About Weehawken
At Weehawken Creative Arts, we are in the business of changing lives, nurturing dreams, and helping kids and adults in Ouray County and neighboring communities discover their creative potential through the arts.
Inspiring creativity, connection, and lifelong learning in the heart of the San Juan Mountains.
Founded in 2004 by Susie Opdahl and a passionate group of volunteers, Weehawken Creative Arts is a nonprofit arts organization rooted in the belief that the arts enrich lives, build community, and ignite personal growth. From our home base in Southwest Colorado, we offer a dynamic range of classes, performances, exhibits, and special events that reach thousands of people each year.
Our programs serve all ages and skill levels—from toddlers twirling in their first dance class to adults exploring new passions in painting, aerial arts, creative writing, and more. With active programming in Ridgway, Ouray, and Montrose, we offer hundreds of classes annually across a variety of disciplines.
Weehawken also nurtures the creative economy through initiatives like the 610 Arts Collective, a professional gallery space co-managed with the Sherbino. Located in downtown Ridgway, 610 showcases the work of more than 100 regional artists each year. The gallery acts as a springboard for emerging creatives and a sustainable revenue source for working artists—serving as both a platform and a path forward as they grow in their craft and career.
In addition to year-round education and gallery programs, Weehawken is proud to produce major community events that celebrate culture, creativity, and connection—including the beloved Ridgway Rendezvous juried Arts Festival and the Fête de la Musique, a free outdoor music festival that fills downtown Ridgway with performances from local and regional musicians every June.
At the core of Weehawken’s mission is a commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Through scholarships, work-trade opportunities, and community partnerships, we strive to ensure the arts are available to all—regardless of background or income. Whether you’re an artist, a student, or someone looking to be inspired, Weehawken is your creative home in the San Juan Mountains
Meet Our Staff
Locations
Classroom Spaces:
1075 Sherman Street, Ste 201, Ridgway (no staff onsite)
145 N. Cora Street, Ridgway (no staff onsite)
Omni, Apex and Summit Rooms at the MRD Field House, 25 Colorado Ave, Montrose (staff onsite with programs)
1309 Mayfly Drive (Montrose Flex Rec), Montrose, CO (no staff onsite)
Aerial Ouray / Hypoxia, 1900 Main Street (backside of the Ouray Dog Company Building), Ouray (no staff onsite)
472 Main Street, Ouray (The Wright Opera House), enter at the backside of the building, lower level (no staff onsite)
CONTACT:
970-318-0150 (leave a message) or email questions@weehawkenarts.org
In-person staff works at The 610 Arts Collective Gallery at 610 Clinton Street, Ridgway (Tues-Fri, 10-5) and at MRD Field House (with afternoon/evening programming in-session during the school year. We do not have standard hours in the summer at the Field House — though we are happy to set a time to meet you in-person).
Mission & Vision
The Mission of Weehawken Creative Arts is to provide high-quality arts education, personal growth programs and cultural events while playing a leadership role in the arts within our communities year round.
Our Vision is that Weehawken Creative Arts is a sustainable organization that acts as a conduit for creativity within our community.
Board of Directors
- Dana Griffith President
- Marti O’Leary Vice President
- Sandy Kern Treasurer
- Rhea Bothe Secretary
- Mary Aliota Member at Large
- Sandy Canright Member at Large
- Jane Gardener Member at Large
- Kevin Koprek Member at Large
- Lissette Riviere Member at Large
Interested in serving on our board or other active participation with Weehawken?
970-318-0308 (ask for Ashley)
questions@weehawkenarts.org
The Sherbino Theater/Ridgway Chautauqua Society Partnership
A serious movement has been afoot within Ouray County for arts organizations to cooperate in the areas of event planning, scheduling, marketing, coordination, and event staffing. Willing to lead, Weehawken-RCS/Sherbino took the spirit of collaboration a step further and entered into an Agreement for Collaboration, Cooperation & Cost Sharing (MOU) in the fall of 2014.
Ten years later, The Sherbino and Weehawken have partnered with sharing a staff team, a shared office space, a shared gallery space and some shared community/fundraising events. The two organizations also share mutually beneficial programming, and are taking advantage of economies-of-scale efficiencies wherever possible.
Most-recently, Weehawken and Sherbino identified a key property to future-keeping and future-planning and made a shared property acquisition at 145 N. Cora, Ridgway — which is referred to as The Annex on Cora.
