTIVALS A few to book a trip around: Sonic Bloom Festival in Rye (June), Jazz Aspen Snowmass (June– Sept.), Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder (June–Aug.), Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver (July), Mountain Fair in Carbondale (July), MeadowGrass Music Festival in Colorado Springs (July), Vail Dance Festival (July–Aug.), Evergreen Fine Arts Festival (Aug.), Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons (Aug.) and Breckenridge International Festival of the Arts (Aug.). Find many more at COLORADO.com/Events. COLORADO . COM 45
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2022: Page 45
