Creative Nonprofits: Who They Are & What They Do
By AwA
Art in the Park, the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra, The Players and more. Routt County is a small community with an abundance of arts and cultural organizations, but who does what and why does it matter? Below we break down what organization is home to what programs, so you can support them by going to a show, talking them up in the community and maybe even making a donation to help them continue to grow.
Colorado New Play Festival (CNPF) advances the art of storytelling as an essential element of the human condition and spirit, and is known for 25 years of bringing playwrights and new works to Steamboat Springs for a week of workshops before a first reading on stage. Over 75% of new works that have come to the annual Colorado New Play Festival have gone on to production around the country. The organization also hosts an annual Storytelling Slam connecting Routt County youth with theater professionals. New American Voices: From Harm to Home is a partnership with the International Rescue Committee to conduct annual writing therapy retreats for newly arrived refugees.
Historic Routt County (HRC) partners with the community to document and safeguard Routt County’s irreplaceable historic structures and unique landscapes through advocacy, preservation, assistance and education. They envision a community where historic structures and landscapes inspire, educate and connect residents and visitors to the Yampa Valley. For more than 20 years, HRC has been the leading resource for the preservation and documentation of the historic places and cultural landscapes of Routt County, Colorado. Current projects include Moving Mount Harris, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Selbe Cabin and the Julie Harris Theatre at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp.
Opera Steamboat enriches the well-being of our community through innovative, educational, and collaborative musical arts programs. Founded in 2002, Opera Steamboat brings world-class opera to Steamboat Springs through operas, concerts and master classes. Their Operas in the Schools program serves all of Routt County and Walden by performing family-friendly operas in schools as part of the curriculum. This year, the organization is premiering Welcome to the Madness, the organization’s first commissioned work. Welcome to the Madness is a roaming vocal theater adventure about Charlotte Perry, Portia Mansfield and the founding of the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp.
Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp (P-M) is the pioneer of imagination, spirit and performance. The organization is the oldest continually operating performing arts camp in the country. Known nationally and internationally for dance, theatre and equestrian programs, Perry-Mansfield continues to inspire generation after generation of professional artists. They are home to the Academy at Perry-Mansfield, which offers dance and theatre programs for Steamboat Springs and Hayden. The Players Community Theatre Group is now a P-M program and performs at the historic Julie Harris Theatre.
Piknik Theatre creates professional, entertaining and inclusive performing arts in the Yampa Valley. They believe in and encourage the accessibility of the performing arts for everyone through free productions. They offer a summer season of theatre productions at the Yampa River Botanic Park. Productions usually include a traditional story and an original work. Performances are family friendly in an atmosphere that allows little ones to move around and explore without detracting from the performance.
Steamboat Art Museum (SAM) was established in 2006 to present rotating exhibitions of artwork by living masters whose work is relevant to the culture and heritage of the West. The museum is free for everyone and accessible to all. SAM has presented over 45
exhibitions and had over 150,000 visitors and program participants through its doors. Annually, SAM presents two major exhibits and is home to the annual Plein Air Event and Exhibit in the fall.
Steamboat Creates (SC) enhances quality of life and economic vitality for the creative sector through advocacy, promotion,
education, infrastructure and connections for the community and visitors by growing engagement in arts and cultural experiences. Key programs include Cabaret, Art in the Park, Winter Carnival Snow Sculptures, Young at Art Creativity Camps, the Writers
Group and Artist Residencies. SC is home to the Riverwalk Collective of Artists.
Steamboat Dance Theatre (SDT) engages, educates and enriches the communities of the Yampa Valley through dance and movement. Yes, they do more than an annual dance concert, although everyone in the community looks forward to that each year! SDT serves as a network and resource for dancers and studios in the community by providing scholarships to dance students. They also partner with other arts nonprofits, the local school district and local dance studios to offer Master Dance Classes, Community Dance Classes and Dance on Film.
Steamboat Symphony Orchestra (SSO) integrates the experience of orchestral music into the heart of the community, to deliver outstanding professional performances, and to provide music education that is accessible and compelling. The SSO is often confused with Strings Music Festival, but they are indeed an independent organization with three annual concerts. Their holiday concert is sold out every year and is a tradition the community looks forward to. On the education side they offer Immersion Weekends for students of all ages and abilities, spearhead the Steamboat Springs High School Orchestra, and just launched Strings Sprouts, providing five years of free violin lessons for children in Steamboat Springs. They also offer Professional Musician Mentoring.
Strings Music Festival brings high-caliber music to the high mountains. Their venue, Strings Music Pavilion, transformed Steamboat Springs into a world-class home for music. Strings offers concerts throughout the year, Music on the Green at the Yampa River Botanic Park, Senior Outreach through programs provided throughout Routt County at Senior Nutrition Sites and Assisted and Full Care Living Facilities, and Strings School Days, a music and arts education program serving over 3,000 12-K students annually. More than 60% of their programming is free to the community.
Tread of Pioneers Museum preserves, shares and celebrates the history and heritage of Steamboat Springs and Routt County through engaging exhibits, programs and education. The museum has both permanent exhibits and rotating exhibits, art exhibits and children’s exhibits, and educational programming. Access is free for locals. They offer year-round Walking Tours, History Happy Hour, Brown Bag Lunches, Behind the Scenes Tours of Collections and the annual Ute Indian Pow-wow Dance and Presentation.
Undiscovered Earth supports creativity in Northwest Colorado so artists can live, work and thrive. The newest of the Yampa Valley nonprofits, Undiscovered Earth is a solutions-based organization meeting the needs of the creative community. They do that through infrastructure projects that include revitalizing the historic Chief Theater as well as community-based programs like Prescription for the Arts. Prescription for the Arts works with mental health providers to connect those struggling with mental health, isolation and depression with arts and cultural activities and events. Summer 2024 will mark the launch of All Arts Week, a week-long celebration of arts and culture.
Yampa Valley Choral Society enriches the lives of people in the Yampa Valley through beautiful choral music. They are home to The Yampa Valley Singers, The Steamboat Chamber Singers, Bella Voce Women’s Chorus and Lincoln Avenue Men’s Chorus. The organization provides opportunities for a wide range of musical abilities and provides audiences with entertaining and uplifting choral music performances.
Elevate the Arts: Support local arts and cultural nonprofits by attending performances, classes and events or by making a donation. AwA
