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In 1985, a passionate group of local residents began raising money for a nonprofit community arts center in the beautiful mountain town of Crested Butte, Colorado. Two years later, they had raised $425,000 and the old county road maintenance garage was renovated into a 6,000 square-foot Center for the Arts facility. Since those beginnings, the local population has doubled, and there has been tremendous growth in the number of events presented, the size of audiences, and the number and variety of educational programs provided by the Center for the Arts and its partner organizations. Fewer than 8,000 people attended Center events in 1985, and 30 years later, more than 40,000 people attended over 650 events, positively impacting the local economy by more than $3 million. After recognizing the need to create a larger and lasting home for the Center, the Board embarked on an ambitious $20 million capital campaign to build a new, state-of-the-art facility. In December 2019, the new building was opened, featuring 28,000 square feet of multi-use space, including a 350-seat theater, two art studios, dance studios, a visual arts gallery, and new bar facilities. Truly unrivaled in Colorado as a captivating and welcoming place, the Center for the Arts brings people together to share, inspire, nurture, educate, and enjoy arts and culture.