A group of individuals and organizations, all bound by a mission to increase collaboration and awareness surrounding art and the benefits it can bring to individuals and communities, are kicking off a week-long celebration of the visual and performing arts across Steamboat Springs. 

From August 1–10, All Arts Week will bring together artists, viewers, performers and organizations across the Yampa Valley in a celebration of creativity and connection.

Organized by Undiscovered Earth, and supported by dozens of partners, the event offers a diverse showcase of performances, workshops, concerts and exhibits, all highlighting Northwest Colorado’s growing artistic identity.

For those involved, it’s not only about promoting the arts — it’s also about recognizing the deep role they play in mental well-being and community.

“This is pretty critical to who we are as a community,” said Dagny McKinley, executive director of Undiscovered Earth. “We’re really putting the arts on the map and saying, ‘Take a week just to look at them for a moment.'”

All Arts Week began in 2024 as an initiative of the Performing Arts Alliance, which is a coalition of local arts leaders who saw a need for increased recognition and celebration of creativity. What began as a series of loosely scheduled events has since grown into a coordinated and collaborative effort that provides support to participating organizations while also inviting residents and visitors alike into what organizers see as a shared cultural experience.

This year’s schedule includes concerts from Strings Music Festival, performances by Piknik Theatre, dance showcases by Steamboat Dance Theater, visual art exhibitions, artist studio tours and more.

Events will take place across multiple venues including Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School, Steamboat Art Museum and the base of Steamboat Ski Resort.

“We’ve got a huge concert with Otis Taylor, kids’ crafts, roller skating, cowboy poetry and dance performances,” McKinley said. “The goal is to bring everyone together in one space for an extended period of time.”

The celebration at the base area of Steamboat Resort on August 10 runs from 1:30 to 10 p.m. It is one of several days with programming located in a single area for maximum accessibility. After learning from last year’s scheduling, McKinley said this year’s events were planned to be more streamlined and visible.

Taylor, who is seen as a legend in the blues community, will perform at 5 p.m. on Aug. 10.

“We pay all of the arts organizations,” McKinley said. “If you’re putting in time, energy and effort, you should be compensated. That’s one of the biggest models for Undiscovered Earth — making sure that when we’re asking for something within the arts community, they’re being compensated at a level that’s fair to the work they’re doing.”

The effort reflects a broader movement within the area to value the arts as an essential component of a healthy and connected community. Many participants believe strongly in the positive impact of art on mental health, particularly in rural and recreation-focused areas where social isolation and economic pressures have taken a toll.

“I see the arts as a catalyst for true connection, celebration of identity and a way to express shared values,” said Jennifer Grathwohl, board chair of Undiscovered Earth. “Especially in a region where social isolation and depression can be a challenge, a festival like All Arts Week fosters a sense of belonging for all ages and demographics.”

Grathwohl, who has also served as executive director for multiple arts nonprofits, noted the importance of easy access and participation. 

“All Arts Week brings a dedicated spotlight to the thriving and vibrant art organizations and individuals in the Yampa Valley,” she said.

The commitment to equity extends to programming for children and working families. Stuart Handloff, founder of Piknik Theatre, noted that his organization has provided donation-based performances and youth programming on a “pay what you can afford” basis.

“For the 50 years I lived in Routt County, the answer to any community problem was to build another trail, another pool or another ski run,” said Handloff. “The arts offer a non-competitive, self-empowering balance to outdoor recreation.”

That sense of shared purpose is echoed by Lara Craig, a board member for both Undiscovered Earth and the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra.

“In the Yampa Valley, celebrating and investing in the arts is an investment in healthy individuals, a thriving community and a flourishing economy,” Craig said. “With regard to ongoing mental health challenges, the arts can be a way to engage connection and a sense of belonging in those who otherwise feel less connected.”

Craig also pointed out the physiological effects of communal artistic experiences.

“A recent study found that even listening to a music performance with other audience members, heartbeats and emotions often become in sync — literally a shared heartbeat,” she said.

That shared spirit and expression is what organizers hope will be at the heart of All Arts Week. 

For artist Celina Taylor, it’s a reminder that art is more than a luxury — it’s a lifeline.

“We don’t need a university study to tell us that access to the arts improves the lives of young people,” Taylor said. “We already know that. It’s why we do what we do.”

Taylor called All Arts Week “a celebration of what it means to be alive,” adding that when artists, educators and neighbors collaborate, people can “feel less alone, more connected and more alive.”

For McKinley, that collaboration is evident among the participating organizations. While each group retains its own identity and schedule, the week-long format offers a rare opportunity for groups to better understand what others are doing in the community.

“This allows everyone to take a step back and go, ‘Hey, I didn’t know Steamboat Creates was doing an artist tour out to Oak Creek,’ or, ‘I didn’t know Steamboat Dance Theater had classes for athletes,'” McKinley said. “It also opens up ways for different collaborations, like bringing music, dance and cowboy poetry into one day. There’s a celebration there.”

As All Arts Week kicks off, organizers hope that residents and visitors alike will look beyond recreation and agriculture and consider the ways in which the arts have shaped life in the Yampa Valley.

“When you’re thinking about Steamboat Springs, or even if you’re a local and you’re looking for something to do this week, look beyond the outdoor recreation,” McKinley closed. “Do that, but also put a little ‘and’ in there. What else can I do that might change the way I look at the world?”

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit AllArtsWeek.com.