The Arts Are Alive & Well in Ouray
By Beth Paulson & Sue Hillhouse

Ouray County has a rich and varied arts and cultural scene all year-round. Whether you are a resident or a tourist, there is an ongoing
calendar of events provided by local arts organizations which bring regional and even nationally known artists to the area for classes, art shows and performances.

The Ouray County Performing Arts Guild sponsors free concerts in the local parks, home salons, and two renowned chamber music groups each summer. The flagship event is the San Juan Chamber MusicFest, held in August with guest musicians from Boston, Max Levinson, Artistic Director and piano, Irina Muresanu, violin, and Allison Eldredge, cello. During the rest of the year other performances feature musicians, dancers, drummers, poets, and players. Visit this group's website www.ocpag.org for up-to-date listings.

Weehawken Creative Arts offers to the community and visitors classes in the arts for students of all ages, including photography, fine arts, creative writing, dance, fiber arts, and culinary arts. Beginning just four years ago, this group sponsors an amazing variety of classes and has had over 2000 students to date. To find out what's currently scheduled and to register, just go to www.weehawkenarts.org.

The Ouray County Arts Association, www.ourayarts.org presents a juried annual art show, the Artist's Alpine Holiday, each summer, now in its 49th year, as well as a winter art show. The Ouray County Players and the Ouray County Chorus offer plays and concerts at least twice a year in the area.

One of the highlights of the summer is an authentic melodrama, produced by the ladies of W.I.S.E. (Women in Support of Education) as a scholarship fundraiser. More than that, however, it is an evening of old-fashioned hilarity.

If history is your interest, Ouray is your town. Founded in 1876 during the height of the area's hard rock mining boom, there are lots of
remnants of mines, Victorian homes and a National Historic District along with the Ouray County Historical Society's museum which has thirty-eight exhibits and twenty-seven rooms of historical artifacts and information. It's been called the "Best little museum in the West" by the Smithsonian. Besides the museum, the Society sponsors various guided walks and tours, special lectures, and historic events throughout the summer season. Their website, www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org will give the most current information.

In addition to scheduled arts events, both Ouray and Ridgway's main streets have a number of art galleries, which exhibit paintings, photography, jewelry, sculpture, and ceramics for browsing or buying. And most any weekend night you can hear live music performed by regional bands or musicians ranging from bluegrass to folk at venues in both towns. The Ouray Chamber Resort Association's website, www.ouraycolorado.com has links to local galleries and a calendar of entertainment and events.

There is plenty to interest and enlighten almost any person visiting the area whether for just an evening's entertainment or a week's workshop in one of the arts. With all this available, it's a perfect place to satisfy varied interests: while one in the family might want to participate in a photography workshop, another can hike or jeep on some of the mountain trails. Everyone will go home marveling about all Ouray County has to offer.