2011 Salida Arts Festival - a Fine Arts Festival

Salida Arts Festival - a Fine Arts Festival
July 12-13, 2014,
Salida, CO

2011 was the 3rd year for of the Salida Arts Festival. This was the official website for the 2011& 2012 event. The content below is from the site's 2011 archived pages.

Salida is a popular tourist destination in the Rocky Mountains. In case you didn't know, Salida is one of the towns along the Arkansas River that is anticipating the 2012 Christo and Jean Claude "Over the River" project. Come and see the lovely area that captured their imagination!

The Salida Arts Festival, celebrated for its vibrant showcase of artistic diversity and talent, features 60 artists from all corners of the United States. The mediums on display range from ceramics and fibers to glass and jewelry, extending to sculpture, painting, photography, wearable art, and, notably, movie poster art. The inclusion of movie poster art, a collectible genre that blends graphic design, illustration, and cinematic history, has enriched the festival's offerings, attracting both art enthusiasts and collectors. This eclectic mix of art forms is a testament to Salida's renaissance as one of the most recognized art towns in the country.

My first encounter with the Salida Arts Festival was in 2011, a visit that happened purely by chance. My family and I were on a road and hiking trip through the majestic Sawatch Range, towering above the Arkansas Valley. Our journey included climbing several of the Upper Arkansas Fourteeners, such as Mt Antero and Mt Princeton, known for their remarkable heights and stunning landscapes.

Stumbling upon the festival on its first day, we were immediately captivated by the rich array of artistic talents, including the fascinating movie poster art. This experience left a lasting impression, so much so that years later, as we planned our move from Baltimore to the Rocky Mountains, the memories of the festival played a significant role in our decision. The transition from the East Coast to the rugged beauty of Colorado was a significant change, but the proximity to Salida and its celebrated arts festival was a compelling draw, promising many more visits to this unique and diverse artistic event.

In addition to the exhibitors, the festival will also play host to performances by several local musicians, including Clyde Tullis, Red Tischer and Bruce Hayes, whose bluegrass, rock and R&B roots include collaborations with String Cheese Incident and Acoustic Junction.

Contributing artists apply to a panel of jurors for admission to the show. The judges base their selection criteria on originality combined with exceptional craftsmanship and diverse appeal.

Salida,Colorado is located in the south central Rocky Mountains and is known as one of America's "best art towns." Featured in Sunset Magazine (March '09) as a favorite day trip from Denver...Salida is a popular Colorado tourist and visitor destination.

The festival is in Riverside Park. shaded by beautiful willow trees, on the banks of the Arkansas River in historic downtown Salida.

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Thank you to all who attended and participated in the 2011 Festival!
The weather was perfect, Riverside Park in Historic Downtown Salida was, as usual, beautifully groomed, good attendance and the impressive collection of talent represented by our exhibiting artists made this year's festival the best one yet!

Thanks to the City of Salida and the community members - we couldn't do it without your support! We hope you felt that the festival enriched your community, and you will again enthusiastically embrace and support the 2012 festival. See you there!

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Thanks to our contributing sponsors:
Pinon Real Estate Group (3rd year) Altamont Landscaping (3rd year)

Salida Cafe (3rd year)

Rebound Physical Therapy- Salida (1st year)

Salida Artworks (2nd year) High Country Bank (1st year)

____________FESTIVAL MUSIC STAGE__________
2 Days.....A Diverse Collection of Live Music!

Special Performance by Bruce Hayes
Saturday Aug 13     7pm

Pictured:    Bruce Hayes | Red Tischer| Clyde Tullis 

*The 100 Best Art Towns in America", by John Villani, published by The Countryman Press 2005  

2011 Festival Exhibitors

Ceramics

Allen & Lynda Bissett

Ross Elgin Salida CO
Tania Filippello Nederland CO
Janine Frazee Salida CO
Frank Gray woodland Park CO
Rachel Rice Salida CO
Jesse Woodworth Denver CO

