Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center -- All of the Arts for All of Southern Colorado

Who We Are

Mission

The mission of the Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center is to make the arts an active part of everyone’s lives by leading in managing, promoting and providing quality facilities, arts programs and services which educate, challenge and meet the needs of the people of Pueblo and southern Colorado.

History

In 1972, the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center opened our doors with funding provided through a match between the federal Economic Development Agency and Pueblo County. In the past 30 years, we have enjoyed great success in achieving our mission, and have seen phenomenal growth in the process.

The original two-building complex housed a single gallery, a 500-seat theater, studio/classroom spaces, a dance studio and a conference/banquet facility. In 1982, we completed our first expansion, funded by Puebloan Helen T. White, adding three galleries, a gift shop and a small children’s museum. The latest expansion resulted in our wonderful Buell Children’s Museum and Jackson Sculpture Garden.

The Buell Children’s Museum offers 7,500 square feet of interactive gallery space, a theater, a café and a gift shop. From an original staff of three and a budget under $100,000, the Arts Center now employs 15 full-time and 26 part-time employees—as well as 60 class instructors and 125 volunteers who work in many capacities—and has a projected budget exceeding $2 million for 2002. With the progressive addition of over 24,000 square feet to our original 65,500, the Sangre de Cristo Arts Center is now a stunning three-building complex, offering all of the arts for all of southern Colorado.