Wyly Community Art Center

Summer 2011 art educator internship is available. Email amber@wylyarts.org for more information. Application deadline May 1

Mission

The Wyly Community Art Center fosters creative expression through the visual arts for learners of all ages and abilities. We provide classes, outreach partnership programs and community events. We are committed to enhancing and enlivening our community through excellence in teaching, promoting freedom of expression and encouraging the unique learning style of each individual.

History

Founded in 1996 by Deborah Jones, the Wyly Community Art Center began as a project of Compass, a Colorado 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to experiential learning and educational excellence. The generous donation of Charles and Dee Wyly and the Communities Foundation of Texas provided for the construction of the original building and established our namesake. For nine years, the art center served the Roaring Fork Valley from its Woody Creek location providing visual arts programs for students, emerging artists, professional artists, and volunteers. The Wyly is indebted to George Stranahan and the Compass staff for their support during the art center’s formative years before launching into the larger community.

In February of 2004, the Wyly Community Art Center established our Board of Directors and incorporated. In February of 2005 we received 501(c)(3) status, becoming a Colorado non-profit organization. In an effort to further expand and reach a larger, more diverse audience the art center moved to downtown Basalt, Colorado, a thriving community centralized in the Roaring Fork Valley between Aspen and Glenwood Springs. The relocation of the art center was made possible by our Wyly Stewards; Charles and Dee Wyly, Jr. through the Communities Foundation of Texas, Karen and Bayard Hollins of The Elizabeth Foundation, Thendara Foundation on behalf of Goss, Reed, and Schlumberger, Ann Nichols, Lynn Nichols and Jim Gilchrist Family, Chaffin-Light Associates, Maggie Woods, and Billy Weisman of the Soar Foundation. We opened our doors in Basalt on July 1, 2005. The past four years of expanded programming and active interface with the community have assured us that the relocation is realizing our dreams.