Drawing
George Chelwick aurora CO
Mary Jacquin Peoria IL

Fibers
Deanna Curry-Elrod Golden CO
Sandi Mericle Greeley CO        www.hoofnaround.com
Beth & Jonathan Evans Colorado City CO
Paulette Ohnstad Denver CO    www.poluschka.com

Glass
Leona Hawks Hyrum UT Glass www.fusedglassstation.com

Jewelry
Margaret Aden Vail AZ     www.originalsinjewelry.com
Jonna Barr Mansfield TX
Kathy Bourque Ogallala NE     www.ibeadunique.com
Mary Dengler Frey Durango CO
Chris DesJardins Opelousas LA     www.desjardinsjewelry.com
Diane Eger Santa Fe NM     www.eaton-egergoldsmiths.com
Steven Harkey midwest city OK     www.rainbowjourney.org
Juanita Havet San Francisco CA
Judy Staby Hoch Salida CO     www.judyhoch.com
Chris Nelson Pagosa Springs CO     www.urban-armour.com
Rebecca Pope Hesperus CO      www.poprockdesigns.com
Jan Raven St. Paul MN        www.janraven.com
Dane Short Durango CO      www.meridanedesign.com
Esther Sullivan Durango CO     www.esthersullivan.com
Willow Summers Santa Fe NM     www.wireweaver.com
Anne Tindell Nacogdoches TX
Wendy Witchner Albion CA      www.wendywitchner-jewelry.com
Claudia Cravens San Angelo TX

Metal Works
Keith Chew Peyton CO
Wesley Cookson Paulden AZ     www.steel-art-by-wes.com
Christopher (Shark) Lambdin Salida CO     www.blackhandforge.com

Mixed Media
Todd Alexander Atlanta GA     www.toddalexanderart.com
Yvonne Kuennen Breckenridge CO

Painting
Bailey Escapule Salida CO
Victoria Eubanks Denver CO     www.victoriaeubanksart.com
Adam Freed Crested Butte CO     www.adamfreed.com
Audrey Gray Woodland Park CO
Nora Larimer Buena Vista CO    www.noralarimer.com
Joseph Murray Jefferson IA
Cynde Roof Weatherford OK
Gary White Sedalia CO

Photography
Melanie Alcorn Denver CO     www.melaniealcorn.com
Paul Biron Gardner CO     www. photo.sparrow-hawk.org
Stephen Koblos Highlands Ranch CO     www.backcountrylandscapes.com
Ava Lanes Parachute CO     www.heritagegalleryandframe.com
Charles Malone Austin TX      www.malonephoto.com
Tom Mills Heber UT P    www.vowphoto.com
Cathy Rapp Larkspur CO    www.redfleecestudios.com
Britt Ripley Longmont CO   www.brittripleyphotography.com
Clint Saunders Casper WY    www.opgart.com
Alan Tonnesen Spicewood TX     www.PhotographerofTX.com
Sam Stevens Durango CO     www.dreamslostintime.com

Sculpture
C Mavros Palmer Lake CO     www./itsacyn.tumblr.com/
Julie Burnham Penrose CO 
Megan DeSmidt Woodland Park CO  www.stclair-designs.com

Wearable Art
Jenae Michelle Berwyn Heights MD    www.rangeofemotion.com

Wood
James Glynn Pagosa Springs CO Wood

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........EXHIBITOR TIPS FOR FESTIVALS........

Exhibitor Tips For Festivals will give you an overview of what you need to know to launch your career as an art exhibitor. The tips are from a variety of sources including several festival guidelines, my own experience and from professional exhibiting artists. I hope this is helpful to you as you further your art career in festivals and fairs. Experienced Exhibitors already know the ropes but if you haven't refreshed your booth in a while or just want some fresh ideas then read on!

The fine arts and crafts markets are a wonderful venue for you to display and sell your work. You must hone your competitiveness to receive your share of the sales and have a profitable business. To do this you must  be attentive to..........
 

