The Durango Creative District has officially opened its first dedicated public art gallery at 1027 Main Avenue, marking a significant milestone in the organization's mission to showcase, support, and discover artists throughout the Durango community. The new gallery space represents the first permanent location in the district's history since its establishment in 2019.

The gallery celebrated its grand opening on July 22 with the launch of the Portrait Lotto exhibition, featuring 38 local Durango artists who created portraits of each other using their preferred artistic mediums and unique creative interpretations. The diverse collection includes oil paintings, wood burns, sculptures, ink drawings, mosaics, and fused glass pieces displayed throughout the gallery's pristine white walls.

Kathryn Waggener, executive director of the Durango Creative District, toured the gallery space while discussing the various portraits and the talented artists behind each piece. "I don't think any of us realized just how many artists of such vastly different media are actively working here in Durango, and how much all of us have in common," Waggener explained.

The Durango Creative District was established in 2019 as a nonprofit organization under the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Since its founding, the organization has provided funding assistance to dozens of local artists, launched an ambitious citywide art mapping initiative, collaborated with municipal authorities and private property owners to secure exhibition spaces, advised city officials on public art calls, and supported various community art programs.

Prior to securing the Main Avenue location, which was offered by the owners of 11th Street Station, the Creative District operated from a small, windowless office in the Smiley Building and hosted exhibitions at Stillwater Music. The new gallery space represents a major expansion of the organization's capabilities and visibility within the community.

What distinguishes the district's new gallery from traditional commercial galleries is its non-profit approach to showcasing local artwork. Rather than functioning as a typical gallery focused on art sales and profit generation, the space serves as a platform dedicated to displaying community art without financial barriers that might limit artists' creative expression.

"We don't have a gallery scene in Durango that is necessarily very encouraging for local artists," Waggener noted. "We're working with our artists for equitable pay for artists, which is super, super important."

The gallery's operations are supported by significant community funding. In 2021, Durango voters approved an increase in the lodgers tax from 2% to 5.25%, with 14% of the revenue generated dedicated to arts and culture initiatives. According to research conducted by the Fort Lewis College Katz School of Business, $1,550,928 was distributed to local artists between 2022 and 2024 through lodgers tax grants, with the Creative District playing a key role in securing these funds.

Beyond tax-funded support, the Durango Creative District connects local artists and creative nonprofit organizations with scholarship opportunities and donor networks, providing multiple pathways for artistic funding and development.

Roger Seliner, a longtime Durango artist whose portrait of fellow artist Nancy Byers is featured in the current exhibition, has been creating art in the community for three decades. He praised the Creative District's efforts to provide accessible pathways for creative expression and expressed enthusiasm about the new gallery space. When he learned about the Portrait Lotto project, Seliner knew he wanted to participate immediately.

"It was one of the most authentic, community-driven, wholesome, cool things I've ever seen or been a part of," Seliner remarked about the collaborative portrait project.

Seliner, who works professionally as a tattoo artist, is passionate about supporting emerging artists in the community. He believes the Creative District's new gallery will increase the organization's visibility and inspire more talented individuals to share their creative work publicly, helping Durango maintain its reputation as a community that supports artists from diverse backgrounds and artistic disciplines.

"It makes such a crazy amount of sense and just seems so necessary," Seliner observed. "I feel like, in a weird way, this is like the front lines of the battle to make sure Durango holds onto its soul."

The gallery is already generating demand for future exhibitions and community partnerships. Jennifer Fernandez, a Native American Cultural Education Liaison with Park Elementary School, is collaborating with the Creative District on Native American Heritage Month celebrations scheduled for November. The partnership will include an Indigenous comic book exhibition in the gallery space.

Fernandez emphasized that Waggener and the Creative District team are actively working to foster community collaboration on innovative and exciting projects, with the gallery serving as the central hub for these creative connections. She noted that collaboration becomes increasingly vital during challenging economic times when funding sources become more limited for artists and arts organizations.

"It really is the hub of collaboration," Fernandez explained. "I think collaboration is key, especially in the times that we're in right now, when funds are depleting, when grants aren't as abundant as they used to be. We are all on the same mission to support our community and the growth of Durango."

The new gallery space features large windows facing Main Avenue, designed to create an inviting atmosphere that encourages passersby to enter and experience local artwork. The bright, welcoming environment reflects the Creative District's goal of making art accessible to all community members and visitors.

The Portrait Lotto exhibition demonstrates the breadth and diversity of artistic talent working in Durango, from traditional painters and sculptors to contemporary mixed-media artists. The collaborative nature of the project, where artists created portraits of their peers, fostered new connections within the local creative community and highlighted shared experiences among artists working in different mediums.

The Durango Creative District's new gallery represents more than just an exhibition space; it serves as a community resource center, collaboration hub, and advocacy platform for local artists. The organization continues to work toward creating sustainable support systems for creative professionals while preserving Durango's cultural identity and artistic heritage.

With the establishment of its permanent gallery location, the Durango Creative District is positioned to expand its impact on the local arts scene, providing increased opportunities for artist development, community engagement, and cultural programming that benefits both residents and visitors to the area.