Durango Arts and Culture
Here in Durango, the landscape and lifestyle of the Colorado southwest are interpreted through sculptures, paintings, drawings, jewelry, photography, weavings, writings, music, movies, film, and live performances. Durango has a vibrant art scene and more than a dozen art galleries can be found nestled into historic buildings, or tucked quietly away in the hills.
Durango hosts a myriad of special events centered around our appreciation of the arts. Art festivals and exhibits of local, regional, and national artists and are common throughout the year. A few of our annual events include the Durango Quilt Festival, the Main Avenue Juried Arts Festival, and the Durango Film Festival. For details on these and other events, check our special events calendar.
Fun Fact: Many popular movies were filmed in the Durango area, including: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, National Lampoon's Vacation, City Slickers, How the West Was Won, and Cliffhanger. Also, Louis L'Amour wrote the Sackett Series, a set of western novels, while staying at The Strater Hotel in downtown Durango.