Arts & Community in Telluride, Colorado

Arts Ah Haa!  Are you ready for some creativity?  Ah Haa School for the Arts-
Creative energy bursts through the doors of the colorful Ah Haa School, located in a former brothel of the mining days. Ah Haa School encourages budding artists to develop their talents in painting, drawing, ceramics, fabric, book arts, photography, basketry, writing, printmaking, and dance. Ah Haa frequently offers artist-in-residence programs, lectures, and gallery showings. This multi-generational school also presents the Telluride Writer's Guild and Out Loud Lecture Series. 728-3886 or  staff@ahhaa.org.

Telluride Baseball Club- A local baseball club that supports and promotes baseball in Telluride, Colroado.

KOTO Radio- Everywhere you go in Telluride people will be listening to KOTO, our very own free-form radio with local volunteer deejays playing their favorite music - from American jazz to bluegrass, rock'n'roll to salsa and world music. KOTO could be called the heartbeat of Telluride, with message boards for rides around the country, Trash or Treasure for buying and selling, live Town Council meetings, and local news as it happens. Fundraising events are hilarious and traditional, such as Lip-Sync Contest, Rubber Duck Race, Black Bean Saute, and Night at the Opera. Tune in to PM 91.7 or 89.3. 728-4334 or koto@telluridecolorado.net

Sheridan Opera House and Sheridan Arts Foundation- The Sheridan Opera House is truly center stage in Telluride's thriving arts community. Historic, intimate, and beautiful, it is an extraordinary venue for everything from concerts to movie premieres. Built in 1913 by Telluride miners, this historical landmark hosts a variety of events including the Telluride Film Festival, Chamber Music Festival, MountainFilm Festival, numerous theatre productions, movies, festivals, benefits, and concerts. The Sheridan Arts Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Opera House as an artistic venue and attracting quality arts and cultural events to Telluride. The Foundation also helps to encourage the development of young playwrights and performing artists in the area. 970-728-6363 or  saf@gwe.net

Telluride Academy- Providing enrichment education to youth and teens since 1984, this non-profit organization specializes in summer arts and recreation programs. Many locals participate in these very popular courses, but about half of the 500 participants are from families visiting in the area. The Telluride Summer Research Center is another Telluride Academy program that offers science lectures for adults. Usually held on Thursday nights at 8 p.m., from mid-July to mid-August at the Telluride Elementary School. Free. Tel: 728-5311 fax: 970-728-5312 or academy@telluridecolorado.net

Telluride Education Foundation (TEF) was established in 1993 for the purpose of preserving, supporting and improving the education of students in the Telluride R-1 region. The goal of TEF is to enhance and amplify the educational opportunities of Telluride children. To date, it has proved extremely successful in its endeavors. Through its fund raising efforts, TEF has been able to help create a rich diversity of exciting educational programs and projects for students of all ages and abilities.

Telluride Chamber Orchestra- Opportunities for local and regional amateur and professional musicians to work together and perform for the community are provided by the chamber orchestra. Musicals that feature various styles and instrumental groupings are performed in the spring, summer and fall. 728-1463

Telluride Council for the Arts & Humanities- Dedicated to keeping the arts strong, healthy and growing in Telluride, TCAH is a grassroots, community-based group that offers education programs, individual artist grants, the "Homegrown Series" which showcases the original works of local artists, and the annual Celebration Arts Street Fair. 728-9830 or tcah@telluridecolorado.net

One to One-Youth Mentoring Program

Telluride Writers Guild- The Writers Guild brings all creative folks together for readings, workshops, competitions, occasional publications and an annual literary festival in October, called the Walking Words. Every month, a free, open meeting is held at the Ah Haa School featuring a local or nationally known writer presenting their work. Later, meeting participants share their own creations - poetry, writing samples, lyrics and stories of all kinds. 728-0399 or email: wordwoman@mesa.ne

Movies & Cinema- For more than a quarter of a century, Telluride has attracted film lovers with intimate and unique festivals like MountainFilm and the Telluride Film Festival that focus on the art of cinema in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Aside from viewing a world-class selection of films, guests have the opportunity to interact with filmmakers and fellow film lovers, attend symposiums, and take in an eclectic mix of gallery exhibits. Audiences at the Telluride Film Festival have been the first to see films such as The Crying Game, The Piano, Roger & Me, Secrets and Lies, Sling Blade, and Amelie. The Telluride IndieFest, featuring independent films and now in its seventh year, is scheduled in conjunction this year with the Film Festival. Festivals

Commission on the Arts and Special Events (CASE)- Created to promote support for the arts and special events, CASE evaluates grant requests, recommends levels of funding to Town Council, administers allocations, and encourages a supportive environment for festivals, performing arts, visual arts and special events in Telluride. 728-2173

Telluride Soccer Club- A local soccer club supporting youth soccer.

Telluride Paintball Club- A local paintball club providing instruction and opportunities to play paintball games in Telluride.

Music Festivals- The mountains are alive with the sound of music all summer long in Telluride. Our tiny mountain town is host to some of the oldest and most revered musical celebrations in Colorado featuring world-famous talent, including the Bluegrass Festival, the Jazz Celebration, Chamber Music Festival, Blues and Brews Festival, and free Sunset Concerts.

Telluride Jazz Festival-Since 1977 Telluride’s majestic perch - high in the spectacular San Juan mountains in SW Colorado - has been the site of a musical odyssey combining the finest of nature and art. Each year the Telluride Society for Jazz produces one of the most memorable festivals in the world. Its intimate format and opportunities for pleasure are beyond the superb music - hiking, mountain jeep tours, visits to mining ghost towns, biking and more - bring an audience of up to 3,000 per day to this historic, one-of-a-kind Victorian town seen by most Americans only in TV commercials. Combining outdoor stages during the day with theater and club shows running at night, this festival is not to be missed.

