Many people call Teller County home and have done so for years. I intend no disrespect to anyone who wants to see our county go back to the earlier days when there were less people. Traffic congestion is sometimes an issue and the big question in Teller County has always been, “How do we get cars to stop so people get out and visit the businesses?” The answer has always been, “We have to become a destination.”

The destination concept has worked with artistic projects. You can Google “Rita the Troll” or “Ice Castle in Cripple Creek” to see what pops up online. These two activities have brought many people to southern Teller County over the last nine months. People drove to the locations, stopped, and got out of their cars. These events were longer than a day, which gave people time to learn about them and then make plans to visit. Rita continues to be an ongoing destination activity.

“Destination Art” in Teller County is a mission on the table. We already have infrastructure to support an art destination because of our galleries, art classes, workshops, art events, and art projects. We also have the complimentary pieces in place to support this effort with our restaurants and hotels. We certainly have the talent.

Anyone who has visited a gallery or taken an art class in the community realizes the skill levels of Teller County artists rival any art destination in America. Take a look at the USA Today’s top 10 art cities for 2024. The link is below. You will also see Manitou Springs is listed as #8, which means we are already getting recognition in our region. https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-small-town-arts-scene-2024/

“Rome was not built in a day” is a phrase, which emphasizes how we cannot expect important things to happen overnight. The thing is, we are not new with the arts in Teller County. The Mountain Arts Festival, which happens on the second weekend of August in Woodland Park is celebrating 39 years and Victor Celebrates the Arts, which happens over Labor Day Weekend in Victor, is celebrating 24 years.

We are in the perfect spot and we have the MOST beautiful natural creation in our own backyard.

America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak, is best seen from Teller County. It is the mountain most artists learn to paint while they are here. And, like Rome, Pikes Peak and all of its natural beauty was not built in a day.

Please, join the mission of Destination Art. A gathering of nonprofits, business owners, community leaders and artists is happening during the week of May 13th at Reserve Our Gallery. The exact day and time are available when you call 719-401-2301.

Contact Gayle Gross at iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org or 719-233-9902 if you want your nonprofit to be part of this column or to be part of the Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Gayle Gross has worked with nonprofits in the community since 1998. Now, she facilitates SOAR’s Nonprofit Cooperative of Teller County. Meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. – 10:45. The group meets at Reserve Our Gallery or at a nonprofit’s location. Join the group on March 12 at the gallery.