Editor’s note: The Ouray County Plaindealer started publishing profi les of nonprofits between Thanksgiving and New Year’s in 2020 as a community service. The purpose of these profiles is to highlight the meaningful work being performed by these organizations and let the community know how they can help them even more, as the holidays approach and we reach the end of 2024. Nonprofit organizations that are based in Ouray County and serve Ouray County are eligible for these profiles.

Year established as a nonprofit: 2004

What does your organization do for Ouray County?

Weehawken Creative Arts enriches the lives of Ouray County residents through diverse arts and cultural programs for all ages.

Celebrating 20 years of service, we provide over 500 classes annually in dance, visual arts, performing arts, aerial and circus arts, culinary arts, herbology and more. Our programs include robust youth offerings including afterschool art, summer art camps and major dance performances that feature and engage over 400 young dancers annually.

We operate 11 classrooms across seven locations, including spaces in Ouray and Ridgway, and host events like the Ridgway Rendezvous Arts & Crafts Festival, a major summer highlight that supports local artists and draws visitors, boosting the local economy.

Our 610 Arts Collective gallery in Ridgway showcases over 100 artists, fostering creativity and community interaction.

Weehawken is deeply committed to accessibility, granting nearly $30,000 annually in scholarships and work-trade opportunities to ensure everyone can participate.

With a focus on building a vibrant, creative community, our programs reach over 12,000 people each year, contributing to Ouray County’s identity as a hub for arts and culture. From classes to community events, Weehawken transforms lives, supports local artists and strengthens the cultural fabric of our region.

What do you list as your greatest accomplishments in 2024?

Our greatest accomplishments in 2024 include expanding offerings for adults, dance and circus arts, continuing to grow programs that serve hundreds of youth and adults across Ouray County.

We invested in our 610 Arts Collective gallery and strengthened collaborations with The Wright, The Sherbino and the Montrose Recreation District. Our fun, community-wide events, including the Ridgway Rendezvous Arts Festival and the Ridgway 1K, brought people together to celebrate creativity and connection. These achievements reflect our commitment to fostering arts, culture, and community in Ouray County and beyond.

What are some of your goals or projects planned for 2025?

In 2025, our top priority remains offering the high-quality programs and events that have defined Weehawken Creative Arts for over 20 years.

We are committed to ensuring scholarships or work-trade options are available for all students who need them and to maintaining the excellence of our classes, performances, and community events. Additionally, we have ambitious goals for the year, including raising $230,000 to pay down debt on our “Key to the Future” project — the Cora Annex building and classroom — and making upgrades to its interior to better suit our needs.

We aim to reduce rental costs by transitioning to permanently owned storage solutions, celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Ridgway Rendezvous with our best festival yet, and foster continued growth of the Ridgway “Rally through the Alley” 1K and Fête de la Musique. Filling current staffing gaps is another key focus to ensure we can sustain and grow our impact.

Tell us how the community can help you do more here in Ouray County:

Ouray County can help us achieve even more by supporting key goals and volunteering with us. In 2025, we aim to raise $230,000 to pay down debt on our shared property at 145 and 147 N. Cora St. Additionally, we’d love to see someone step up to underwrite a mural on the building’s highway-facing side.

Community donations to our scholarship fund help make programs accessible to all participants, while contributions to our costume fund support the hundreds of costumes used in our dance and theater productions. Volunteers are always needed for events like the Ridgway Rendezvous, Fête de la Musique, the 1K and our biannual dance shows.

We also need help in our gallery and with interior upgrades to our Cora Street classroom. Your time, talent, and generosity help us continue to make a difference in Ouray County!

Thanks to Ashley King-Grambley for providing this information.