Manitou Springs occupies a narrow canyon at the base of Pikes Peak, just west of Colorado Springs, and its compact Victorian main street - lined with mineral springs, eclectic shops, and working galleries - has made it one of the most distinctive small arts communities in Colorado. The Manitou Art Center, housed in a 1909 building, provides studio space for dozens of working artists and serves as the cultural hub of a community that has drawn creatives for more than a century. Manitou's gallery scene reflects its character: idiosyncratic, independent, and resistant to the kind of market pressures that homogenize art communities in wealthier resort towns. The annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb attracts visitors who discover the gallery district while exploring the town.
Gallery Downtown Manitou Springs · Manitou Springs
One of Colorado's oldest artist cooperatives, housed in a charming historic building in bohemian Manitou Springs and showcasing paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and fiber work by over 30 member artists.
Cultural Center Manitou Springs · Manitou Springs
A thriving community arts hub in the quirky mountain resort town of Manitou Springs, with studio spaces, gallery exhibitions, and public programs connecting artists and the community.
Gallery Manitou Springs · Manitou Springs
An intimate gallery in a Victorian-era building in Manitou Springs, presenting Colorado landscape paintings, watercolors, and prints alongside handcrafted jewelry by regional artists.
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Manitou Springs developed as a resort town in the late 19th century when the natural mineral springs that bubble up through the limestone along Fountain Creek attracted health-seekers and tourists from across the country. When the resort era faded, artists and creative people arrived, drawn by the affordable Victorian buildings, the dramatic canyon scenery, and the proximity to the extraordinary rock formations of the Garden of the Gods and the summit of Pikes Peak. Today the town's galleries and studios occupy former hotels, bathhouses, and storefronts along Manitou Avenue in a district that retains genuine historical character without being overly polished. The International Circus Hall of Fame, the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade, and other eccentric local institutions give the town a carnival spirit that influences its art world. The annual Manitou Springs Chalk Art Festival, held each June, transforms the streets of the downtown into an outdoor gallery of ephemeral pavement murals by artists from across the country.