Monte Vista Community Art Classes Provide a Creative Space for All | LOR Foundation
Engagement

Monte Vista Community Art Classes Provide a Creative Space for All

With LOR's support, one Monte Vista local is on a mission to transform a former church into a hub for art and community.

Monte Vista
1

The Church Project has quickly become a place where Monte Vista locals can gather and unleash their creative potential.

Monte Vista residents have few creative spaces where painters, photographers, writers, and musicians can gather and find community. It was this problem that Madeleine Ahlborn set out to solve. After buying a former Baptist church, Ahlborn launched The Church Project, Monte Vista’s first dedicated community art center. With a little help from LOR, Ahlborn and The Church Project have begun offering free workshops and events for local artists—ranging from figure drawing and painting to podcasting and open mic nights. “The logistics of easels and paint and brushes is kind of the surface of what LOR Foundation has provided for The Church Project,” Ahlborn says. “But the heart of the matter is they have left a legacy because The Church Project is always going to be open for the community—for free—on Fridays and Sundays.” Watch the video below to learn more about The Church Project and Ahlborn’s mission to create a home for all Monte Vista artists.

Filmed and edited by Mike Borjas and Kim Marquez, Kim Marquez Photography.

Monte Vista Community Officer

Reach out to connect on important matters for your community or your organization.

Monte Vista Community Officer

Ivette Atencio

Having lived in Monte Vista since she was a child, Ivette has an intimate understanding of her rural community’s challenges and needs. She knows that caring for a community means first caring for the people who live there. To that… Meet Ivette

More Engagement Stories

Share an Idea

If you have an idea for improving quality of life in Cortez or Monte Vista, Colorado; Lander, Wyoming; Libby, Montana; Questa or Taos, New Mexico; or Weiser, Idaho, use this form to start a conversation with us.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By using this site or clicking "I Agree," you agree that LOR and our partners may use cookies and some personal data for personalization and analytics. Read our Privacy Policy .

I Agree