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LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
At Center for the Arts Evergreen, we are growing with intention— deepening our impact, strengthening community connections, and ensuring that the arts remain accessible and meaningful for all.
This past year has been one of both momentum and reflection for Center for the Arts Evergreen (CAE). Following the excitement of our expansion, we’ve turned our focus toward what matters most: how we use this space to serve our community in deeper, more meaningful ways. Every class, exhibition, and outreach program has been guided by a simple question: How can we create connection and opportunity through the arts?
What we’ve seen is powerful. Our free and low-cost outreach programs have become a vital thread in the fabric of our community, helping to reduce social isolation, support aging in place, and provide creative opportunities for individuals who might otherwise not have access. At the same time, our classrooms and the gallery are full of artists exploring new mediums, students building confidence, and visitors discovering something that resonates. This balance of engagement and excellence continues to define who we are.
None of this happens in isolation. It’s made possib e value of the arts. As we look ahead, we remain co y step forward strengthens our mission and expands
With gratitude,
Sara Miller, Executive Director
OUR PEOPLE
Our staff is a growing and highly dedicated team of professionals and artists who bring a wide range of expertise in education, exhibitions, community engagement, and nonprofit leadership, with many living and working right here in Evergreen and the surrounding foothill communities. Our Board of Directors is composed of community leaders, business professionals, and artists who offer diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability and impact of CAE.
Board of Directors Staff
President: Ann Stumpf
Past President: Bryant Robert
Vice President: Jamie Richards
Treasurer: Jodi Clark
Secretary: Joe Glasmire
Debbie Atwood
Riley Boone
Trevor DaRin
Annabelle Lee
Jenna McMenaman
Jeff Tanenbaum
Executive Director: Sara Miller
Director of Marketing & Development: Amanda Ingalls
Director of Education & Outreach: Emiko Martinez
Director of Exhibitions: Chris Stevens
Finance Manager: Tom Maxey
Events Manager: Zach Figurski
Community Engagement Manager: Jackie Weaver
Ceramics Studio Manager: Hannah Lim
Marketing Coordinator: Laura King
Outreach Coordinator: Meagan Andersen
Education Coordinator: Emily Kuchenbecker
MISSION & VALUES
CAE exists to enrich our mountain community by cultivating meaningful arts experiences through high-quality education, exhibitions, and events.
At Center for the Arts Evergreen, we believe the arts are a powerful force for connection, expression, and the community’s well-being. We are committed to creating an environment where all people feel welcomed, respected, and encouraged—where diverse perspectives are not only acknowledged but valued. Through creativity, we bring people together, foster understanding, and strengthen the social fabric of our community.
$19.7B
Generated by arts & culture activity in Colorado 3.7% Arts & culture’s contribution to Colorado’s economy ~$200K
SCFD’s total grants to Evergreen arts & science orgs in 2025
CAE serves a broad and diverse population across Jefferson County and the surrounding foothill and mountain communities, with the majority of participants coming from Jeffco. At the same time, our exhibitions, artist residencies, and special programs attract artists, students, and visitors from across Colorado and around the world, enriching our local community with global perspectives.
Our programs engage individuals of all ages from young children to older adults through classes, exhibitions, outreach initiatives, and community events. Beyond its cultural impact, the arts are a vital contributor to the local economy. The nonprofit arts sector generates significant economic activity, supporting local businesses, tourism, and jobs. At a local level, organizations like CAE help drive economic vitality by attracting visitors, increasing foot traffic to nearby businesses, and contributing to the overall quality of life that makes our region a vibrant place to live and work.
SCFD is the only cultural funding model in the nation that serves a region of seven counties. This broad base has allowed us to grow into the second-largest cultural funding mechanism in the United States. We fund nearly 300 organizations across our frontrange urban corridor, distributing more than $80 million annually.
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2025 marked our first full year operating in our expanded facility a milestone that allowed us to fully realize the potential of this space. With more room to create, gather, and connect, we deepened our programming and welcomed new audiences through innovative exhibitions, events, and community partnerships. This year was not just about growth, but about using our new home with purpose and intention.