  SPECTRUM OF 

art creation......image preparation..........application to shows........booth display
......tendering the sale.......patron followup....record keeping
 

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Jury ~ many shows are "juried" which means your work will be viewed by a show jury; you will then be notified if you are invited to exhibit or that you have been wait listed. Most shows will give you a courtesy letter if you are not invited.
Wait list ~ A show generally has a specific number of spaces for a show and often a specific number of spaces within a category. Once the artists have been selected and invited, another subcategory called "Wait List"  is created. These are artists that had the next highest jury score. When an invited artist declines, a wait listed artist will be invited in their place.
Prospectus ~ a preliminary printed statement that describes the show.
Rules of Show ~ The specific outline of the show and the rules that the artist agrees to adhere to.
Image Format ~ this is the method of preparation of artwork images that are required by most shows
Booth Shot ~ an image of your booth with artworks on display.Medium ~ your choice of material for creation of your art work. Oils, pastels, metal, wood, drawing, fibers,etc.
Price Tiers ~ a range of prices to offer your buyers so you can maximize your sales.
Booths ~ outdoor or indoor. Be sure and know what each show will allow. Outdoor display booths should have a weight system that will keep the booth secure against wind. Walls that unroll for the occasional rain are usually desirable, especially since you can help out the visitors by offering them shelter and get to know them! Walls are quite often kept up with a grid system in place to display wall art, this allows airflow for a comfortable booth.
Directors Chairs ~ often the seating of choice for exhibitors. They are easy to fold for travel and will position you at a comfortable height for talking with your patrons.

ART CREATION

Your vision of your art is unique. Think about how this is best conveyed to art patrons. These are general tips, there are exceptions of course, but these are generally good guidelines for show exhibitions.
Quality of artworks ~ use the best materials you can afford and be ready to discuss the materials, people like to know and it gives you a good reason to chat with the visitors to your booth! You might also want to display an interesting commentary of your materials process.
Consistent body of work ~ this means your subject matter should be of the same or similar nature. Do not mix nature photography with children and pets.
Presentation of work ~ frames should frame the work, not distract or overwhelm the piece. A simple black or neutral frame will showcase your work the best. Your buyer needs to think about the work itself, not if the frame is going to match their decor. You may decide to have a selection of frames to offer to help make the sale, and be sure it is easy to change out.
Variety of Presentation ~ Many artists will offer their works in different sizes or even presentations. One example is a painter who offers the original painting, matted prints of the painting in two sizes, and a giclee printed on fabric and hung attractively. Be sure and check each show for its Rules of Show before bringing a large variety of presentations. Another example is that of a sculptor who offers a bronze piece in several sizes with several price tiers.
Zapplication ~ Most of the important show in the United States use this system as a point of entry to their shows. Zapp allows the artist to manage the shows they apply to and is a system that catalogs artist's images, application information and organizes images for jury viewing.
 

IMAGES FOR APPLICATION

Shows usually require 3 or 4 images and a booth shot. This is the only chance you will have to show your artworks to the people who select exhibitors for a show. These should be your best pieces and show your quality craftmanship and design abilities as an artist. They should be on a neutral background, one that is complementary to each piece. Black is often the best choice. 

IMAGE PREPARATION

What are  "image specifications"?
All images must be formatted to upload them successfully so that the jury can view them to the best advantage.
The following image format guidelines are for the Zapplication system and should work fine for shows that catalog their own images.
1. Dimensions: Larger than 1400 pixels on the longest side.
          * Note: the ZAPP™ Team recommends sizing all images to 1920 pixels on the longest side to take advantage of the full image quality potential during projection juries.
2. File Format: Save all images as Baseline Standard JPEG. Do not save as a Progressive JPEG.
3. File Size: JPEGs must be under 2.0 MB.
4. Color space: Save images in RGB color space, preferably sRGB.

