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The ARTery
The ARTery! Be Part of the Vision!
The Grand Valley Creative Alliance (GVCA) is launching The ARTery, a 5,900-square-foot, community-driven creative hub located at 539 Colorado Avenue, in the heart of downtown Grand Junction’s Creative District.
Designed to serve artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs, The ARTery will provide community access to professional-grade studios, shared workspaces, and educational opportunities that support both creative exploration and skill-building.
From ceramics and fiber arts to printmaking and collaborative programming, The ARTery will be a place where creatives of all backgrounds can learn, connect, and create—together.
Why the ARTery Matters
The ARTery responds to a critical need in the Grand Valley’s creative landscape. Many local artists and makers face barriers to affordable studio space, access to professional equipment, and opportunities for collaboration.
Since 2022, community surveys and stakeholder conversations have consistently shown strong demand for a dedicated, inclusive space where creatives can gather, work, learn, and grow. The ARTery is designed to meet that need—strengthening the region’s creative infrastructure and supporting a more connected, vibrant arts community.
What We’re Creating
With community support, 539 Colorado Avenue will be transformed into a welcoming, fully equipped creative hub that includes:
Ceramics Studio
Outfitted with pottery wheels, kilns, slab rollers, and glazing stations to support artists at every skill level.
Printmaking Studio
Featuring solvent-free processes, etching presses, Moku Hanga, and dedicated bookbinding workspaces.
Fiber Arts Studio
Including a dye kitchen and surface design areas to support a wide range of fiber and textile techniques.
Programs & Access
Across these spaces, The ARTery will offer:
Workshops, Classes, and Open Studio Memberships
Hands-on opportunities that support creative exploration, skill-building, and creative entrepreneurship for artists, makers, and lifelong learners.
How You Can Help
GVCA is raising over $1.6 million to renovate and equip The ARTery, creating a permanent, accessible home for creativity in the Grand Valley.
Your support will help:
- Renovate and modernize the building, including façade restoration, safety upgrades, energy-efficient improvements, and ADA accessibility enhancements
- Equip professional studios with pottery wheels, kilns, printmaking presses, textile equipment, and more
- Expand community access through scholarships, free programming, and inclusive design—ensuring creativity is accessible to all
Join Us!
Your donation, sponsorship, or partnership is an investment in the creative future of the Grand Valley.
Every contribution brings us closer to opening a thriving hub where artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs can learn, connect, and grow.
To learn more about giving stock or other methods of support, or if you have questions about the Capital Campaign, please contact:
Chip Walton
chip@gvcreates.org
Community Art Studio Guiding Principles
- Collaborate with and fill the gaps between other facilities in the region
- Self-sustaining
- ADA accessibility
- Educational component
- Model roughly on Manitou Springs Art Center, Art Lab Fort Collins, and other similar spaces
- Focus on activities not easily done at home - in studio spaces such as a dye kitchen and ceramics studio, with equipment such as printing presses, etc.
- Space for open studio use with tiered rental fees
- Locker/shelf rentals
- Workshop studio/meeting rentals
- Focus on a few things rather than trying to please everyone
- Target audience - begin with focus on adults of all ages, adding youth (after school programs, etc.) as capacity is expanded
- Contribute to the Creative Economy, providing creatives a place to produce artwork as well as a retail space to sell it.
- Access to ample parking (could be offset by adequate public transit)
- Location - preferably downtown GJ, preferably within/adjacent to GJ Creative District and DDA boundaries