Innovative Exhibitions
Our modern glass exhibition highlighted the work of several internationally recognized artists from right here in the Evergreen area, and our LEGO Build pop-up collaboration with an imaginative local teen brought new and unexpected audiences into the gallery.
Artist-in-Residence Program
Fulfilled our first full year of the Artist-in-Residence program in the new building, hosting three outstanding artists who enriched our community through their work and engagement
Farmer’s Market Partnership
Successfully hosted our first year of the Evergreen Farmer’s Market, creating a new opportunity for community gathering and connection on our property.
Artful Pairings Culinary Series
Introduced Artful Pairings, a new program blending culinary and cocktail experiences, which offered new and engaging ways for audiences to connect with the arts
Share the Moment Outreach Program
Completed the first full year of Share the Moment, a program designed to serve individuals experiencing memory loss and their care partners already reaching a wide audience and continuing to grow
Annual Art Festivals
Summerfest welcomed more than 6,000 attendees over a beautiful weekend, while Winterfest drew over 600 shoppers despite challenging winter conditions
45K+
In 2025, we welcomed more than 45,000 people to experience the arts— whether onsite at CAE, through classes and community outreach programs, or by expanding access to visual art at locations such as Buchanan Rec Center, Elk Run Assisted Living, Center Stage Theater, and many more.
1,100+
In 2025, we delivered more than 1,100 experiences that fostered connection and hands-on learning through the arts, spanning classes, performances, outreach initiatives, concerts, festivals, and exhibitions.
PROGRAMMING INITIATIVES
At CAE, our focus is not on how much we do, but on the difference it makes. Because we exist, more people are finding meaningful ways to connect—with creativity, with one another, and with a sense of purpose. Our programming evolves to meet real needs in our community, creating opportunities for healing, growth, and lifelong engagement with the arts.
INITIATIVES
o Free exhibition entry
o Free programs for seniors
o Off-campus rural arts education
o Hosting Healing HeARTs / MakeSpace
OUTCOMES
Through free exhibition entry and accessible programming, we continue to remove barriers and ensure that everyone in our community can experience the arts. We provide free programs for seniors to support connection and well-being, and we extend our reach beyond our walls through rural arts education at the Boys & Girls Club of the High Rockies. In response to the tragedy at Evergreen High, we have also deepened our commitment to youth by hosting Healing HeARTs and creating MakeSpace dedicated environments where teens can gather, process, and express themselves through creativity.
INITIATIVES
S E R V I N G O U R C O M M U N I T Y S E R V I N G O U R A R T I S T S
o New membership opportunities & perks
o Increase artists in Member Show
o Increase artists in Gift Shop
o Professional workshops / continuing ed
OUTCOMES
We're continuing to support artists by expanding opportunities for creation and professional growth Enhanced membership offerings now include extended ceramics studio hours, increased access to live model drawing and painting sessions, and new professional development opportunities that support artists at every stage of their practice More than 100 artists were featured in our Member Show, and more than 60 artists earned income and visibility through our Gift Shop, reinforcing CAE as both a creative home and an economic engine for artists in our mountain community
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Statistics and metrics can only show part of the picture. So we asked our most important barometer of success - our community - to share what Center for the Arts Evergreen means to them. We are so grateful for their heartfelt words and support.
There is something special about the setting, the people, the interactions, that has a lasting positive effect.
STAN &
CINDY L.
SHARE THE MOMENT PARTICIPANTS
Thanks for the opportunity to let your organization know how special the Share the Moment program is My wife Cindy has Alzheimers and we moved to Colorado two and a half years ago to be closer to family. We were fortunate enough to join an ALZ.org support group for caregivers and loved ones 2 years ago, out in the Centennial area, and meet a group of people there who have become the best of friends
We learned about Share the Moment at that group, pretty much when you were starting it up, and have been coming to CAE for your meetings ever since. Many of our new friends also go. It is by far one of the most important positive experiences we enjoy and look forward to every month.
Social engagement is so important for people in our situation, and you all have been fantastic There is something special about the setting, the people, and the interactions that has a lasting positive effect. The format is wonderful, love the art, lots of fun, lots of laughter - so important! I especially want to thank Laura, and now Meagan, and all the other support staff/volunteers that make this happen - they are fantastic!
