art education programs
2026 SEASON
We cannot wait to make art with you! Get on our list to be the first to hear when workshops open for enrollment. Choose your interests and we'll email you in advance with full details and registration access.
Announcing our 2026 Programs
Contact allison@creedecenterforthearts.org for questions!
Upcoming
Relief Cut Printmaking Masterclass
Take your printmaking to the next level in this in-depth relief printmaking masterclass. Designed for students ready to expand their skills, this course explores advanced techniques including reduction cuts, multi-plate registration, and an introduction to traditional woodcut using beautiful cherry wood blocks.
Participants will learn how to plan and execute layered, multi-color prints, develop precise templates for plate registration, and have the opportunity to choose to work from a variety of materials and formats. With a focus on craftsmanship, process, and creative problem-solving, this class offers the tools and techniques needed to create more complex, professional-quality prints.
This masterclass is also designed to help students develop a polished, exhibition-ready print for submission to the National Small Print Show through the Creede Arts Council. Instruction will emphasize strong composition, technical excellence, and professional presentation standards.
Dates: March 7, 14 & 21
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Upstairs at the Quiller Gallery, 110 Main Street, Creede, CO
Cost: $175
Materials: All materials provided
OPEN STUDIO IS AVAILABLE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS MARCH 7, 14, 21 & 28 1 PM- 4 PM.
Introduction to Linoleum Cut Printmaking
Discover the world of linoleum cut printmaking in this hands-on, three-week class. Designed for beginners and curious creatives alike, this course focuses specifically on the art of relief printing through linoleum carving.
Students will learn the fundamentals of designing for linocut, safely carving their own block, and hand-printing a finished single-color print. Along the way, we’ll explore the rich history and expressive possibilities of linoleum cut printmaking while working with professional, high-quality materials.
You’ll leave with your own original print—and the confidence and skills to continue carving and printing on your own.
Dates: March 12, 19 & 26
Time: 6:00–7:30 PM
Location: Upstairs at the Quiller Gallery, 110 Main Street, Creede, CO
Cost: $125
Materials: All materials provided
OPEN STUDIO IS AVAILABLE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS MARCH 14, 21 & 28 1 PM- 4 PM.
Fine Arts Workshops
We are excited to significantly expand our lineup of full-day fine arts workshops, designed for adult learners and led by some of the most accomplished artists in our region– and beyond! We have curated a selection of offerings tailored across skill levels. From the beginner looking to build a foundation, to the experienced artist who wishes to dive deeper into a medium, each class will spark creativity in an immersive studio setting.
Highlights include Drawing Wildflowers with Peggy Stenmark; Crash Course in Acrylic with Coni Grant; Intro to Watercolor and Intro to Color Theory with Michigan-based artist Mike Henry; Plein Air Painting with David Montgomery;and the return of our ever-popular figure drawing intensives with Kris Gosar—plus many more offerings to be announced.
Our 2026 Printmaking Series, multi-day workshops offered throughout the year, will launch in March, where we will see both Introduction to Linocut Printmaking for beginners and an advanced Relief Printmaking Masterclass focused on creating exhibition-ready work for submission to the Creede Arts Council’s National Small Print Show. A Relief Cut Printmaking Workshop follows in July for summer visitors. A festive, small-format printmaking card workshop is planned for November—just in time for the holidays.
All workshops include high-quality materials, so participants can simply show up and create. To make these opportunities accessible to more artists in our community, we are also proud to offer three full-scholarship spots for every adult workshop in 2026. Watch for more information - we will announce and provide links for scholarship applications as they become available!
Evening Creative Sessions
Every other week throughout the summer, we invite the community to gather for our Evening Creative Sessions—a relaxed, welcoming workshop experience designed to spark creativity and connection. Led by professional artists and instructors, these evenings blend artistic exploration with good food, drinks, and the joy of creation.
From fine-art drawing and painting to crafty crochet circles to inventive, out-of-the-box projects, each session offers a fresh way to unwind, learn something new, and engage your creative spirit. These gatherings are intentionally designed to bring together our extended community and foster meaningful connections through shared creative experiences.
Stay tuned for the full summer calendar of Evening Creative Sessions! We are offering a 20% discount for local residents and arts organization affiliates for all Evening Creative Sessions this year.