BOOTH SHOT

A booth shot is usually required for application to a show. This should be free of your name and persons. This is an important image ~ it conveys your level of professionalism. Many new exhibitors do not have a booth shot and sometimes asking the Festival Director (if phone or email is available) will help you prepare an image for your first show. As your professionalism develops your booth shot should improve. Take a photo of your booth when it is fresh and you have the best light. Its worth your effort to set it up outside of the show and take the photo in the best light available. If shooting indoors, be sure the image is not washed out and shows your artworks to a good advantage.  Study exhibitor booths at shows and implement ideas that you like. 

APPLICATION TO SHOWS

Carefully read the Prospectus for each show you apply to. Sometimes you will need to apply to shows that are on the same date so that you have a better chance of filling your desired exhibiting calendar dates. Be prepared to pay a jury fee with each application. The important festival jury dates and notification dates often overlap so be sure and keep track of notification dates.
If accepted to two shows on the same date, you will need to decide which show will offer you the best opportunity for sales and fits your travel schedule best. You will have an acceptance date which is usually the deadline for paying for your booth. If you are "wait listed,"  (refer to the Glossary of Terms) for a show it can be tricky deciding what to do. Just be prepared to notify the festival director of your acceptance in time and if there is a cancellation date, then cancel by that date if you are selected from the wait list and you would prefer to exhibit it that show. You may lose the booth fee for the show you cancel if you are unable to meet the cancellation deadline and if the show Prospectus indicates a policy that does not allow for such cancellations.

SHOW CANCELLATION

Most shows will post a Cancellation Date and Policy for refunds. Carefully read each Prospectus as they have different rules for cancellations. Remember, festivals are a business. Directors want to offer a diverse and balanced show. Cancellations are a serious issue and many shows will discourage cancellations with early cancel dates and only partial or no refunds.

BOOTH DISPLAY

Your booth is your invitation to patrons to view your work, ask questions and hopefully, make their decision to buy your work. It is also the opportunity to create a relationship with interested booth guests. Think of it as your little "store" where you are the proprietor. You want to
    1. Make a good impression with the best art presented in the best way possible
    2. Greet each guest with a smile, even if you are with someone else
    3. Maintain a clean, clutter free booth
    4. Consistently offer a gracious and friendly demeanor
    5. Engage interested guests in conversations about your art, your method even your life as an artist. Remember that many festival attendees know little or nothing about the hard work an artist must be willing to do to bring the booth to them and the focused ability to create beautiful art. Many attendees have expressed an amazement at such talents and have no idea how the work has been created! Questions will be asked over and over and you will become tired of ceaselessly answering. Beware of shortchanging even one guest - he or she may become a buyer and even a patron of your work if they feel they have established some sort of amiable relationship with you, the artist.

Some guests will buy from you and be too reserved to engage in conversation with you. A simple "how do you like the festival?"and "where have you travelled from?" and other open ended questions will open an avenue for a simple conversation. Try to avoid conversational questions in which a simple yes/no is required. You can even keep a card with prepared questions handy if you are not usually comfortable in such situations. With practice you will become more comfortable and you will attract more people to your booth and increase your likelihood to sell more art. The distant and uncommunicative artist is usually not as successful. You must acknowledge people that are interested in your art. If someone has entered your booth, there is interest.

TENDERING THE SALE

1. Keep good records! Each sale should be written in a descriptive way so that if the customer refers to the purchase at a later date you can communicate effectively. What this means is:
- if a customer calls after the sale there is usually interest in repeat business with you. If you are easy to contact, have an efficient method of mail order sales and continue to foster a friendly relationship, you are on the way to establishing patronage.

2. Clearly mark each receipt with your contact information. Pre-printed receipts or stamping receipts with your contact information will help with repeat sales.

3. Calculate your sales with a calculator. Often you are engaged in conversation with a buyer or other visitors to your booth. It is easy to make a mistake and shortchange yourself or overcharge a buyer.