Sometimes Cindy may not feel great that day, but afterward it's just been so uplifting that we all feel so much better. We often go out afterward to eat with our other friends attending, so the gathering at CAE leads to additional good stuff! Thank you so much for your continuing effort to make this such a special event! It makes a huge difference in our life
ELAINE S. LONGTIME CAE VOLUNTEER
My heart has always been with art, and so being at the art center one day a week for 20 years has meant a lot to me It has been a big part of my life I always enjoy coming back to the art center and meeting and greeting people
I would work at the front desk or back in Tom’s office, helping with whatever needed to be done. I’ve watched CAE evolve into what it is today, which is, to me, a wonderful thing
I also think the gift shop is unique I’m really happy to see CAE grow from an off-site organization, to a little house (the Miller House), to the old Bergen Park Church (which is a wonderful historical building), to the beautiful addition. Concerts, all sorts of art classes (which I’ve taken many myself), writing classes when Carolyn Campbell was alive I watched it grow into what I think is a wonderful art center I wish I lived closer
NICOLE H. CAE ARTIST MEMBER
I welcome the opportunity to tell you about my experience with CAE and to explain how CAE has helped me in my artistic journey. CAE’s stated mission is to enrich and serve our mountain community by promoting and cultivating the arts It has done so, and much more
I have lived in Evergreen for over thirty years, but I was not always an artist. As a child, I emigrated from Romania and lived in Italy while waiting for entry to the U.S., where I developed a passion for art. I studied art since high school and painted throughout my life, though life’s journey led me to a career as a civil rights lawyer and director Upon retiring in 2019, I began thinking about an outlet for my artistic expression I was not sure where to go or how to start. I stumbled upon CAE and happened to take a class there in soft pastels. It fit me like a glove. I started to paint with vigor. I began to daydream that perhaps someday I’d be able to share works with others. I went over to CAE for inspiration and began to speak with Sara Miller about our shared passion for art She encouraged me to send her some images and to apply for shows So I did
Within about a year, I was shocked and thrilled to find that CAE would include me as a featured artist in their newsletter. That exposure empowered me to approach a fine arts gallery about carrying my works No one was more surprised than me when they did I then joined the Pastel Society of Colorado, where I am a Director-at-Large now, and the Pastel Society of America. I participate in CAE’s Summerfest regularly, exhibit at CAE shows and the Evergreen Fine Arts Festival. I also show with the PSC and PSA. I did a presentation at CAE for the community on the art of living creatively
While CAE enriches our community through festivals and concerts, its ability to bring us together through all emotions and diverse experiences is its most valuable gift. When our beautiful town experienced a tragic school shooting last year, CAE became a place for our community to gather, share, and heal I am most appreciative of the CAE staff Their vision will continue to allow CAE to grow and thrive Without their encouragement and support, none of this would be possible for me personally and for our community. Thank you!
FRAN S.
SHARE THE MOMENT PARTICIPANT
Share the Moment is the highlight of my month every single month! What I absolutely love about it is watching the loved ones with dementia engage with the other participants, docents, and staff The CAE team is so thoughtful and welcoming, providing a safe environment for everyone to be themselves. My spouse says more in an afternoon at Share the Moment than he says on most days. It brings me so much joy! Thank you, thank you, for continuing to provide this wonderful experience
EMILYN F.
FORMER CAE TEEN ARTIST
The possibilities of marketing my work and the importance of collaborating with other creatives began during my time working with CAE. Curiosity is the foundation of creation, and between the diverse shows CAE offers and their pure excitement for all art forms, my curiosity led me to pursue higher education in the arts
While CAE enriches our community through festivals and concerts, its ability to bring us together through all emotions and diverse experiences is its most valuable gift.
LISA B.
