The History of the Creamery
In 1939, the Creamery building was opened as a cooperative creamery by the North Fork Creamery Association. The vision of a community space for education and the arts began in 2005 when a formerly vacant and run down one story building was extensively remodeled into a world-class art gallery and education center by a local citizen.
The Creamery Arts Center opened after extensive renovation on May 12, 2006, as an artisans’ cooperative. In 2016, after a decade of serving the art community in Delta County, the Creamery Arts Center underwent a restructuring. The Creamery, which has since become a centerpiece of downtown Hotchkiss, as well as an attraction to visitors from outside the area, has strengthened art appreciation and provided low cost art classes to both area youth and adults, as well as gallery space for over 60 local artists and authors to sell their work. We offer classroom space where highly qualified instructors teach classes in a variety of mediums. Over time, we have evolved into a paid-membership, non-profit facility, fully deductible under (501)c 3 IRS tax codes. As a Colorado non-profit organization we depend greatly on support from our community and membership.
Our Education Program is at the heart of our mission. Our goal is to offer classes to students of all ages at reasonable prices. We are proud of our fully equipped clay studio that is on par with any in the State and we reach out to the senior citizens in our County with free demonstrations and hands-on activities taught by our volunteer artist members. Our “After School Art” and “Summer Art Camp” programs offer stimulating art and clay classes to children ages 8 and up, year round.
We support our local farmers, ranchers, and crafters by hosting a Saturday Farmers Market during the summer month in the Creamery Park, welcoming local growers and crafters to sell their products in our outdoor pavilion at no charge.
Thank you to all who support of our local art center and local artists!
The Creamery Arts Center opened after extensive renovation on May 12, 2006, as an artisans’ cooperative. In 2016, after a decade of serving the art community in Delta County, the Creamery Arts Center underwent a restructuring. The Creamery, which has since become a centerpiece of downtown Hotchkiss, as well as an attraction to visitors from outside the area, has strengthened art appreciation and provided low cost art classes to both area youth and adults, as well as gallery space for over 60 local artists and authors to sell their work. We offer classroom space where highly qualified instructors teach classes in a variety of mediums. Over time, we have evolved into a paid-membership, non-profit facility, fully deductible under (501)c 3 IRS tax codes. As a Colorado non-profit organization we depend greatly on support from our community and membership.
Our Education Program is at the heart of our mission. Our goal is to offer classes to students of all ages at reasonable prices. We are proud of our fully equipped clay studio that is on par with any in the State and we reach out to the senior citizens in our County with free demonstrations and hands-on activities taught by our volunteer artist members. Our “After School Art” and “Summer Art Camp” programs offer stimulating art and clay classes to children ages 8 and up, year round.
We support our local farmers, ranchers, and crafters by hosting a Saturday Farmers Market during the summer month in the Creamery Park, welcoming local growers and crafters to sell their products in our outdoor pavilion at no charge.
Thank you to all who support of our local art center and local artists!
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” - Thomas Merton
