Museum of Friends Honored with 2025 Business for the Arts Award
We are beyond honored to announce that the Museum of Friends (MoF) has been named a recipient of the 2025 Arts & Business Partnership Award, presented by the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA). This recognition highlights our commitment to bringing creativity, collaboration, economic vitality, and cultural enrichment to the heart of Southern Colorado.
The CBCA’s Business for the Arts Awards spotlight organizations that demonstrate the power of arts and culture in supporting business, community partnerships, and creative industries. For nearly two decades, MoF has served as a cornerstone of creativity in Walsenburg and Huerfano County, offering dynamic programs and events that make art accessible while connecting it to education, history, culture, social change, economic viability, and community growth.
We encourage you to read the full CBCA press release and explore the CBCA newsletter to learn more about this honor, and the exciting plans underway for honoring MoF at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in April. Honorees, organizations from the business arts and culture industry, creative Industries, and leadership across Colorado are all coming together to celebrate the innovative work being done by MoF and other honorees across the state. Tickets and tables can be purchased here.
A Bright Future for Rural Arts
This award underscores the importance of our work and inspires us to keep moving forward. MoF remains dedicated to fostering creativity, building connections, and making art accessible to all. From innovative STEAM initiatives to preserving our historic home, each project reflects our belief in art’s power to transform society and enrich the quality of life in Huerfano County.
We owe this honor to you—our dedicated supporters, volunteers, and staff who are the heartbeat of MoF. We’re just getting started on an exciting 2025! Stay tuned for upcoming events, programs, and opportunities to get involved as we continue creating a brighter, more vibrant future for Huerfano County and beyond.
Looking Ahead to an Exciting 2025
This recognition comes at a pivotal moment, as we embark on several initiatives to further our mission:
Continued STEAM K–12 Programs: We remain committed to inspiring young minds with hands-on learning that integrates art, science, technology, engineering, and math.
HALC (Huerfano Arts and Leadership Connection): Our new program offers pathways in creative arts, holistic arts, and leadership life skills, supporting personal growth and community partnerships.
Preserving Local History: With support from the History Colorado State Historical Fund, we received a $250,000 grant to restore the historic window frames of our beloved Roof & Dick Building - continuing our mission to preserve this cultural cornerstone as a creative and economic hub in our community.
Community Insight Survey: We’re gathering feedback to shape MoF’s next chapter. This survey will guide our efforts to develop capacity, programs, and partnerships that meet the evolving needs and aspirations of our community. Please weigh in—your voice matters now more than ever!
Building Partnerships: We’ve collaborated with Wheelhouse Makerspace and the Spanish Peaks Library District (SPLD) to host engaging events in 2024, including the first-ever Huerfano Maker Convention in December - celebrating the creativity and innovation of our region. We look forward to continuing this partnership into 2025, and have already scheduled our first event with the Spanish Peaks Library District to host “Vision to Reality: Craft Your Becoming Board” on January 26th at SPLD. Stay in the Loop: https://www.museumoffriends.org/events
Thank You to Our Community
This recognition celebrates the artists, educators, community members, and supporters who make MoF’s work possible. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the CBCA for this award and invite everyone to join us in shaping the next chapter of MoF’s story: it's going to be a good one!
Together, let’s keep the arts thriving in our community.
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