RESILIENCE1220 SOCIAL WORKER
Thank you for allowing me to participate in your amazing events of healing hearts yesterday It was so wonderful to see people from our community of all ages come and participate, share, process, and heal at this lovely event. Your staff was warm and welcoming, and my intention to stay for just a few hours quickly changed to being there for the entire event because I just didn’t want to leave and miss the opportunity to connect with anyone who wanted to connect It was truly lovely to see the different pieces of artwork that came from each person You and your team should feel very
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Following the successful completion of our capital campaign and expansion, CAE is proud to be operating debt-free while continuing to build and maintain strong reserves to support long-term stability, ongoing maintenance, and resilience in the face of economic uncertainty. Our annual financial model remains balanced, with approximately 40% of revenue generated through earned income and 60% through contributed support. We are so deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors and sponsors because as a nonprofit, the impact we make in our community is only possible through their continued partnership.
A balanced revenue model and thoughtful stewardship ensure that every investment supports lasting impact in our community.
TION OF SUPPORT
The impact of CAE is made possible through the generosity and partnership of so many. We are grateful for the support of corporate sponsors, foundations, and individual donors, as well as the meaningful contributions of in-kind partners and dedicated volunteers who give their time and talents to advance our mission. Together, these varied forms of support create a strong and sustainable foundation, allowing CAE to serve our community with creativity, connection, and purpose.
Donors fueling creativity and connection in 2025
Donor retention—a testament to lasting relationships
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
CAE’s partnerships are rooted in shared values and a collective commitment to inclusion and community well-being. By working alongside mission-aligned organizations, we are able to offer many programs free of charge and extend the reach of the arts to individuals and communities who might not otherwise have access. These collaborations strengthen our impact, ensuring that creativity remains a powerful resource for all.
RESILIENCE1220
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO
EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN OUTREACH
EVERGREEN CREATIVE DISTRICT
OVATION WEST
EVERGREEN PARKS & REC DISTRICT
FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE
EVERGREEN ROTARY
JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EVERGREEN AUDUBON
BERGEN VILLAGE
BUILDING UP NEW AUDIENCES BRICK BY BRICK
Our LEGO Build Pop-Up exhibition, the imaginative senior capstone project of a local CAE teen artist, created an inclusive, hands-on experience that resonated strongly with audiences of all ages, and especially with some neurodiverse participants. By offering a welcoming and flexible environment, it opened the door for new visitors to engage with the arts in ways that felt natural and joyful.
LOOKING FORWARD
As we look toward 2026 and beyond, Center for the Arts Evergreen will deepen our impact and continue to evolve as a vibrant, responsive community resource We will expand opportunities for creative engagement through enhanced summer camps and a growing range of classes including bronze, glass, jewelry, painting, and drawing while also revitalizing new ways to experience the arts, such as bringing the written word into CAE as a recognized and celebrated art form Initiatives like The Big Create and our film series will continue to invite new audiences into creative experiences, often engaging those who may not otherwise walk through our gallery doors
At the same time, we are investing in the behind-the-scenes work that ensures long-term sustainability. This includes strengthening internal systems, refining processes, and making thoughtful staffing decisions to support the pace and energy of the organization we’ve built Projects like Keeper of Evergreen will extend our presence beyond our walls, while our Artist-in-Residence program will continue to bring new perspectives into our community Together, these efforts position CAE to grow with intention ensuring that every step forward deepens our impact and strengthens our role as a creative anchor in the community.
KEEPER OF EVERGREEN & SCULPTURE PROGRAM
A large-scale, community-inspired wooden sculpture created by our community, serving as a lasting symbol of creativity and connection. We also honor the legacy of Sculpture Evergreen by continuing to bring new sculptures to our mountain communities each year and offering free interpretive sculpture tours that make the art form more accessible to all.
THE BIG CREATE
A hands-on, family-focused day of art-making featuring splatter painting tents, collaborative music created as a community, and interactive art experiences designed to welcome participants of all ages.
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM
Welcoming artists from across the country and around the world including voices shaped by diverse cultures and experiences who live and work onsite while engaging our community through workshops, exhibitions, and conversation
EXHIBITIONS & COMMUNITY DIALOGUE
Curating exhibitions that both elevate local artists and introduce new perspectives, fostering connection, curiosity, and meaningful dialogue through the arts.
With your continued support and Center for the Arts’ commitment to careful stewardship, we will continue to sustain and grow all of these programs that make a meaningful difference in our community.
