In a small upstairs gallery space on Yampa Avenue in Craig, a team of local artists is using the power of art to bring people together while also helping creativity take root in the minds of youth and adults.

The Northwest Colorado Arts Council, led by a dedicated all-women volunteer board, is revitalizing the arts in Moffat County through exhibitions, youth programming and a growing network of supporters and sponsors. Once close to dissolving, the council has reestablished itself as a creative outlet in the Yampa Valley. 

“The more things there are to do in a community, the stronger that community is,” said Heather Fross, board member and longtime artist. “I think there are a lot of artists here who work on their own, but this gives them a space to come together and feel supported.”

Fross and fellow board members Jennifer Schreiner, Dixie Maigatter and Heidi Acord-Meats not only manage the nonprofit, but they also participate in shows, host workshops and mentor young, aspiring artists. For all of them, the connection to local art started under the guidance of their much beloved Moffat County High School art teacher Jay Peck.

“He just provided the freedom to create,” Schreiner said. “There wasn’t a medium that I didn’t get to experience with him.”

Peck’s classroom introduced generations of Craig students to sculpture, oil painting and even airbrushing. His quirky style, which included driving classic cars to school and decorating mannequins in jewelry, made him memorable, but it was his kindness and encouragement that left the deepest mark.

“He was inspiring,” Fross said. “He made it safe to be creative.”

That same spirit now drives the council’s Teen Summer Art Studio, which offers free, hands-on art experiences for middle- and high-school students every Friday throughout the summer. Now entering its fourth year, the studio has grown to host about 60 students each season.

“The Teen Studio is what fuels me,” Schreiner said. “Every summer, we see friendships form and returning students grow in confidence. It’s good for their mental health and it is good for ours.”

The program includes morning and afternoon sessions, volunteer-led workshops and opportunities for teens to sell their work at the end of the summer.

“We produce so much art during those sessions,” Fross said. “It’s a place for teens to thrive in a safe and supportive space.”

While the Teen Studio is the council’s largest offering, the board also hosts senior workshops, open studio days and quarterly art shows that highlight the work of both emerging and established artists. 

Recent shows have included solo exhibits, an open community art show and the council’s current exhibit, which is a Moffat County-themed display sponsored by local businesses including Masterworks Mechanical, Jenison Custom Builders, the Craig Chamber of Commerce and Damsel in Defense. The show features 35 pieces from 14 artists and offers cash awards for best in show. 

“This is our first sponsored art show with cash prizes,” Fross said. “It’s helped us engage the community in a new way.”

Community support has been critical in rebuilding the council after it dropped from more than 200 paid members to fewer than 10 during the pandemic.

“At one point we only had two board members,” Schreiner said. “People were just tapped out due to working full-time and trying to maintain programs. When COVID hit, volunteers became even harder to find.”

The current board came together about a year ago and has since focused on restoring membership, applying for grants and diversifying funding.

“We were primarily funded by membership fees,” Fross said. “Now we’re looking at business sponsorships and outside funding to make us more stable long-term.”

The council is also preparing for upcoming shows, including a solo exhibit by local photographer Janele Husband in August and the annual Tiny Art Show this fall. That event, which features 4-by-4-inch pieces from children and adults, draws participation from local schools and provides an approachable outlet for beginning artists.

“It’s just fun,” Acord-Meats said. “We get all ages involved, and it’s a great way to bring people together.”

Though the council’s focus is local, board members said they’ve had conversations with organizations in Routt County about potential collaborations. But the challenge of finding enough volunteers and teachers still remains. 

“They’re willing to assist,” Schreiner said. “But we need more volunteers here to make those partnerships work.”

The board currently operates three members short and is actively seeking volunteers to support programs, fill board roles and help manage events.

“We can do more programs and have more impact with more people,” Fross said. “It’s easy to burn out in a small group, but new people bring new energy and new ideas.”

When it comes to the driving force behind making the arts matter in a rural region like Moffat County, the answer is connection.

“There are teens who don’t play sports, who aren’t in band,” Fross said. “This gives them a space to belong. It gives people of all ages a chance to be creative and build community. That’s important.”

Acord-Meats agreed.

“It just brings people together,” she said. “It gives kids like my daughters who were good at art but never had a space like this, a place to create and feel seen.”

For more information on upcoming shows, programs or how to get involved, visit the Northwest Colorado Arts Council Facebook page or NWCArtsCouncil.com.