What Do We Offer?
The Durango Arts Center offers art classes, a wonderful art library, monthly exhibits in the gallery, a gallery shop, dance classes, theater performances and space rentals.
At the Durango Arts Center, you can enjoy the visual arts, theater, dance, live music, education programs for children and adults, and many other activities for all ages.
Located in downtown Durango, CO, the DAC has become the hub for cultural innovation in southwest Colorado.
The building housing DAC, at the corner of E. 2nd Ave. and 8th St., was once home to a car dealership. In 1997, the community collaborated to fund and renovate the 17,000-square-foot building, now home to a gallery, theater, arts library, studio space and more. Come play and explore!
Who Are We?
Sheri Rochford Figgs started at the DAC in January 2010 as the executive director. A Durango native, she served for over 30 years as the Dean of Admission & Development at Fort Lewis College and the Executive Director of the Fort Lewis College Foundation. Sheri retired from FLC in 2006. More recently, she was the Gallery Director for Sorrel Sky Gallery, and she has served on several non-profit boards. She provides the DAC with her experience, vision and leadership skills that are essential to its success.
Jeannie Berger, the Membership and Volunteer Coordinator, has been on the staff of the DAC for ten years. Jeannie also served as Exhibits Director for over a year and half. Before being hired, she was a volunteer herself for many years and became acquainted with artists and the arts community during that time. As a former English teacher, she employs her language skills in the writing and production of the DAC’s Artsline quarterly newsletter. A native of Texas, she moved with her husband to Durango in 1988.
Sandra Butler is the Education Coordinator at the Durango Arts Center. She started in this position last May, but has been involved with the Arts Center for many years as an artist and educator. Her job includes creating and overseeing the DAC education programs for adults, teens, and kids and coordinating the Art After School program in the 9-R elementary schools. Sandra, a working sculptor who exhibits locally and nationally, received her B.A. at Montana State University in Bozeman, and her M.F.A. at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, in the Sculpture and Extended Media Department.
Jonas Grushkin, Building Facilities Manager, (www.grushkin.com) joined the arts center a year ago, and is an accomplished electrician, plumber, carpenter, pianist, photographer and graphic artist. His responsibilities at DAC include greasing doors and unclogging sinks, along with numerous other fixings that keep the old building operating. He uses his photography abilities to supply marketing images for DAC.
Julie Madden, the accountant at DAC, has been working with the arts center since July of 2010 and is responsible for all of the arts center’s finances. She said that she enjoys interacting with the people at the arts center—whether they are staff, artists, board members or teachers.
Diane Panelli, Theater Manager, joined the Durango Arts Center five years ago when she was asked to join the board because her son, Joey, was involved in the theater program. She became an employee in January of this year. Diane is responsible for renting all the space at the center, except the education and gallery areas. If an event, such as a wedding, is booked, she will work with the clients to ensure that they have everything they need, including caterers. She loves her job and enjoys seeing an event go from initial concept to final production.
Mary Puller was hired as the part-time exhibits director in July 2011. Her previous experience includes the Mingei Folk Art Museum, in San Diego, California, and UNICEF, in Tucson, Arizona. Mary returned to Durango in June and opened Plein, a folkart and fine craft gallery shop, at the Durango Arts Center.
Elizabeth Salkind, Development Director, is a licensed attorney who has worked with nonprofits for nearly 20 years. Salkind started working at the arts center in December of 2010. Her primary responsibility is fundraising, and she said that she enjoys meeting and working with different people.
Elizabeth (Liz) Silverstein, Website Administrator, has worked with non-profits for the past three years, putting together websites, newsletters, marketing and any other print-related projects. Having also worked as a writing tutor and journalist, she nerds out over syntax, grammar and stories.
(970) 259-2606
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