MANCOS COLORADO

 

 

Biggest Little Art Capital In The U.S.A.

Believe it or not, Mancos, Colorado has more art galleries per resident than any other town or city in the United State's, including New York, Seattle, or San Francisco.

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It all began in 2003, when a group of artists, with the backing and assistance of a progressive Mancos Valley Chamber of Commerce, opened the Artisans of Mancos in the historic Bauer Bank Building on the corner of Main Street and Grand Avenue in the small town.
And now, six years later, on Saturday, May 16, 2009, that same small town held a special event called, "Mancos on the Move". Seven new and exciting businesses and galleries enjoyed very successful grand openings – Arborena, a wine bar-art gallery; Basin Motorcycle Works, BMW & Triumph specialists; The Bounty Hunter, fine leather goods and handmade boots; Goodnight Trail Gallery, bronze sculpture and oil paintings; Mancos Valley Distillery, Ian’s Alley Rum; The Raven House Gallery, clay and canvas, and Spirit Horse, silver works and jewelry. These new entrepreneurs were welcomed to Mancos with a street party that included food, wine and music. Tourists, townspeople and visitors throughout Montezuma County crowded the town. They also enjoyed original businesses which sponsored the event – The Absolute Bakery; The Beehive; Mancos Valley Chamber; Nathaniel’s of Colorado Master Hat Maker; The Artisans of Mancos; Budget Business Forms; The Columbine, and Rustic Style Furniture. Come visit -- Mancos is indeed On the Move!
Tom Vaughan, former editor of The Mancos Times, said, "We are reaching a point where we may well have every shop in historic downtown Mancos open, offering some new and interesting products. The Mancos Opera House is in the process of restoration and coming into its own as a venue for the performing arts. We now have a combination of things happening that offer opportunities and attractions for people in Farmington and Aztec in New Mexico, and, of course, nearby Durango, Dolores and Cortez in Colorado. Come on over and enjoy a weekend in Mancos during the summer. We’re a small town with big plans -- and many fun and exciting weekend events scheduled."
"The real key to this event is the Arts," Vaughan said. "We’re seeing arts and creativity of every type flourish in Mancos, and we’re being recognized as a true Arts Community. We are certainly proud of that! I’ve been here 20 years, and during that time the downtown area always had two or three vacant shops. Now, something has taken hold in this community; an optimism and a new and welcome vitality. I believe we will reach a point in the very near future, when every shop on Main Street and Grand Avenue will be open for business and enjoying success."