4. Wrap each item with care and respect. This signals to the buyer that you are a serious artist not just a "vendor of art". If possible, package breakable items in bubble wrap and offer a carry handle bag. If these items are too expensive for your start up budget, have plenty of newspaper or recycled plain paper to wrap items. If you have a neighborhood store that stocks plastic bags that are unmarked, ask to buy a ream or several dozen from them. Often explaining what they will be used for will bring a smile and the store owner or manager is happy to help you.
Plain brown bags can be signed with a flourish with a black marker and your items will leave your booth with flair.

5. Find out what the festival requires from you regarding sales and taxes. Each festival has different rules because they are governed by different county guidelines. Some festivals require a commission and sales tax. Others require that you report your sales and pay your tax to the designated agent at the end of the festival before you leave.
Salida Riverside Fine Arts Festival requires that you submit a State of Colorado vendor license with your acceptance booth fee. This allows you to claim your own tax information and it can be done online or by mail. If you do not provide the document then you are required to pay your tax to a festival agent before your leave the festival. If you leave before the agent can get to you, the Information Booth will have an agent that can receive payments.

RECORD KEEPING

If you are interested in a significant income from your festival exhibiting business it is essential that you create a data base to keep track of your sales for tax reporting, tracking festival information and fostering followup sales.
The data base will allow you to instantly track success of individual art works so you know what sells consistently and to access other information such as important festival  deadline dates, fees and regulations.
Notes can be accessed from a data base also. Some artists stay in touch with fellow exhibitors so they can exchange information and share exciting news. The best way to be in the loop is to offer up your own information! Sharing successes and tips can help your business by keeping you fresh with festival industry news and developments.

PATRON FOLLOWUP

A mailing list at your booth is the best way to stay in touch with potential patrons. Politely asking your buyer if they would like a periodic mailing from you will help you with this invaluable tool. A sample of the kind of postcard or newsletter will let the buyer what to expect and if they would like it sent to them. This will help you by only sending to interested buyers, not just mass mailing... and save the expense. Online promotions from you may be developed at some point and the mailing list will be invaluable.
This kind of promotion will keep you on track with your business as you spend other time creating beautiful works of art. The business of art is competitive and if you want to create significant income, you must learn to promote yourself and your work. This can be difficult for some artists and they may benefit from the services of an artist' agent. Gallery representation also should be considered. 

More Background On SalidaArtFestival.com

SalidaArtFestival.com served as the official online home of the Salida Arts Festival, a well-known fine-arts event held annually in Salida, Colorado. While the site was most active during the early 2010s—particularly surrounding the 2011 and 2012 festivals—it preserved essential details about the festival’s history, its juried selection process, exhibiting artists, sponsors, and its unique location along the Arkansas River in the heart of one of Colorado’s most celebrated art towns.

Through archived snapshots and publicly available background information, the website gives modern readers a window into Salida’s vibrant artistic identity—an identity shaped by its Rocky Mountain setting, its growing reputation as a national arts destination, and its strong community support. The festival became known for its high-quality exhibitors, an eclectic mix of mediums, and a strong emphasis on professionalism and craftsmanship.

This article explores the festival in depth—its origins, goals, environment, cultural significance, reputation, and community connections—while also detailing the broader artistic ecosystem that made Salida an exceptional host city.

Ownership and Administration

Though the festival’s website does not prominently display corporate ownership or nonprofit status, archived content suggests that the event was locally organized and curated by regional arts advocates. As was typical of Colorado’s fine-arts festivals during this period, Salida’s event appears to have been overseen by a small team or an individual festival director responsible for operations, communications, jury management, and sponsorship coordination.

The strong presence of community sponsors and local businesses—restaurants, retailers, real estate companies, and banks—indicates that the festival operated in close partnership with Salida’s civic community rather than under a large commercial promoter. This aligns with Salida’s longstanding identity as an artist-driven town where many initiatives are grassroots and built on local support rather than large-scale commercial funding.

