Inside the historic Depot Art Center on 13th Street in Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Creates continues its role as the creative hub of the Yampa Valley’s art community.

The nonprofit organization manages programs, exhibitions and events that highlight local talent while also connecting artists with the broader community.

Executive Director Kim Keith said the work is part of a long tradition that began more than 50 years ago, when residents came together in an effort to preserve the depot and transition it into a location where the arts could be celebrated.

“The city didn’t have the resources to bring the building to life, so residents came together and said, ‘We can do this,'” Keith said. “They gave the building a new purpose, and it’s been about creativity and community ever since.”

The Depot building was completed in 1908 and served as a train station until 1968, when passenger service ended. The structure sat vacant for several years before a group of community members formed what became the Steamboat Springs Arts Council in 1972. The group repaired the building and began hosting art exhibits, theater performances and children’s programs.

At the time, the Depot was the only art gallery in Steamboat Springs. As a result, it became a place where community members gathered for weddings, meetings and events, in addition to art shows. That inclusive spirit has remained a guiding principle for the organization, which rebranded as Steamboat Creates in 2019.

In 2017, the state of Colorado designated Steamboat Springs as a Creative District, a recognition granted to communities that demonstrate a strong concentration of arts and cultural activity, which is supported by community partnerships across different sectors.

“It’s about showing that you have a healthy relationship between artists, businesses and municipalities,” Keith said. “It’s not just about art—it’s about how creativity contributes to the economic and emotional health of a place.”

The designation helped Steamboat Creates restructure its operations and place more emphasis on supporting local artists through both economic opportunities and advocacy.

“We encourage people to hire local artists and pay them a living wage,” Keith said. “We want to make sure artists can both earn and learn here.”

Robin Miller, operations manager for Steamboat Creates, said she came to the organization after several years working in the corporate sector, a transition that allowed her to reconnect with the community while also contributing to a mission that felt meaningful.

“I’m not an artist myself, but I love supporting artists,” Miller said. “My role is to keep things organized and moving forward so others can focus on creating.”

Part of that work includes managing rentals at the Depot, which is used for art classes, weddings, fundraisers and other community gatherings.

“We try to make it easy for anyone to use the space,” Miller said. “We support artists who want to teach low-cost classes. We also rent it for events that help keep the building active and open to the community.”

Steamboat Creates coordinates public art projects across the city and advocates for fair compensation for artists.

“You can walk by a mural or sculpture and see the result,” Keith said. “But behind the scenes, we’re making sure those opportunities go to local artists and that they’re paid fairly for their work.”

One of the organization’s most visible efforts is the Young at Art Creativity Camps, which connect hundreds of local children each summer with different opportunities to explore visual art, music, writing and theater. Those programs, Keith said, have long-term impacts.

“We’ve seen kids start out as campers, then return as assistants, before later coming back as instructors,” she said. “Some of them go on to study art or teach in schools. Watching that progression is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.”

Participation in the youth programs continues to grow. In 2025, Steamboat Creates served more than 530 children, which was the largest number of students in the organization’s history.

Keith said the arts in Steamboat now extend far beyond painting or sculpture.

“It’s not just the traditional arts anymore,” she said. “We’re also talking about graphic design, architecture, culinary arts and even brewing. Creativity drives innovation across industries.”

That variety, she added, strengthens the Yampa Valley’s overall creative network, which includes galleries, performance venues and other nonprofits that form the collaborative backbone of the Yampa Valley’s arts community.

Steamboat Creates also partners with organizations that serve residents with special needs and families who speak English as a second language. Recent grants have helped fund scholarships for youth programs to make them more accessible to all families.

“This building and this organization are welcome to all,” Keith said. “When we can’t provide a service ourselves, we connect people with other groups that can. Collaboration is a big part of how we work.”

While the momentum behind Steamboat Creates and The Depot has been increasing in recent years, maintaining the century-old Depot continues to be a priority.

“It’s a very old building,” Miller said. “We’re always working on lighting, furniture and other improvements to keep it functional and safe.”

Keith said Steamboat Creates is also monitoring the progress of Colorado Mountain Rail, a proposed passenger rail project that could one day run through Steamboat Springs. The group hopes to be part of any planning related to the site, given the building’s original role as a train station.

“If passenger rail returns, the potential is incredible,” Keith said. “The Depot could again become a gathering place with a blend of transportation, history and art.”

Steamboat Creates operates with a mix of revenue sources that include memberships, donations, grants and earned income from events and rentals, all of which combine to create a diverse funding stream key to the organization’s financial stability.

“It’s important not to have all your eggs in one basket,” Keith said. “That approach keeps us flexible and allows us to continue supporting local artists and programs.”

Both Keith and Miller said they view their work as part of something much larger than themselves.

“I just want to leave it better than I found it,” Miller said.

Keith agreed, noting that the organization’s true legacy lies in the people it serves.

“It’s not about me,” she said. “It’s about the kids who find their voice and the artists who find their audience. If we can help people do that, then we’ve done our job.”

For more information on Steamboat Creates and The Depot Art Center, visit SteamboatCreates.org.