Telluride Institute- Focusing on innovative research and education in the arts, environment, and telecommunity, this non-profit organization contributes to the theoretical and practical aspects of sustainable community. Programs include the San Miguel Watershed Education Conference, the InfoZone, Greenbucks, conferences, and workshops. 728-4402 or email tellinst@csn.net

Outloud Lecture Series- The Ah Haa School sponsors this series that features local and national personalities who "push the envelope" to provoke discussion, as well as educate and expose issues inside or outside of the Telluride valley. 728-3886

Telluride Artisan's Guild (TAG)- The guild provides support for San Miguel County artisans, with members displaying their crafts to the public several times a year such as at the Film Festival and before the Christmas holidays. For a list of regional artisans, contact TAG. 728-6525

Telluride Choral Society- The Telluride Choral Society holds WinterSing concerts in December, SpringSings in April, and SundaySings in February and March. It supports the Children's Chorus of Telluride, the Telluride Chorale, the Telluride Chamber Singers, and other vocal music through performances and ongoing music education. 728-1463

Telluride Foundation- The newly formed Telluride Foundation, headed by ski industry veteran Paul Major, supports many extraordinary endeavors in arts, education, athletics and charitable causes by enriching existing programs and services. This non-profit community foundation develops, manages and allocates community resources in partnerships with donors and grantees. Its goal is to disburse over $1 million annually in cash and services in the Telluride region by 2003. The Telluride Foundation also presents a limited number of top-tier events designed to celebrate and enrich the Telluride community. 728-8717

Telluride Repertory Theatre Company- The Telluride Repertory Theatre commands a full house for their high caliber theatre productions of original, classic and contemporary works. Each summer the Rep presents "Classics in the Park," a three-week run of outdoor theatre ranging from Shakespeare's Macbeth to dramatic tragedies like Medea. The Rep also delights summer guests with free Commedia Del'Arte performances in Mountain Village. During the winter, the Rep performs at the Sheridan Opera House with high-energy Broadway favorites such as Hair, The Fantastiks, and the Rocky Horror Picture Show. This year's presentation will be Romeo and Juliet performed on the Town Park stage. 728-4539 or email: The_Rep@infozone.org

Dance in Telluride- Offering all levels of classes in ballet, modern, and jazz for all ages, the Telluride Dance Academy is sponsored by the Telluride Society for the Performing Arts and was founded by prima ballerina Valerie Madonia. 728-8093

Smithsonian in the Rockies

Pinhead Institute- The Pinhead Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, the first in Colorado. There are currently 140 Smithsonian Affiliates nationwide. We have been in operation for three years, based in Telluride, Colorado.   Historic Roots A historic Telluride/Smithsonian connection dates back to the early part of the last century. From the first time they met in 1905, Charles Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian from1907 to 1927, and the famous Telluride engineer and entrepreneur L.L. Nunn were close friends. Over time, Walcott and his sons invested in Nunn's businesses, and conversely, Nunn's philanthropic foundation, the Telluride Association, funded a Smithsonian expedition to Siberia, a pet project of Walcott's, to discover a frozen Woolly Mammoth.

San Miguel Watershed Telluride Region 970-728-4364

The Nature Conservancy 970-728-5291

Colorado Division of Wildlife 970-249-3431

Volley (ball) in the Valley Tournament- A local outdoor sand volleyball tournament.

Telluride Hockey Club- A local hockey club promoting youth hockey.

TCTV - Channel 12- TCTV is Telluride's public access non-commercial cable television operator. It produces and acquires local television programming and operates on Channel 12 for 24 hours a day, every day. Watch between 9 - 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m and 10:30 p.m., when locally produced programs are televised. 970-728-3838

Ballet and Dance- Every summer, renowned ballet and dance companies delight audiences in Telluride. This season, several outstanding ballet companies will be leaping and pliéing into our hearts for three weekends of sheer pleasure.

Telluride Society for the Performing Arts- Founded in 1997 to support and encourage dance in Telluride, the Telluride Society for the Performing Arts has sponsored the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago's summer residency, the Telluride Dance Academy, and varied dance performances. 728-8093 or 800-745-8772

Environmental Organizations

Sheep Mountain Alliance
SMA is a grassroots, non-profit activist organization dedicated to the preservation of the natural environment of the Telluride region and beyond.
Phone: (970)728-3729
Email:sma@rmi.net

Greenbucks
Join in an environmental cleanup and earn a Greenbuck - a ticket to a special community celebration concert. Coordinated by the Telluride Institute.
Phone: (970)728-8312
Site:www.tellurideinstitute.com

San Miguel Watershed Coalition
A group of private and public interests working together to protect the river basin by finding shared approaches to conservation and a sustainable economy.
Phone: (970)728-4364
Email:kbandll@bullfrog.net

Nature Conservancy's San Miguel River Program
Nature Conservancy's San Miguel River Program works to protect one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Colorado River watershed through conservation easements, ownership and education.
Phone: (970)728-5291
Email:cbyrd@tnc.org

San Miguel Conservation Foundation
The San Miguel Conservation Foundation works to preserve land as open space and wildlife sanctuary by using marketplace incentives and landowner participation to promote voluntary stewardship.
Phone: (970)728-1539
Email:ghickcox@rmi.net

San Miguel County Open Space Commission
The San Miguel County Open Space Commission seeks to protect and conserve open space, natural habitats and farming and ranching lands for future generations by working with regional landowners on a volunteer basis.
Phone: (970)369-5469
Site:www.co.san-miguel.co.us/openspace.htm

Rocky Mountain Ark Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
The Rocky Mountain Ark Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is a rescue center dedicated to returning orphaned or injured animals to their natural habitats.
Phone: (970)728-4275