Given the detailed exhibitor guidelines, jury process explanations, and how-to resources for artists, it is also evident that the festival leadership placed a priority on transparency and artist education.

Popularity and Reputation

By 2011, the Salida Arts Festival had already become a recognized regional event, drawing applications from artists across the United States. The festival’s reputation was shaped by three defining characteristics:

1. Juried Selection

Artists were evaluated by a panel of jurors based on originality, craftsmanship, and overall artistic merit. This ensured a consistently high-quality lineup and elevated the festival beyond a typical local craft fair.

2. National Participation

Exhibitors represented dozens of states and ranged widely in discipline—from ceramics and metalwork to photography, fibers, sculpture, painting, jewelry, and mixed media. This national diversity gave attendees a broad range of styles and price points.

3. Strong Local Attendance

Salida itself has long been a magnet for tourists, outdoor adventurers, and art buyers. The festival benefited substantially from:

• Seasonal summer tourism

• Proximity to mountain trails, rafting routes, and hot springs

• Its location within a historic downtown district that naturally encouraged walk-through traffic

The result was a robust mix of tourists, collectors, casual visitors, and residents.

Location and Proximity

The Salida Arts Festival was held in Riverside Park, situated along the Arkansas River on the edge of downtown Salida. This setting gave the festival a rare combination of natural beauty and urban walkability.

Key proximity highlights:

• Steps from Downtown Salida
  Restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and historic buildings are all within a short walk.

• Adjacent to the Arkansas River
  One of the most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the United States, drawing thousands of visitors in the summer months.

• Near popular Rocky Mountain destinations
  Including Mt. Princeton, Mt. Antero, and the Sawatch Range—regions known for climbing, hiking, and 14er summits.

• Across from major local businesses
  Shops like BoatHouse Cantina, Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors, and other locally owned businesses promoted the festival and catered to attendees.

This downtown-riverfront combination created an immersive cultural experience that attracted both art enthusiasts and outdoor travelers.

Goals and Mission of the Festival

Based on archived materials and the structure of the event, the festival’s goals appear to have included:

1. Promoting Fine Arts

The festival emphasized fine-arts disciplines rather than general crafts, reinforcing its identity as a serious exhibition platform for professional artists.

2. Supporting Local and Regional Artists

Although many exhibitors came from out of state, there was consistent representation from Colorado-based artists in ceramics, drawing, jewelry, painting, metalwork, and photography.

3. Educating Emerging Artists

The website included extensive exhibitor resources:

• Application guidelines

• Jury explanations

• Booth display advice

• Photography and submission standards

• Sales and tax compliance instructions

This educational component extended the festival’s influence beyond the event itself.

4. Strengthening Community Identity

Salida prides itself on its creative character, supported by arts districts, public murals, galleries, and artisan communities. The festival reinforced this cultural identity by bringing together local businesses, musicians, arts patrons, and residents.

Festival Layout and Experience

A typical Salida Arts Festival included:

Outdoor Booths

Artists presented their work under individual tents arranged throughout Riverside Park. The lush willow trees and river views created a comfortable environment that supported long visitor engagement.

Live Music

Performances included local and regional musicians playing:

• Folk

• Bluegrass

• Rock

• Acoustic fusion

Musicians with ties to well-known regional acts, such as String Cheese Incident and Acoustic Junction, were featured, which added credibility and entertainment value.

Food and Local Dining

While the festival itself did not showcase a formal food marketplace, many nearby restaurants—like BoatHouse Cantina—served as unofficial extensions of the festival experience.

Artist Categories and Mediums

The festival showcased a wide range of mediums, including:

• Ceramics

• Fiber Arts

• Glasswork

• Jewelry

• Metalwork

• Painting

• Photography

• Sculpture

• Wearable Art

• Woodwork

This diversity contributed to the festival’s appeal to collectors and casual shoppers seeking original, handcrafted items.

