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Arts & Culture

Arts and Culture are a big part of Gunnison-Crested Butte. Believe it or not, these small mountain communities are quite sophisticated. Opera, movies, concerts, plays, galleries, classes, just to name a few attractions; Gunnison-Crested Butte has it all. At both ends of the valley the art centers, Theaters, and Museums have offerings most days.
Wish you were around in the times of the pioneers? Visit the Pioneer Museum in Gunnison or the Mountain Heritage Museum in Crested Butte for an accurate portrayal and lesson in how the early pioneers made history in Gunnison County.
Looking for fun and entertainment? Our Art Centers and Theaters can provide everything from screen movies and plays, to concerts and classes. Truly, our local population is blessed with some amazingly talented actors, musicians, and artists. However, this does not mean we don’t enjoy some out-of-town talent from time to time.
Gunnison and Crested Butte are also home to many festivals and events that showcase arts, culture, well-being, and nature.

Arts and Culture Tours

The City of Gunnison has a number of walking tours that can be combined to make a great day of exploring the arts within the city limits. The most logical combination is the Mural Tour and the SculpTour, although you can also add the Walking History Tour too if you have an interest in historical architecture.

If that’s not enough to keep you busy, try the Heritage Driving Tour of Gunnison County, which can take up to 3 days!

All tours are SELF GUIDED and brochures, as well as maps, can be found at our local Visitor Centers in Gunnison and Crested Butte.

Arts & Culture Facilities

CRESTED BUTTE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
The Mission of the Center for the Arts is to enrich and expand community participation in the Arts. The Center hosts a wide variety of performances throughout the year-concerts, theater, dance, speakers, conferences and
more.

CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN THEATRE
The Crested Butte Mountain Theatre is the longest continuously running community theatre in Colorado, producing nearly 200 plays over the last three decades. The theatre’s mission is to foster the growth of theatre as
an art form through high-quality contemporary, classical and original productions as well as arts education.

GUNNISON ARTS CENTER
The Gunnison Arts Center invites you to experience the Arts in the Gunnison Valley, offering programs in the Visual, Literary & Performing Arts year around. Today at the Gunnison Arts Center, you will find 2 Exhibition
Galleries, 1 Gallery Shop, a 75-seat theatre, dance studio, meeting rooms and a clay center. The Center is ADA accessible.

PIONEER MUSEUM AND TRAIN MUSEUM

The Gunnison County Pioneer and Historical Society had its beginning in 1880 with the early pioneers who settled in the Gunnison Valley.

CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN HERITAGE MUSEUM
The Museum is home to a number of exhibits with something to interest almost anyone. When you step into the front doors of the building you step into the past.

GUNNISON OBSERVATORY

Gunnison Valley Observatory offers unprecedented public access to professional quality instruments and knowledge of astronomy. Our 30-inch reflector telescope maximizes our thin and unpolluted Rocky Mountain atmosphere to bring distant astronomical vistas to the eyes of residents and visitors of the Gunnison Valley.

The 2009 Gunnison Valley Observatory’s regular season schedule began Friday April 3rd. The observatory is open every Friday through September 25th. Each week offers a specialized lecture and meeting of local astronomical minds regardless of the weather conditions. The grounds open at 7:30 p.m.

Gunnison Valley Observatory offers many exciting ways to support its mission and goals.  You can attend the Friday lecture series and telescope viewings, volunteer, book a private showing or become a financial sponsor.  For more information about the observatory, please contact Gunnison Valley Observatory.