The Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center (GMAEC) is a nonprofit performing arts and community arts venue located in Cedaredge, Colorado, in the Surface Creek Valley at the base of the Grand Mesa. The center hosts concerts, art exhibitions, workshops, youth arts programs, and community events throughout the year, serving residents across Delta County and Colorado’s Western Slope.
Opened to the public in 2018, the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center was created through a community-led effort to transform a historic downtown building into a hub for visual and performing arts. Today, the venue attracts regional artists, touring musicians, and visitors exploring the Grand Mesa region.
Venue Overview
| Venue Name | Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center |
| Location | Cedaredge, Colorado |
| Address | 195 W Main Street, Cedaredge, CO 81413 |
| Opened | 2018 |
| Type | Performing arts center and community arts venue |
| Facilities | Theater, Starr Family Gallery, Art Garage studios |
| Programming | Concerts, art exhibitions, workshops, youth arts programs |
| Website | https://www.gmaec.org |
| Phone | 970-856-9195 |
Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center at a Glance
• Nonprofit community arts venue serving Cedaredge and Delta County
• Hosts concerts, gallery exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events
• Home to the Starr Family Gallery for rotating art exhibitions
• Offers Youth Empowerment Through the Arts (YEA!) programs for students
• Features live music performances and seasonal concert series
• Expanded programming with the Art Garage studio space
What Events Happen at the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center?
The Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center hosts a wide range of cultural programming throughout the year.
Concerts and Live Music
The venue’s theater regularly hosts concerts from regional musicians, touring performers, and youth ensembles. Seasonal programming often includes the Spring Concert Series and other live music events featuring blues, folk, Americana, and jazz performers.
Art Exhibitions
The Starr Family Gallery features rotating exhibitions from Western Slope artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media. Exhibits change regularly and highlight artists from across Colorado and the surrounding region.
Workshops and Creative Classes
The center offers hands-on art workshops and creative classes designed for beginners and experienced artists alike. Classes often include all materials and focus on techniques such as:
• painting and drawing
• ceramics and pottery
• fiber arts and felting
• mandala design and mixed media
• candle making and creative crafts
Youth Arts Programs
The Youth Empowerment through the Arts (YEA!) initiative provides free arts education programs for students from preschool through high school.
Programs include visual art classes, music awareness sessions, creative workshops, and seasonal youth programming designed to make arts education accessible to young people across Delta County and the Western Slope.
Community Festivals and Cultural Events
In addition to regular programming, the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center hosts several community arts events throughout the year.
Signature events have included:
• Grand Mesa Short Film Festival
• Grand Mesa Songwriter Festival
• Grand Mesa Writers’ Symposium
These events bring filmmakers, writers, musicians, and artists to Cedaredge while showcasing creative work from across Colorado.
The venue also hosts open mic nights, plant swaps, seasonal markets, and other community gatherings that encourage local participation.
The Art Garage Creative Studios
The Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center recently expanded its creative programming with the addition of the Art Garage, a dedicated studio space that includes ceramics equipment, visual arts classrooms, and areas for hands-on workshops.
The Art Garage allows the center to host expanded classes in pottery, sculpture, and other visual arts while providing space for community learning and artist collaboration.
Visiting the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center
The Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center is located in downtown Cedaredge, a small town in Delta County known as a gateway to the Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat-top mountain.
Visitors exploring the Surface Creek Valley often combine arts events in Cedaredge with outdoor recreation, wineries, orchards, and scenic drives around the Grand Mesa.
Address
195 W Main Street
Cedaredge, Colorado 81413
Phone
970-856-9195
Website
https://www.gmaec.org
Upcoming Events
Western Slope Trellis regularly covers concerts, exhibitions, and community programming at the Grand Mesa Arts & Events Center.
Readers can explore the latest event coverage and monthly event guides to discover things to do in Cedaredge and across Delta County.