The inclusion of movie poster art—a specialty collectible—distinguished the festival by appealing to a niche audience of film and design enthusiasts.

Jury Process

The website provided detailed transparency about the jury considerations:

Selection Criteria

• Originality

• Craftsmanship

• Professional presentation

• Cohesiveness of artistic vision

Submission Requirements

Most applications required:

• 3–4 high-quality images of the artist’s best work

• A booth shot

• Descriptions of materials and processes

• Jury fee

• Artist biography

Wait-List Structure

If top applicants declined their spot, wait-listed artists were invited based on jury ranking—ensuring a high-caliber show regardless of scheduling conflicts.

This professional structure aligned the festival with other respected fine-arts events nationally.

History and Development

Early Years (2009–2011)

Based on archived materials, the festival began in the late 2000s and by 2011 was in its third year. Each year showed growth in:

• Number of exhibitors

• Community sponsors

• Regional interest

2012 Expansion

The 2012 festival anticipated increased tourism due to the proposed Christo and Jeanne Claude “Over the River” project—an ambitious artistic installation over portions of the Arkansas River. Although the project never came to full realization, anticipation improved visibility for Salida’s arts scene during this period.

Community Support

Recurring sponsorships from businesses such as:

• BoatHouse Cantina

• Pinon Real Estate Group

• Altamont Landscaping

• Salida ArtWorks

• High Country Bank

proved that the festival had strong roots in the local economy.

Press & Media Coverage

Salida and its arts culture have been covered by publications such as:

• Sunset Magazine

• The Denver Post

• Various travel and tourism publications

• Regional arts blogs

• “The 100 Best Art Towns in America” by John Villani

While the website itself did not aggregate press coverage extensively, the town’s growing identity as an arts hub naturally elevated the festival’s profile.

Audience and Visitor Experience

The festival attracted:

• Art collectors

• Outdoor tourists

• Local residents

• Regional travelers from Denver, Colorado Springs, and mountain towns

• Families seeking free summer entertainment

The mix created a welcoming environment, with opportunities for emerging collectors and seasoned buyers alike.

Cultural and Social Significance

The Salida Arts Festival contributed to the cultural identity of the region in several ways:

1. Reinforcing Salida’s Status as a Creative Hub

As one of the most recognized art towns in Colorado, Salida leveraged the festival to demonstrate the depth of its creative economy.

2. Supporting Local Businesses

Increased foot traffic benefited restaurants, shops, lodging providers, and service businesses in the downtown area.

3. Encouraging Artistic Careers

The festival provided an accessible entry point for emerging artists while giving established creators a venue to reach new collectors.

4. Promoting Community Pride

Local residents took part through volunteerism, music performances, sponsorships, and hosting visitors.

Detailed Insights and Examples

Artist Diversity

Artists came from as far as Texas, Georgia, Minnesota, Utah, Arizona, and California, demonstrating the national draw of the festival.

Scenic Appeal

Visitors often described the setting as one of the most picturesque of any art festival, with mountain peaks, riverfront breezes, and natural shade enhancing the experience.

Organizational Professionalism

The extensive “Exhibitor Tips” section on the website acted almost like a small industry handbook, revealing the organizers’ commitment to artist success.

Economic Impact

While the festival was free to the public, it generated significant commercial activity for both artists and local businesses.

SalidaArtFestival.com represented far more than a promotional website—it served as a digital gateway into one of Colorado’s most vibrant cultural events. Through its rich content, educational resources, artist listings, and community acknowledgments, the site helped define the festival as a professional, juried fine-arts experience rooted in the natural beauty and artistic identity of Salida.

Although the website is no longer actively maintained, its archived pages preserve a record of the festival’s growth, values, and influence. The Salida Arts Festival remains a testament to the power of community-driven arts initiatives and the enduring cultural importance of showcasing creativity in a welcoming, inspiring environment.