Youth Initiatives
In addition to our day camp collaboration Writing for Screen and Stage with the Creede Repertory Theatre, Creede Center for the Arts is proud to offer several youth-focused art camps designed just for kids. These hands-on experiences are led by exceptional elementary and middle school art educators who also practice as professional artists—bringing both strong teaching skills and real-world creative insight into the classroom.
Dive into creativity at Taste of Creede this Memorial Day weekend as artist and educator Jesse Crock guides a hands-on painting adventure for young artists ages 7-15. Surrounded by nature's beauty, Jesse will spark imaginations and reveal inspiring ways to interpret and express the world through vibrant visual compositions.
In August, in partnership with the Creede Musical Arts Collective, we are thrilled to welcome Oklahoma-based artist Alisa Nelson for a three-day workshop, The Sounds of Art (Ages 7-12). Inspired by the groundbreaking artist Wassily Kandinsky, this dynamic camp will explore collage, texture, and the concept of synesthesia—the blending of senses—by connecting music and visual art. Through guided experimentation, students will discover how sound, color, and movement can come together to create bold, expressive works of art.
For our littlest artists, Alisa Nelson and Megan Marino will also host Pop in For Art & Music! (Ages 3-5), a forty-five minute session on August 12, where tots can move, listen, dance and create!
Community Partnerships & Collaborations
SCHOOL OUTREACH
We are thrilled to initiate our partnership with the Creede Consolidated School District and support the creativity of local students. This winter, Director of Programming Allison Quiller will bring her Linoleum Cut Printmaking class to Creede High School, offering students a hands-on introduction to this expressive art form. Students will get an overview of the printmaking art form, and each will design, carve and print their own linocut on a variety of professional western and Japanese printmaking papers.
Later, we will introduce our flagship program, Illustrated Stories, to middle and high-schoolers. This multi-week unit invites students to explore the intersection of visual and literary arts, guiding them through storytelling, illustration, and collaboration. Students will pitch story ideas and be paired with another student illustrator to create a unique pairing of style, genre and visual storytelling. The program will culminate in a one-of-a-kind student-created anthology, celebrating their voices, imagination, and artistic growth.
While we plan to produce a limited number of physical copies for the school library and our archives—and offer students the option to purchase a copy—our goal is to place this book directly into students’ hands at no cost. If you’d like to help make that possible and ensure every student receives a copy to take home, click here to support the project!
Arts Collaborations
Creede Center for the Arts is proud to be collaborating with many of our incredible community organizations in 2026. In January, we kicked off the year with our annual Winter Writer’s Workshop, a joint effort between ourselves and the Creede Community Center. This year, award-winning poet Alicia Cook will step in for a special session with our writing group, part of her upcoming Creede residency alongside composer Evan Mack through the Creede Musical Arts Collective. This writing class is also geared as a platform to encourage local writers to submit to the Creede Arts Council’s literary magazine, The Willow Creek Journal.
Later this summer, we are partnering with the Creede Repertory Theatre for a special camp for youths ages 12+. Writing for Screen and Stage will guide young writers through the process of developing characters, building structure, and finding tone, while exploring the subtle nuances of writing for the screen versus stage productions.
We’re also working on an exciting new collaboration that brings together all of Creede’s arts organizations: Kids’ Guide to the Arts in Creede. This free sketchbook and “passport” will be available to all young people in the Creede area and is designed to inspire youth to explore and engage with Creede’s vibrant arts scene. Stay tuned for more details!
2025 Highlights
"Before taking Kris Gosar’s class, I had never taken a drawing course in my life. I honestly didn’t think I had any real talent for it. But after just two classes, the difference was remarkable — not only in my technique, but in the way I see. Chris has a unique way of breaking things down so you actually understand what you’re doing, and his feedback helps you grow fast. Everyone around me noticed how much my drawings improved in such a short time. I’m genuinely grateful for the experience — it’s given me confidence I didn’t know I had." - Damian Richardson, 2025 Participant
"CCA truly has something for everyone. My elementary age son loves drawing already and these workshops really encourage out of the box thinking and creativity for both kids and adults. I took a printmaking class over the winter and it reignited my love of visual arts that I hadn't experienced since college. The class offered background of the art form, one-on-one help, but also allowed us to unlock our own individual expression. What a great addition to the Creede arts community!" -Kate Berry, 2025 Participant
